Nina Cole, Founder of Ninas Nannies for Pets

Pet-friendly homes are all about design and fulfilling your pets needs. You should consider how you and pets want to live and design your home in a pet-friendly way.

Cupboards/Wonderful Dens

We all love our pets and there are various ways in which we can make our home into a pet-friendly palace.Dogs adore places where they can escape the hubbub of our busy lives, so what better way than to turn our un-used cupboards into a cosy den for our dogs or cats, depending on their size.

A nice warm blanket on top of a cosy bed would be ideal but remember to remove the cupboard door first. You could even hang a little curtain where the door used to be, opening and closing it for comfort. These specially designed spaces are especially beneficial if you are having guests or parties since they allow your dog/cat to retreat to the peace and quiet of their little den.

Cat Shelves

There are some genius designs which your cat will love and most can be made cheaply at home. For those people who like quirky designs, why not purchase some cheap wooden boxes that fix onto the wall or even the simple floating shelves from places like Ikea or B & Q. They would need to be placed strategically enabling your cat to climb from one to the other, but they look so effective and cats adore lounging in elevated positions.

Cat Furniture

If you cannot be bothered or are not skilled enough to make your own cat shelves, there are some wonderfully designed furniture, which you can source online. Cat cocoons will fit seamlessly into any home design and can make a real talking point. ‘ Catssup’ is a collection which can be fitted to your furniture to create a vertical cat playground, where your cats can explore without compromising your living space.

Cat Proofing your soft Furnishings

Clawing is a natural part of your cat’s behavior and there are steps that you can take to minimise what we see, as destructive behavior. Invest in scratching posts and place them strategically around areas of your home where your cats spend their time. You can even purchase some rough hemp material and wind it around your chair legs. There are some ingenious designs, both upright and flat, that can be purchased in pet shops or online. Be sure that any posts are secure and stabilised, so they do not tip over when in use.

To make the scratch posts even more inviting, you can spray them with catnip. Some are made with a toy overhead, to encourage your cat to use them, but whatever shape of form, you can never have too many.

No go Areas

There will be some rooms which you wish to keep as ‘no go areas’, for your dog and small children, so consider placing a gate at the foot of your stairs. Puppies and elderly dogs could be at risk, so try and make a stair gate that is aesthetically pleasing as possible. They can be purchased cheaply from online stores, but if you are handy with a saw and some nails, with a little imagination, it is amazing what can be achieved.

Plants

We all love to brighten our living areas with greenery, but there are many plants that can be toxic to our feline and canine friends, so always ensure that your plants are pet-friendly, before adorning your home.

Washrooms

These are such invaluable spaces for people with dogs since they can also double up as washing stations, where you can rinse off both muddy boots and paws.Some people opt for an elevated bath, especially useful for working dogs, or countryside living. It is also another ideal space for your dog’s bed and a place to keep their equipment such as leads, towels etc, not to mention their food and a feeding station.