If you’re busily preparing for the holiday seasons –baking, shopping, house guests, oh my! – then the last thing you need is extra stress. Our furry friends have a funny way of getting extra underfoot when we’re busy, and unfortunately, the holidays can be a dangerous time for them. Below, we’ve listed our tips for keeping your home safe during the festivities, with pet-safe cleaning that can deal with dog wee and advice for decorating!
Ease them into it
There are a lot of changes to your home that can throw your dog or cat for a loop. When it comes to bringing in your Christmas tree, for example, it’s best to put it up without decorations for a few days so that your cat or dog can get used to it. Some pet experts recommend putting an ‘alarm’ system such as a tin foil tray with marbles in it around the base of the tree so that you can hear if your pet has started nosing around. If you have small children, however, you might have to be a bit more creative with child-safe options!
Decorate safe
Once you do get decorating, there are a few tips for ensuring your home is pet-safe yet festive. The pine needles from real trees can get stuck in paw pads, so you may want to invest in an artificial tree that you can use for years to come. Whichever type of tree you choose, a solid, heavy stand will make it harder for curious pets to knock over.
When it comes to decorations on the tree, it goes without saying that your more delicate decorations should go high out of reach. To avoid your dog or cat chewing on lights, don’t wind them around the lowest branches, and make sure the cord is tucked out of the way.
Keep an eagle eye on edibles
Whether they’re on the tree or part of a centrepiece, it’s better to avoid edible decorations if you have pets in the home. At worst they can be quite dangerous, and if not fatal, they can still cause digestive disruption that equal an extra pet mess! That also goes for the snacks and treats your guests might be enjoying – it’s extra important to keep your eye out for abandoned chocolates or hors d’oeuvres with toothpicks in them.
Prepare a time out area
With tons of people and noise in the house, it can be a good idea to prepare a quiet room for your pet to hang out in and relax. Especially if your dog is quite nervous – you don’t want Christmas cracker fun to be spoiled by surprise dog wee!
Part of making sure your pet is healthy and happy is by using products to clean up their little accidents that are pet-safe and cruelty-free. All of 1001’s products are cruelty-free, and we have a range of specific pet-safe cleaning products such as 1001 Pet Stain Remover. It, coupled with our specially-formulated Carpet Fresh Pet makes sure that cat and dog wee (or other messes) can be dealt with quickly, and in a pet-safe way!
