4 Hacks Every Pet Owner Needs
Pet owners love their pets. In the U.S., 44% own a dog and 29% own a cat. Only 3% own other pets, like parakeets, snakes and hamsters. As much as we love our pets, they can create challenges in maintaining a home.
Four-legged Family Member
Most folks that have indoor pets, love their pets like a member of their family. We have clients that consider the needs of their pets as part of their home search in buying a home. They want a big yard for their larger dogs, or they want a laundry room large enough to set up a pet feeding station… One family only wanted a single-story home, as their aging dog had a difficult time with stairs. Yes, it’s true! That’s how much pet owners love their four-legged family member!
Indoor Pet Hacks for the Home
Owning a pet is a lot of responsibility. I’ve had friends that wanted to get their child a dog so they could learn to be responsible by feeding, bathing, walking, etc… Most end up doing it all themselves, as our kids grow up and have a busy life between school, activities, sports and socializing! So, keeping on top of the pet ownership job can help free up time. So, here are my 4 hacks that every pet owner needs to know:
#1 – Repurpose an old cabinet as a hidden cat litter box. Remove any shelves and add a hinged door on the front so you can get in and out of it easily. Paint it, install a cat door on one side, and there you have it… a cool looking piece of furniture and no litter box in sight.
#2 – Store dog or cat food in large plastic pitchers. It will stay dry and be easier to pour into the food bowl.
#3 – One of the biggest downsides of pet ownership is the never-ending collection of hair that piles up on furniture and carpeting. Eliminate fur from carpet and upholstery by scraping the surfaces with a squeegee.
#4 – Make your own pet odor eliminator… mix ½ cup each baking soda and 20 Mule Team Borax. Now add 20-25 drops essential oils or 1 teaspoon of cloves or cinnamon. Now put into an empty parmesan cheese container and sprinkle it on your carpeting and furniture. The cloves also prevent moths. Also check out the homemade Fabreze recipe here!
These hacks should help with the chores that pet ownership brings. Pets bring us a lot of unconditional love and joy, so not having a pet because of the extra work would be a shame. There is always a solution to every problem, right?
If you have other ideas, be sure to email me and I’ll share them too. When you are house shopping and looking for a home that suits your family (including Fido), we can get you preapproved so you know how much house you can afford! The housing market is hot in Sacramento, Folsom, El Dorado Hills, Roseville, and Elk Grove, like many of the areas within the Counties, so let’s get in the game! Rates are still near historic lows, so get in while the getting is good! Well that’s my tip, and I hope it helps you keep your home cleaner. Enjoy your 4 legged family member! Give me a call if I can help with a preapproval or refinance. Have a great day.