The world is full of pet lovers and many of us put our pet’s comfort above our own when it comes to ensuring their happiness. It’s not hard to see why, our pets bring us so much joy and unconditional love, from the smallest furry critter to the seemingly unsocial house cat. That’s why when it comes to giving your pet their own space to frolic or snooze, we want to ensure they are comfortable and taken care of. It is vital that pets should see a veterinarian regularly, not only when they are sick. That is why pet insurance is a good idea since pets get sick or experience accidents when we least expect it.
To help you create the purrfect pet paradise, we have provided some helpful tips from some of the best bespoke pet spaces we’ve come across online.
Indoors or Out?
Many pets want to enjoy the sunshine and feel the grass under their paws, just like we like to get outside and feel the warmth on our face. Creating a space that has both internal shelter from the nasty elements and space to get to the outside and enjoy the fresh air will ensure a very happy pet. There are several ways you can do this depending on your pet; dogs are fairly easy to satisfy and often just need a tall, well-buried fence to prevent escape under or over and an appropriately sized doggy door.
Cats and their unrivalled climbing ability can make providing a safe outdoor space more difficult. Although many people allow their cats to roam unattended, this is both unsafe for the cat and the local wildlife and many roaming cats will sadly face their demise on the road while unsupervised. Building a dedicated catio or outdoor cattery has become popular in recent years with people creating wonderful outdoor spaces that ensure both you and your cat can still get the benefit of the outdoors without risk to their health (or local small wildlife).
Smaller rodents that still need plenty of space like guinea pigs and rabbits should ideally have safe access to a sheltered and outside space that provides them plenty of room to run around. If you are using tilted wooden tunnels and ramps to provide easy access to different heights, place down a towel or some cut-to-size fake grass that provides a softer surface for their paws while still allowing grip. Make sure to keep an eye on animals around artificial lawn, although most will leave it alone, some pesky bunnies will happily gnaw on anything.
Keep Them Mentally Engaged
Everyone likes a challenge, even your pet likes to face a challenge now and then (except for the house cat, they create their own challenges in the way of how much stuff can I knock off this unit!). Make sure to provide plenty of safe toys in their dedicated pet space, roller toys that contain treats or food are excellent at encouraging your pet to get physical while also challenging their brain. Providing different routes around their space, platforms at various levels and climbing opportunities encourages activity while engaging the problem solving centre in their brains.
There are some fantastic guides to making DIY dog toys online, from tug-of-war ropes from old towels to a rack of bottle spinners where the dog must spin the right bottle to gain the hidden treat. Our pets are living beings and their ability to get through challenges will amaze you and also offers an excellent opportunity for bonding together. What can you teach your pet?
Another great way to engage your pet mentally is to regularly change their toys around, don’t just get everything out for them and leave it scattered around. Not only will this make your home untidy but it often overwhelms your pet, instead work out their favourite toy and ensure this is always available then rotate 2 or 3 other toys on a weekly or monthly basis. This is best for dogs and cats that can become bored of their toys, rabbits and guinea pigs normally require replacement natural toys as their ones become gnawed and unusable.
Being a pet owner is extremely rewarding and for some of us, providing a safe and loving home to a pet is all we aspire to in our lives. Take care of your pet for they will always give you their unconditional love, even when we feel like we have nothing to offer.
