Many homeowners spend a lot of time and effort thinking about how they can create the perfect patio space or backyard area no matter what season it may be. Whether your ideal patio building project involves a complete outdoor kitchen or dining area where everyone can gather around for a meal or just a cafe table with some nice wooden chairs on a small patch of grass, there’s one family member whose needs you should never neglect: your furry friend.
Making your patio as pet-friendly as possible is just like how you should childproof your home. It’s your responsibility as a pet owner to make sure that your outdoor space is perfectly safe for your furry friends. Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean your personal style and functionality should suffer. There are plenty of ways you can create a safe patio that’s also visually appealing.
Here are some ways to change things up a bit in your current patio and some fresh ideas if you’re planning to build one for the first time:
Build a catio
Otherwise known as a “cat patio,” a catio is a safe, enclosed outdoor space for your pet. Most homeowners build one to give their indoor cats some outdoor exposure to keep them in excellent condition. But this will also work if you have a dog. A catio goes beyond just a clever name. It’s all about giving your indoor animals a chance to enjoy a bit of the outdoors without exposing them to dangerous situations, such as getting caught by a much bigger animal, failing to find their way home, or even worse.
Catios come in different sizes and lengths to suit varying backyard and patio designs. Make sure they’re made from high-quality materials, so they can last for a long time despite the changing weathers.
Grow greens that are equally pet-friendly
Here’s another thing you need to be careful about if you want to let your pets spend time outdoors: your plants. Cats and dogs get into whatever things they see, so make sure they’re safe by being extra careful when choosing your plants. If it’s inevitable, surround those harmful plants with some fencing. Greens such as hyacinth, geraniums, and tulips are extremely harmful to dogs. So, some of your safe options are oregano, peppermint, sprouts, rosemary, parsley, and basil.
Keep your balcony spaces barricaded
Most balconies and elevated porches come with railings. If you have some, you might think it’s safe for your pets to stay on your balcony. But depending on how these railings were made, smaller pets can still slip through them. You wouldn’t want to risk it because it’s highly possible for cats to get gravely injured or even die if they fall from great heights.
Called the high rise syndrome, this type of condition can have extremely negative effects on your pets. So, if your home is higher than two levels, catproofing your balcony should be a priority.
These are just some of the ideas you can consider to make your outdoor space safe for your pets. Consult a professional to get some inspiration for the design.
