Pet-Proof Your Home (Pre-Petsitter)
A big part of preparing for the petsitter is preparing your home. You may have set out all the food and written down all of your (slightly anal retentive) instructions, but one of the best things you can do for your pet and petsitter is ensure that the home is as safe as possible while you're gone.
Room by room, you'll want to take a look and assess each space for potential hazards. Is that vase likely to be knocked down? Did you leave the bathroom door open and toilet sear up, inviting Fido for an all-you-can-drink porcelain party? What about those dangling wires that Fluffy could mistake for a new toy? No one expects you to know it all, so let us help you out. Here are Sittercity's tips to pet-proof your home.
MAKE LISTS
Hiding Places
Whether or not your pet can give Houdini a run for his money, the fact is that all pets are prone to hiding. It may seem obvious to you when Fluffy stealthily hides behind the couch with her tail in plain sight, but your petsitter isn't as familiar with your home as you are. Many "obvious" places are areas the sitter may not think to look. Make a list of hiding places your pet has been known to frequent, so your petsitter doesn't call you in the middle of your trip with a mini-meltdown, crying that she lost the cat. Even better, do what you can to block off those areas so the cat has nowhere to hide.
Allergy Symptoms
If your pet has allergies or any type of illness that can flare up, make a list of the common symptoms that your petsitter should be on the lookout for. Don't forget to include remedies, treatments, procedures and/or medications that your petsitter should follow if she notices any of
those symptoms. Let her know when it's time to call the vet.
KITCHEN
Cupboards
If you have a mischievous little creature that rivals good ol' Dennis the Menace, you might want to consider taping cupboard doors shut. Regular double-sided tape might be enough, or even sticky putty. If neither one of those are strong enough, or if you're just feeling extra paranoid today, you could invest in some latches that parents use for babies. Unless your pet is some sort of freaky genius, there's no way he'll get in there.
Refrigerator
For some reason, some cats like to explore underneath refrigerators. If yours is one of them, it's a good idea to fill up those spaces or block them off with boards to keep the cat from getting under there. Not only could he get stuck, but the petsitter might be unaware of this hiding place and, again, give herself a heart attack trying to find your dear Fluffy.
Trash
Make sure all of your trashcans are securely covered. This includes those in the bathroom and bedrooms as well as the kitchen. In the best-case scenario, your petsitter will be left cleaning up a stinky, sticky, disgusting mess (what? Don't act like your trash don't stink). More alarmingly, your pet may eat foods from the trash that can cause choking - like poultry bones that often break into sharp pieces and can puncture digestive systems - or experience an allergic reaction requiring an emergency trip to the vet.
BEDROOMS
Close Doors
Go through your home and close all of the bedroom doors, especially the kids'. Laundry on the floor and shoes strewn about might not be the picture-perfect portrait of cleanliness, but, even worse, your pet may mistake these items for toys. The least of your worries would be that the pet ruins some cherished apparel. The much scarier risk is that Fido may swallow buttons and drawstrings, causing issues that no petsitter or pet parent should have to face.
Bedside Tables
Sure, it's convenient to leave your sweetly scented hand lotion and occasional nighttime medication on the bedside table, but just in case your pet gets into your room, you'll want to remove these items and store them in much safer (higher) areas.
LIVING ROOMS
Toys
If you know you'll worry constantly about this while you're away, you should remove any pet toys that pose choking hazards, including those (annoying) squeaky toys. Any responsible petsitter will make sure that your pet isn't left with these items while she's not there to supervise, but some pet owners simply feel more comfortable not leaving anything to chance. Put TV remotes out of reach as well, since the batteries can fall out or the pet can accidentally turn on the TV.
Lamps
All lightweight lamps, vases, decor and other delicate objects should be removed and stored safely in another room, behind closed doors. If left out, these things can easily fall over and shatter if the petsitter or your pet is startled by something. You'll want to do this if you have an especially clumsy puppy, an elderly pet with poor eyesight or an unusually hyper pet who's so excited, he just can't hide it.
Loops and Wires
Remove anything with loops on it. This includes grocery or plastic bags, drawstring litter box liners, even vertical pulls for window blinds. You'll also want to tape down any dangling wires, since they can be an accidental stimulant for a pet.
Small Spaces
Go through your home and check all of the places where your vacuum cleaner doesn't fit, but your pet does. Underneath, there could be harmful items such as strings, sharp tacks, paper clips, pennies - all of which pose a risk to your pet if swallowed.
OUTDOORS
Backyard
If your dog or puppy is a digger, you'll definitely want to check the backyard to make sure there are no areas where the pet has been digging to the point where he could potentially escape while in your petsitter's care. To fix these problem areas, you don't have get on your best overalls, haul out a shovel, jump in the dirt and fill in the gaps. An easier (cleaner) solution is to put a brick or garden fencing in the areas that pose a threat.
NOTABLY TOXIC FUMES
Certain fumes are harmful to all pets, especially birds. You may want to print out a list of these items to remind your petsitter not to use any of these things around your pet. Even better, try to hide these items in the garage or far away from areas that the pets usually frequent.
| Aerosol sprays | Ammonia | Antifreeze |
| Auto products | Bleach | Chlorine |
| Cleansers (floor, drain, oven, etc.) | Deoderant | Detergent |
| Felt tip markers | Flea bombs | Floor/furniture polish |
| Gasoline | Glue | Hair sprays & hair dyes |
| Hand & body lotion | Insecticides | Iodine |
| Kerosene | Lead | Lighter fluid |
| Matches | Mothballs | Nail polish & remover |
| Over-heated non-stick cookware (Teflon) | Paint, thinner, varnish | Perfumes |
| Pesticides | Propane | Spray starch |
| Suntan oil | Wax |
