Making your home pet-friendly
Created By RISC | 2 years ago
Last modified date : 2 years ago
We recently looked at design for pet comfort (https://bit.ly/3tmllZ9). Let’s now explore how to manage space to live well with your pet, as well as how to choose the right materials for your fur pal.
Pets, like humans, have fundamental requirements. Creating areas for activities and exercise help develop strength and immunity. It also helps pets release energy and tension. Dogs, especially, need a lot of room. If your residence lacks space, regularly take them out for a jog or other outdoor activities.
Living areas for you and your pet should also be zoned. Allocate a space where your furry friend is welcome such as the living room. The kitchen and bedroom should be the only places your pet is not allowed, kept out with a barrier such as a door or partition.
A porch zone that can be easily cleaned after a walk helps keep out bacteria or toxins. Pets can bring in dirt, ticks, fleas, and other parasites from garden or other locations.
Finally, pick the right material for your pet. Surfaces should be easy to clean, not trapping dust or hairs, and not absorbing water or dirt. Safety should also be considered. Floors shouldn’t be slippery because pets might hurt themselves, especially if they’re overweight or a breed at risk of hip dysplasia.
Here are some tips for choosing materials:
Walls:
• Choose paints and coatings that are easy to clean or self-cleaning.
• Design the wall with rounded corners to reduce accidents and injuries.
Floors:
• Choose a surface material that can be cleaned easily, does not absorb water, and has few joints to reduce dirt on the surface and in joints.
• Choose a surface material with at least R9 slip resistance and certified at DIN51130 or equivalent standards for safety and friendliness for pets to walk on.
• Choose a durable surface material with high scratch resistance, including at least an AC5 (Abrasion Classification) surface abrasion resistance rating and certified at EN13329 or equivalent standards.
Furniture:
• Choose scratch-resistant furniture linings and drapes to avoid or minimize damage.
• Choose furniture linings and curtains that aren’t very water-absorbing or have a covering to prevent dirt and germs, as well as being easy to clean or replaceable.
• Choose dust- and fur-free furniture linings and drapes.
• To avoid mishaps, avoid installing electrical and lighting equipment in pet activity areas.
• To prevent climbing and trapezing incidents, avoid building materials with loops or ceiling railings.
Safety rails:
The barrier should be either a solid form or a narrow grid. The handrail must be vertical with no climbing spots and a gap of no more than 5 cm between the bars.
Stairs:
To prevent your pet falling or getting trapped between gaps, the rims and treads should be firm. The distance between each step on a transparent staircase should be no more than 5 cm.
These articles serve as a starting point. Each household's pets may have different demands or risks that should be considered, although these guidelines should help.
Story by Saritorn Amornjaruchit, Assistant Vice President, RISC