Tips for pets and furniture

People love their pets, but furniture is an investment they want to preserve. Choosing the right furniture takes time, so when it is finally in the home, it must be maintained. Protecting your England Furniture from your pets involves some specific steps.

Decide If the Pets are Allowed

It’s important to define clear boundaries with pets. Either they are consistently allowed on a piece of furniture, or they’re not. If they’re not, provide comfortable alternatives for the pets in the same room. Pets are social animals; they often want to be with their people. A dog bed or a cat tower in the same room will provide the animals a safe place to be with their family. Train the animal using vet-approved methods, such as offering treats to a dog for using the bed, or catnip on the cat tower. Encourage the animal to use their own furniture, and remind them consistently that the couch is for humans.

Sweep and Wipe

Use a small whisk broom or vacuum for furniture, if the animals are allowed to sit with the humans. Simply clean the upholstery once a week to remove pet hair. Additionally, keep a towel by the door to wipe off paws coming back from a romp outside. Many dogs will look forward to the foot rub, and it’s vet recommended to clean a dog’s paws to remove any irritants from their time outside.

Cover It Up

Many homes include attractive covers for the furniture, especially if pets are allowed on it. These covers come in a variety of designs and sizes. It is surprisingly common to cover furniture to protect its longevity, so these covers are easy to find. Simply clean the cover in the washing machine every week to keep the home sparkling clean and free of pet hair.

Redirect and Offer Alternatives

Cat lovers know the cons of cat scratching which can destroy furniture. Keep a scratching post or pad near the furniture to deter the cat, and offer treats to kitty when she uses the post for scratching. Add catnip to the post or pad to attract the cat to the item, and away from the furniture. Additionally, offer a soft kitty bed near any furniture the cat may favor, and give the cat treats for using the kitty bed instead of the furniture for afternoon naps.