How to Pet-Proof Your Home’s Renovation
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Renovating your home can be a substantial endeavor. You might have contractors knocking down walls, ripping out cabinetry, and making no end of noise and mess. All that chaos wreaks havoc on your pet.
You need to take extra care to safeguard your furry family members. This protects them and the workers, who can’t always readily maneuver around a twining feline or playful puppy. Here’s how to pet-proof your home’s renovation.
1. Establish Pet-Friendly Alternative Lodging
You will likely need to vacate the premises during parts of the renovation to protect you and your family’s health. Unfortunately, doing so can cost a pretty penny. Travel took a hit during the pandemic, and hotels are raising their rates to keep pace with inflation and make up lost profits. However, you might be able to score a discount. Some establishments offer bargains to local residents, military members, or government workers.
Of course, you’ll need to find a pet-friendly establishment in your price range, a task that can seem daunting. Is it possible for you to stay with family and friends? If that isn’t convenient, you may need to cordon off a portion of your home as a safe space, make arrangements for bathroom schedules and figure out alternative dining options if your kitchen is off-limits.
2. Designate a Pet Room
If you plan to remain in your home, part of your job entails keeping your precious fur babies away from the construction zone. Doing so protects them and the workers. All contractors need to adhere to OSHA regulations, and while current rules don’t prohibit pets in the workplace, a job site is a far different story.
Objects can fall, injuring or killing your pet — or a worker. A loose puppy or kitten presents a tripping hazard, which can also result in life-altering injuries.
Designate a specific room for your pets. It might require a bit of work to relocate all their food bowls and toys, but it’s essential. If you’ve cordoned off a portion of your home as safe, choose an enclosed area within this space.
You might need to employ multiple fail-safes to prevent the flight of a particularly escape-happy pet. You might need to go as far as confining them in the master bedroom’s walk-in closet so there are two sets of doors between them and the hazardous workspace.
3. Communicate with Your Contractor
Many contractors have pets at home, and they understand that they’re family. They don’t want anything to happen to your precious Fluffy or Fifi any more than you do.
However, different people have various rules. For example, some individuals still leave their cats outside despite dangers like coyotes and traffic. If your feline is strictly an indoor model, please communicate that with your workers.
It’s also common courtesy to gauge their comfort instead of assuming they’ll love your 90-pound Rottweiler as much as you do. Some people have phobias about specific breeds, and their fear can make your pet react unpredictably. Please ask before letting the dogs out while your workers remain on-site.
4. Post Reminders Around Entryways
Construction zones are busy places, especially if your contractor feels the crunch of too much work and too little time. Even if you specify that they shouldn’t let your cat outside, mistakes can happen when people are distracted.
Post reminders around entryways. A simple sign reading “Please do not let the cat out” will suffice. You can use sticky notes in a pinch — the bright colors might stand out more than something workers could overlook as merely another decorative item.
5. Protect Your Pet from Noise
Loud noises can terrify your pet. They have the same fight-or-flight response that humans do when they get frightened. They might try to bolt or even launch an unprovoked attack from the stress.
Learn to recognize the signs of anxiety in your pet, which may include the following behaviors:
Excessive yawning
Panting
Hiding
Shaking
Licking lips
Whining
Cowering
Excessive grooming
Continued barking
Aggressiveness
Here’s another reason why a pet-proof room is essential. You might feel cruel confining them, but they often take comfort in an enclosed space. For example, Fido might crawl into his crate without prompting.
Try to distract your pet from construction noise. YouTube is glorious for this. Type “birds for cats to watch,” and you’ll find scores of videos featuring playful finches and squirrels at backyard feeders. Some mood music might drown out the din otherwise plaguing Fido’s poor ears.
You can also find specialty pheromone products designed to calm your pet. These come in plug-in forms and sprays. Some pets react well to “thunder shirts” that feel like a comforting hug.
6. Provide Comfort Objects
Even if your pet doesn’t seem overly distraught from the fuss and noise, you’re still shaking up their world. Think about what you need during tough transitions. You probably surround yourself with your favorite comfort objects, such as scented candles, hot tea or your favorite Sherpa throw. Your pet is no different.
Stock your pet-proof room with their favorite comfort objects during your home’s renovation. It’s OK to placate them with some new and exciting toys but include some of their tried-and-true favorites, too.
7. Talk to Your Veterinarian
Hopefully, you have a solid relationship with your pet’s veterinarian. They’re your best source for advice on how to navigate your home renovation transition.
They may prescribe a temporary dose of tranquilizers to keep your pet safely sedated if they’re highly excitable. They may also recommend boarding. Some animal hospitals provide on-site facilities for a reasonable fee. You can sleep better feeling assured that your pet is cared for by a professional who knows and loves them almost as much as you do.
8. Enlist Help
Home renovation can be a long, time-consuming process that drains your energy and focus. You can make careless mistakes that endanger your pet when you’re tired.
Therefore, rally the troops. Get your other family members involved in helping with pet care — after all, they may need extra walks and comfort if confined. You might also consider hiring a pet sitter, at least during the most hectic days. You can’t put a price tag on the peace of mind that comes with knowing your baby is in good hands while the sledgehammers are flying.
Pet-Proof Your Home’s Renovation
Your pet is your child, and you don’t want them to get hurt during your renovation project. Furthermore, you want to protect the safety of the workers on your job site.
Follow the above eight tips to pet-proof your home’s renovation. You’ll enjoy greater peace of mind and ease your transition, and your fur babies will appreciate it.
