From cats to dogs to snakes, pets add a layer of joy and vitality to our lives. As much as we love them, they do add a layer of complexity of daily living. If you’ve made the choice to bring an animal into your space, here are a few tips to help with organizing pets.
Dedicate Space
- Be thoughtful about where to keep the cage/crate/bed/etc. Make sure to select a space that is safe for the pet (e.g. not near an active fireplace) and where the pet’s normal activities won’t damage your home (e.g. no litter box on the new, soft pine floor).
- If you take your pet outdoors, hang the leash and/or harness on a hook near the door so you won’t drag moisture or dirt into the house. This is also a good place to keep poop bags, outdoor clothing, and towels for drying wet and/or muddy paws.
- If you use a travel crate, decide where you will keep this when not in use. In the garage and in the back of the car are common choices.
Make a Feeding Plan
- Decide who will feed your pet when. If multiple people share the job, consider assigning each person a day of the week to avoid confusion. If necessary, set up a chart or designate a signal (e.g., flipping a hanging card over) so everyone knows when the pet has been fed.
- If you buy pet food in bulk, consider a plastic container with an airtight lid that can be kept in a nearby location, such as in the kitchen pantry. You can then store the remainder in a garage or larger storage space. If you have multiple pets or a large pet, you may like a container with wheels for easy access.
- Consider placing a mat under a feeding bowl to protect the floor or carpet. A rubberized mat can also help to keep bowls from sliding while a pet eats. Want to get fancy? Try a retracting pet bowl that slides under the kick of a kitchen cabinet.
- Keep treats in a pre-determined location, such as on a specific shelf in the pantry or in a designated drawer. To make treats easy to grab, consider placing a decorative jar with a lid on the counter.
Plan for Grooming & Bathing
- If you bathe your pet inside, keep supplies on a shelf or in a cabinet near the sink or tub.
- If you prefer the back yard, consider getting a shower caddy so supplies can be easily carried in and out.
Give Toys a Home
- Pet toys will naturally end up strewn around your home. The key is to have one place to put them if you want to tidy your space. Try an attractive basket/bin on the floor.
- Popular places are behind a sofa or in an unused corner.
Keep a File
While the world is increasingly digital, you may still have a few pieces of physical paper for your pet. This are best accommodated in a hanging file or folder. For instance, you may wish to have:
- Vaccination record
- Insurance paperwork
- Veterinarian name & contact information
- Copy of pet license
- Record of medical procedures
- Ancestral documentation
- Microchip details
Create a “Sitter’s Binder”
Create a binder with key information that anyone stepping in to care for your pet needs to know. This might include:
- Feeding schedule
- Emergency Vet contacts
- Behavioral quirks (e.g., my dog is afraid of white labradors)
- Routines (e.g., she likes to go to bed with her stuffed lamb)
- Medication details
Assign Space & Time for Medicines
- If your pet takes medications (such as flea & tick treatments, heartworm prevention pills, skin meds, anxiety pills, etc.), be sure to keep them separate from human medications. Pet medications can go in a drawer, on a shelf, or in a container, just be sure to keep them up and away from children.
- it’s handy to have a pen/notepad wherever you store medications so you can easily track when medications have been given. Monthly medications may have a space on the box where you can keep track as well.
Stay on Top of Waste
- Be sure to be clear about who clears waste when for pets who live indoors. Set a schedule similar to feeding.
- Keep supplies for refreshing pet areas close at hand (e.g. newspaper, cat litter, scrapers, etc.).
- Always clear waste to an outdoor/garage location (preferably with a lid).
- If you walk a dog, keep a stash of plastic “pick up” bags near the door. Many leashes also have space to keep a small quantity with you at all times.
- For cats, establish a discrete litter box location, such as in the basement or in a lesser used bathroom.
Travel Smart
- Keep an extra leash & collar in the car at all times.
- Consider a safety harness or a pet carrier/crate. Pets being held on a lap or sitting freely become projectiles objects in an accident.
- Remember to pack pet food and snacks when on road trips, as some pets may not react well to eating scraps from an “on the road” diet.
- Have travel containers for feeding and watering with you. A water bottle like this one works well.
- Always carry vet numbers, vaccination records and proof of rabies shots with you. Also, be sure your pet is wearing a collar with identification tags. [Reminder: If you choose to leave your pet with a boarder, friend or relative, be sure to leave them with this information as well.]
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Pets become family members, adding companionship, comfort, color, and love to a home. What tips have you found most helpful in caring for your pets?
Truly great tips and as you know we just got our puppy over 2 months ago and proud to say we have done quite a bit of this already, but you are right organizing with pets does truly make a world of difference.
When a new puppy comes on the scene is the PERFECT time to make a few of these key decisions. I’m not surprised that you’ve got things well in hand, Janine:) So fun to have a new puppy for the summer!!
Great list Seana, we have a cat and dog, and we really got on schedule last year when I set up a “chore chart” for the entire family. It is amazing how things are forgotten if they are not recorded.
I love the “chore chart” idea, Jill. It’s funny how something small – like feeding the cat – can turn into a big family issue! Nobody remembers who did the feeding when:) I always say that many of life frustrations stem from life’s tiniest details, so there really is no area of life that is too insignificant to improve!
I’m going to have to remember these tips for when we finally get a dog. 🙂
We love having a dog… but it is a lot of work for sure:) I bought ours on a whim, which I don’t really recommend. BUT, I did it because we had moved to a new street where there were tons of dogs and my little girl was afraid. I thought if we had a puppy it might help her, and it did!
It’s like my husband read this! He’s been talking about having a chart so we know if the animals have been fed/litterbox changed that day. We all have weird schedules and sometimes don’t know.
We do put a mat under the dog bowls! That helps a lot, actually.
You’d be surprised how many talk to me about the pet feeding confusion – it’s a very common problem! At the end of the day a system always helps (that’s my story and I’m sticking with it!) I agree on the mat.. its the little things that make the biggest difference.
These are great tips Seana! To be honest, I’m glad I don’t have to do this because we don’t own pets. 🙂 I’d be stunned by the number of things I have to remember on top of my kid’s and husband’s stuff! Ahaha. But my mother in law’s cat loves to hang out in our house.
Pets add a layer of complexity for sure, Rea. No need to rush into extra commitments when you already have such a full life. Great fun, though, that you get to enjoy a bit of your in-law’s cats. All the fun without the work:)
Hi Seana,
Pets are like people, aren’t they? Just like children, you really need to organize their day to day needs.
I have found your tip about the airtight food container to be very useful.
We have a small dog that doesn’t eat much, so her food lasts a long time.
I keep the container right next to her food dish in the corner of the kitchen. Now, I can ask anyone to feed her and no one complains because the food is right there.
Easy.
Nice list of tips!
What a nice comment, Neena. Thank you so much! I have a small pet as well, so the airtight container saves me $$. Always easier to get family members to cooperate if it is easy, right?
Maybe I should have a chore chart in place for the kids! Usually my husband and I feed the animals but we sometimes ask the kids. They’re pretty good about handling it too.
Feeding the pets is a wonderful kid job… And with all your animals, everyone can have a chance, right Michelle? It has been an eye opener to see how many people lose track of whether the pet has been fed, so maybe a chart is the perfect solution:)
Great read! Thanks for sharing this info!
I find your post really helpful! Thank you for sharing these tips!
Glad I popped by your blog!
Excellent tips! Without being a little planned and organized, pets can easily come to harm’s way or even can end up damage expensive stuff in the living room or bedroom.
Oh, Seana! You made me remember the joys and challenges of having pets. We always had pets until our last dog, Norton, our black lab, passed away. He was an incredible soul, and I still miss him.
I remember the organization needed with ‘pet life.’ What amazed me about Norton was how well he responded to predictability. His treats were in a certain cabinet. When he heard it open from another room, he’d run in for a treat and sit patiently with drool dripping down until we gave him something.
When it was time for a walk, and I asked him if he wanted to go outside, he’d get up, run to the leash cabinet, and sit, looking up at the top drawer. This guy knew where his things were.
Sounds like we could learn a lesson or two from our furry friends. They know where their stuff is and they live by routines! Norton sounds like a sweetie. 🙂
I have a lap kitty, so I keep his brush, comb and nail clippers in the table next to my recliner, so I can easily grab them if an opportunity presents itself.
Awwww… I can picture you with a kitty on your lap. Such a source of joy!!
Getting a puppy is like having a baby lol. I am thinking about getting a dog in my future but it won’f be a puppy. You really covered everything in this list Seana. I do have a small mat under my cats dishes but she makes a huge mess. I think i will try a bigger one. It would save the floor anyway.
My dog used to pick up her food from her bowl and take it over to the carpet and drop it to eat it there. They can be so funny, right?
My goodness, this is robust!
I’m not a pet person at all, and over the quarter century I’ve worked with clients who DO have pets, I’ve always felt that I did a decent, but not *stellar* job thinking of every eventuality — because this just isn’t my natural realm. The clients have been happy enough, and when they did have questions, I could brainstorm, but you’ve created the perfect guide/checklist to make sure we consider everything. What a great job!
Pets, like all living creatures, usher a bit of potential chaos into life. I had a client last week who had to buy a machine-washable rug for her dining room because of her two little doggies making messes. This led to a deep dive into the quality and appearance of washable rugs. I think she found a great one, but all of this took time and intentionality.
For those who have never had a pet, it is maybe helpful to read through this before getting one, just to be aware of what’s involved. 🙂
Also, that water bowl with the food container AND space for the waste bags? That’s a multi-tasker I can get behind!
Gotta love any product that comes with built-in storage!