It has become common knowledge that keeping pets in your home is not only great for stress relief, but it also teaches pet owners how to be responsible and how to care for their furry friends. This is why most people nowadays opt to have house pets, from cats and dogs to uncommon ones like mice and other exotic pets.

But keeping pets can be very hard and tedious work, and unfortunately most homes lack the requirements needed for a pet-friendly home. Luckily, with a few modifications, your home can now have safe living conditions for your pets.

• Pet-proofing for large animals like dogs and cats

  1. Keep small litter and other choking hazards off the floor.

     Always keep in mind that keeping a pet is essentially like having a small child in your home. Pets have this tendency to pick up and chew anything they find in their path, and in order to prevent them from getting choked or worse, getting strangled or electrocuted by scattered wirings, make sure that the floors of your home litter-free.

  2. Make sure that elevated spaces in your home are out of reach from your pets.

     Elevated areas in your home like tables and countertops are also a hazard for your pets since these spaces usually contain food and medication which can be fatal for your pets once they ingest it. Make sure that your pets would not be able to have access to these areas by removing "ladders" which your pets can use to climb onto these places. Keep your food and medicine placed in drawers/cabinets in order to prevent your pets from rummaging through them should they gain access to your tables and counters.

  3. Keep your trash bins closed at all times.

     As mentioned in the previous paragraph, pets have this tendency to rummage through everything—including trash. Since trash bins contain waste materials, your pets can be poisoned from spoiled food or fruit seeds and peelings which may contain hazardous chemicals for your pets. Make sure that trash bins inside your home have heavy lids which cannot be easily opened by pets. Trash bins should also be larger than your pets if not heavy enough to not be toppled by your pets. However, if your pet accidentally swallows fatal food items like chocolate and fruit cores, then you should take your pet to the nearest vet in order to prevent the onset of the harmful effects of these items.

  4. Make sure that feeding areas are isolated from litter boxes and trash bins.

     Placing litter boxes next to feeding areas is a common mistake committed by most pet owners. Not only is this unsanitary but it can also pose a possible health hazard for your pets, especially for cats and kittens. Make sure that the feeding area is placed far away if not completely isolated from the litter box by elevating their feeding areas or by installing a baby gate. If you find water bowls to be somewhat problematic for your pet then you can opt to invest on a pet fountain instead.

  5. Invest in pet-friendly fabrics and carpeting.

     Pet-proofing your home doesn't mean that you have to sacrifice style; there are actually a lot of stylish paw-safe fabrics which can be easily washed and wiped off. Suede or leather is the usual option for pet owners since these are stain-resistant and durable enough for pets to play with. When it comes to carpeting, choose a shade that is close if not identical to your pet's hair color in order to hide any stray pet hairs. Ceramic tiles or hard surface floorings like granite are also options since these are easier to clean than other flooring types and can handle even larger dogs.

• Pet-proofing for smaller animals like mice, fish, and birds

  Some families may opt to have smaller pets in their homes like mice and fish since they are known to be relatively low-maintenance compared to larger ones like cats and dogs, and can be taken care of even by kids. However, these types of pets are considered to be very fragile since even minute changes in their environment can already trigger various reactions within their system. Therefore pet-proofing is a necessary precaution before incorporating these tiny critters in your home.

• Pet-proofing for rodents, like guinea pigs, hamsters, and rabbits

  Hamsters are nocturnal creatures so they tend to be asleep during the day and be active at night time. Invest in an exercise wheel and provide bedding by shredding bits of cardboard and/or tissue. Guinea pigs need to have chew toys since their teeth are constantly growing. Rabbits like dark, cramped places and has a habit of chewing almost anything. Keep cords and electric wires out of sight whenever you let out your pet animal outside its cage and make sure that small holes and vents are securely covered.

• Pet-proofing for birds

  When it comes to birds, cage size, capacity and placement should be number one on your priority list. Make sure that the cage size should be large enough, depending on how many birds you want to take care of. If you plan on taking care of a flock of birds then buy a bigger cage, but if you want a single or even a pair of birds then a smaller one should suffice. Cages should be placed somewhere with ample heat and should contain a bird feeder and a water bottle. Since most cages don't come with perches, you can make your own by sticking a sturdy piece of small wood in between the bars of the cage.