Pet Friendly Kitchen - 12 Factors to Consider
Your pet's well-being can undoubtedly be improved by creating a warm, secure place in your kitchen. The heart of our houses, as we frequently say, beats in the kitchen. We consider how to make our kitchens hospitable for our family, our friends, and our kids because it is a space that is always connected with the family getting together. One "family member" may, however, be overlooked fairly frequently: our priceless pets. To ensure that your pet feels involved, we provide you with some suggestions for a pet friendly kitchen.
As a country of animal lovers, the majority of us welcome our pets into our kitchens, and the key to making it work is keeping it as safe as possible for both pets and humans. Of course, many may question whether pets should ever enter the kitchen at all but this article’s not for them, right?
Factors to Consider When Planning a kitchen with Pets:
There are numerous factors to take into account when designing a pet friendly kitchen to make sure it is a safe place for your animals, from cosy corners to keeping chemicals stowed safely. When bringing a four-legged, feathery, or feline friend into your house, preparation is key in order to develop a good routine and ensure that the transition goes as smoothly as possible. Creating a pet friendly kitchen will require an understanding of their fundamental needs.
Let’s look at things to consider when planning a kitchen with pets:
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Diet Wise Safe Kitchen for Pets
The biggest danger in any kitchen is food. You might not ordinarily give it much thought, but your cat or dog can be poisoned by common household items. It's unfortunate that dogs in particular appear to be drawn to food that will damage them, so you should always store these items out of sight.
For Kitchen with Dogs
Chocolate, coffee, grapes, and raisins may all lure dogs, so try to store as much as you can in airtight containers that are hidden away in cabinets. If you're leaving food out, keep it as high and level as you can so that it's out of their reach and is less likely to fall and land wherever they can eat it.
For Kitchen with Cats
Although cats are less likely to eat your goods, their propensity to jump on counters can be harmful to your personal food hygiene standards. Keep your food covered when it's out of the way, like in an airtight container, to lessen the chance of paws and fur getting into it.
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Use Induction Hobs
The culinary gadgets that make cooking seem magical can be highly dangerous for animals. Cats can readily leap onto a hot hob, making it risky for them. For cat owners, an induction hob is a preferable option because it heats up only when a pan is placed on top of it and cools down faster than a gas hob.
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Say No to Noisy Appliances
Some animals, such as cats and dogs, are easily startled by loud noises, and our kitchen and cleaning area is frequently a noisy environment that is hard on their ears. If at all possible, try replacing your equipment with versions that have a reduced operating capacity, such as dishwashers with a decibel level of 40 or less, which will be quieter than a typical conversation.
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Child Locks for Cabinets
It's not only chocolate; other common foods that are safe for people can be poisonous to dogs. Due to their potential for poisoning, grapes and raisins should be kept out of your dog's reach at all times. Try installing child locks on any kitchen cabinets, refrigerator, or freezer doors that are within your dog's reach if he or she is very proactive about hunting down treats.
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Keep Away Sharp and Hot Items
For cats and dogs, cutlery such as kitchen knives and other utensils might be dangerous. While kitchen knives should be housed in a proper component that is protected from being knocked over by a tail or paw, child-proofing latches may also be applied to drawers. To prevent this, think about integrating a knife block into your kitchen cupboard. As any cat owner will know, cats tend to be particularly skilled at swiping objects to the floor with either their paws or tail. As a result, make sure that leads on appliances like kettles and toasters are kept short and keep sharp items like knives, forks, scissors securely away from kitchen worktops.
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Round Corner Kitchen Worktops
Owners of dogs and cats can confirm that they have a habit of jumping up that is impossible to escape. While some of us may have overcome this annoyance, owners would be prudent to spend money on soft-edged counters to avoid harm. To lower the risk of injury, you can give your kitchen islands, worktops, and all counters with exposed edges a rounded finish. Place your order for round edge worktops at info@work-tops.com.
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Use Scratch-Resistant Worktops
All pets leave behind a bit of a mess, and cats especially like the occasional good scratch. Consider upgrading to premium materials like a solid quartz surface to shield your counters from cat claws and extend the life of your kitchen worktops. Quartz is heat, scratch, and stain resistant and can easily withstand normal wear and tear.
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Pet Friendly Floors
Your pets won't skid off down the room and hurt themselves or the floor if you choose the correct floorboards. Granite floors with leathered finish are an excellent option for a pet friendly kitchen since they are simple to clean and provide a rough surface for added traction when chasing after treats.
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Keep Away Hazardous Chemicals
Although it's crucial for everyone in the house to keep the kitchen clean and we do so with our household cleaners, swallowing them can be extremely dangerous for both people and animals. Although child-proof cover will be on the majority of cleaning supplies, a dog with enough effort may eat through the plastic. So, assign a cabinet to house cleaning supplies, and make sure to put them away as soon as you're done using them. Even smart dogs won't be able to open the cupboard door thanks to childproof latches. Try to keep your cat out of the room when cleaning, particularly when using bleach, to reduce the chance that they could come into contact with anything irritating on their sensitive paw pads.
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Eliminate Contamination of Their Food
Place a feeding pad that is simple to clean underneath the food and water dishes to keep everything hygienic and tidy. Since they are frequently dishwasher-safe and prevent food trays from flying across the room, silicone mats can be the perfect solution. Avoid storing your pets' food or bowls anywhere near cleaning supplies, your own food, or other contaminants since it's a good idea to keep their feeding location away from any areas where cross-contamination can happen. In order to prevent product contamination, remove all pet dishes and rugs from your kitchen before cleaning.
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Dedicated Eating Space for Good Feeding Routine
A separate feeding area for your pets that is safe from potential risks is crucial, as it provides a sense of routine and helps with pickier eaters.
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Cosy Corner for Pets to Rest
Because pets are social beings, it is crucial for their wellness to provide them with a sense of belonging and family. A fantastic suggestion for a pet friendly kitchen is to designate a location where they can watch the activity. An open kitchen cabinet can be turned into a cabin for your pets so they can relax and observe family activities.
Keep your pets happy, be happy :)
