Elizabeth A. Weintraub, a real estate agent with three indoor cats, said she can tell how much people love their pets.

Some buy a house or make improvements with their furry friends in mind. She did as well, when she recently replaced a window.

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In fact, Weintraub thought of her furry family members when she recently replaced a window.

"In my family room, the original plate-glass windows ran ceiling to floor," she said. "I broke up the space by inserting a 3-foot high slider at the bottom. This way I can open the windows for my cats and they can sit right in front of the screen to sniff the air while watching the back-yard action. We have a lot of squirrels and cats who run through the yard, too. It’s like cat TV."

Home Design With Pet In Mind

Other home amenities that are attractive to homeowners with pets include indoor pet retreats, disguised litter boxes, doggy overlooks, cat ramps and stain-resistant fabrics and carpeting.

If a home does not have these features, improvements can be made inexpensively to make it more pet friendly.

"If you possess a bit of common sense, a sturdy hammer and a dab of patience, some types of remodeling projects are easy to tackle yourself, which can save homeowners a lot of money," Weintraub said. "For example, a hideaway litter box doesn’t need to be constructed perfectly or look beautiful. It needs four sides, a floor and an access point. I have a client who built a large wooden box in his garage, then surrounded the box with a larger 4-by-4-foot pen made from oriented strand board."

She added that she is also seeing that a lot of homeowners are installing pet doors.

"Changing out interior doors is very popular today. Homeowners are moving away from the mahogany doors of the 1940s through the 1970s and opting for paint-quality paneled doors," she said. "You can buy pet doors at major pet supply stores for less than $50, and they are easy to install, using a small drill and screwdriver."

Pet Proofing Equals Pet Friendly

Pet owners can also make their home pet friendly by following a few pet proofing steps just like parents of young children who baby proof their homes.

Midori Nakamura, home and food editor for www.divinecaroline.com, said pet proofing a home does not have to cost much at all.

Nakamura said the first step is to take an inventory of your home and consider the ability of the animal to get around, paying close attention to small spaces.

"Barriers can keep animals out of unwanted areas; use a baby gate, exercise pen, or simply a door. Check for and block any small spaces, nooks, or holes inside cabinets or behind washer/dryer units."

Also, make all cords inaccessible to your dog or cat.

"You may need to tape them to baseboards. Wrap any cables and cords that remain accessible," she said. "You can also purchase tubing that houses cables."

Get Down On All Fours

Take your point of view down and look for things that could be attractive yet dangerous to your pets. Besides cords, look for exposed outlets and items that could be toppled by a dog running past.

It is important to make sure none of your houseplants, such as English ivy, philodendrons, are poisonous to your pet.

Additionally, Nakamura said pet owners should get a secure lid for the garbage can.

"Many leftovers discarded in the trash can be dangerous to pets. The most dangerous human foods for pets to ingest are onions and dark baking chocolates," she said. "Consider using child-safety locks on cupboards to keep paws from prying them open."

After pet proofing your home, Nakamura said it is crucial to try to view the area as your pet would see it.

"Get down to your pet's eye level and check to see if you've missed anything," she said. "Items that are breakable or could fall and injure the animal, such as sharp objects, tools, should be kept out of reach."

No matter if you are planning to make home improvements to make your home pet-friendly or pet proofing your home so that it is safe for your pet, be sure to keep your pet in mind and try to see the home through your pet's eyes.

More Resources

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• Are You Ready For A Pet?
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