HOW TO MAKE YOUR HOME AND GARDEN PET FRIENDLY

Adding a furry or feathered friend to your household? These are the changes you may need to make...

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As a nation we're known for our love of animals and, according to the PDSA, just over half of the UK population owns a pet. Some 28% of us have dogs, 24% have cats, and 2% own a rabbit. If you're thinking of adopting one of these animals – or perhaps a smaller furry friend such as a hamster or guinea pig, or even a parrot or budgie – ensure it’s able to live its best life by keeping on top of checkups at the vet and following these steps to create a secure and stimulating home environment, both inside the home and out.

Make your home safe

Animals love to explore, so it's vital to assess your home for potential dangers so that they can do so safely. Clean the floors and other surfaces using products that aren't harmful to pets, and never use ant powder or other toxic pesticides. Keep chemicals and small items that could be a choking hazard out of the way, fitting child locks on cupboards and drawers if necessary, and make sure that poisonous foods are stored in sealed containers. Buy covers to prevent electric cables being chewed by hamsters and rabbits, and secure blind cords. Cats can easily jump on worktops and run the risk of burning their paws on hot hobs, so consider investing in an induction hob that only heats up when a pot's on top, and cools more quickly than gas and electric models.

Provide plenty of room

Small animals may require more room than you realise. According to the RSPCA, the height, width and depth of an indoor bird cage should be at least twice the bird's wingspan, and pet birds should spend six hours daily outside of the cage. Budgies can live in groups, whereas parrots should be kept in individual cages.