Let’s face it. You can’t train your dog or cat to be organized. But you can make your own life easier by doing it for them.
Virtually all pets have certain needs in common. They need to eat, play, sleep, and have a place to call their own. Whether it’s a crate or gated area during day for Fido, or a cozy spot in the sun for Fluffy to nap, we want to keep our furry friends happy, healthy, and safe.
Animals are children too
Whether you have human children or not, many pet owners think of their pets as their children. With pet parenthood comes responsibilities. As their caretakers we need to provide for their physical needs, clean up after them, make sure they’re healthy, and train them to be good housemates.
Like children, they come with gear. For dogs, this includes leashes, collars, toys, pet clothing, chew toys, clean up bags, travel items, food and treats. For cats there are scratching posts, catnip toys, cat carriers, litter boxes, and litter.
Organizing for your pets
With all these things to keep track of, it’s important to be organized. So where do you put all of it?
For paperwork, create a file folder for each pet, that contains adoption records, pedigrees, records of visits to your vet, microchip information, and tips for dealing with behavior issues.
Keep medicines in a central location, but not with your family’s prescriptions. Just be sure they’re convenient and easy to find when you need them. If you have pet toothbrushes and toothpaste, you can keep them with medicines or grooming supplies.
It’s a dog’s life
When it comes to dealing with your dog’s leashes and outdoor cleanup bags, it makes sense to store them near the laundry room, garage, or mudroom door, close to where you come and go every day.
Cleaning supplies
The laundry room can be the ideal spot if you have drawers and cupboards available for shampoo, carpet cleaner, air freshener, old towels, accident pads and outdoor cleanup bags
Grooming
You may also want to store animal toys, brushes, nail clippers, and extra leashes in a clear shoe box or drawer. If your dog is fashion forward, keep clothes and bandanas close to your home’s exit point.
Food and treats
For a week’s worth of food and treats the pantry is a logical and convenient location. Dry food can be stored in a variety of sealable containers that keep it fresh, and prevent bugs, or your pet from raiding the stash when you’re not looking.
It might make sense to store the bulk items in another location, but if you have a large dog and prefer to keep his food in a single spot, you could purchase a bin that can hold a large bag of dry food, and one that has wheels for easy maneuvering.
If you travel with your dog, consider a trunk organizer for storing a booster seat or harness, blankets to protect your car’s upholstery, and for toys, water bowls, and any other small items.
Cat business
Cats need something dogs don’t, and that’s a litter box. The ideal solution for reducing the unpleasantness associated with it is to have an out-of-the-way place for kitty to take care of her needs. If you’re not fortunate enough to have a basement or an attached garage with a kitty door, you will need to find another location.
Luckily, there are covered litter boxes, self-cleaning litter boxes and even flushable solutions to reduce odors. I have also found that using a broom or small hand vacuum handy will reduce the amount of litter being tracked through the house.
9 lives full of fun
Anyone who owns a cat knows they like to climb, scratch, perch, and play. If you’re like most cat lovers you’ll have lots of mice, fluff balls, feathers dangling from sticks, and fresh or dried catnip on hand.
In my house toys regularly appear and disappear over time. And for cats, just about anything can be a toy. To keep them in check, but handy too, an open basket in one or more rooms can provide a convenient location. A covered storage bench is another great spot to hide the toy clutter when you need the house to look it’s best.
All the rest
Just like dogs, cats should have a file created for them, to store information about their health and other records. They also need a spot for food, medicines, and grooming supplies. And don’t forget the cat carrier to keep them from bolting when you arrive at your vet or other destination. Since carriers tend to be small and lightweight, I usually suggest an upper shelf in a closet or garage to store them when not in use.
Ode to pets
Our pets are there for us when we need them, providing unconditional love, making us laugh with their antics, and helping us get through tough times. We want to take care of them and provide for their needs. By designating places in our homes for the things they need, we can rest assured that we’re doing our best to thank them for all they give to us.
