Owning a pet is one of life’s most rewarding experiences.

RSPCA Northern Region Senior Manager Donna Hough said a safe environment was essential for pets.

"Check and secure your home in the same way you would if you had small children," Hough said.

Outside:

• First and foremost secure your yard. Check for gaps under the house and make sure fences are sturdy and high enough. If you’re in an apartment with a balcony, check for areas where your pet could escape, fall or get stuck.
  
• Make sure gates around pool areas are always shut. If your dog likes a swim, familiarise it first, making sure it knows where the steps are to get out.
• Certain plants and weeds are toxic to animals, so be aware of what’s growing in your garden.

Inside:

• Check for small spaces where an animal could get trapped
• Keep poisons out of reach with childproof latches on the doors.
• Keep electrical wires tidy and out of the way − they are prone to chewing by both puppies and kittens.
• Cats love to climb, so even those high bathroom windows need to be shut securely.
• Re-think vertical blinds and long tassels where animals can get caught. Fabric shades are a better option.
• Many young animals won’t have encountered glass or sliding doors before so stick plastic decals on them to ensure the animal doesn’t run headfirst into them.

Hough said water can be another hazard.

"Always make sure the toilet lid is down as cats in particular have a tendency to jump right in," she said.

Water bowls should be filled appropriately so that animals can’t drown and mop buckets need to be emptied − especially if they still contain cleaning product in them.

Of course pet-proofing your home isn’t just about safety, it’s about the overall happiness of your pet (not to mention your sanity as an owner).

It's vital to your pet's happiness and temperament to make their new home as comfortable as possible in those first few days.

Pet area:

• Hough recommends giving your pet its own calm space that they know is just for them to help your pet feel comfortable and safe. Esteem building is important for the animal, but just as important for the longevity of your soft furnishings!
• It’s also useful to give them a separate confined space like a penned-off area or a small room − especially if you go out. This teaches them about boundaries and also protects you from a ransacked house on your return!

  Home furnishings:

  • Let’s face it, you can’t avoid toilet mistakes. Make sure you stock up on all the necessary cleaning products and newspaper for toilet training your pet. Tiles and sheet linoleum are great pet-friendly flooring, while machine washable carpets are easier to keep clean. Consider sealing wooden floors with polyurethane to stop unpleasant smells lingering.
  • If you allow your pet on the furniture, give it one section on the sofa. Make sure you have slip covers that you can easily throw in the washing machine or a throw that’s easily cleaned of hair and those "little accidents".

  Above all, Hough stresses that successfully integrating a new pet into the family is down to "preparing in advance to allow enough time with your pet as it adjusts to its unfamiliar surroundings − and a healthy dose of patience!"

  Keep these pointers in the forefront of your mind and you and your new pet will be set up for many years of happiness together.