As all pet parents understand, housekeeping becomes much more of a challenge when you have multiple pets in the home. In fact, with over 54.4 million households in the US having a dog and 42.9 families owning a cat, many families also have multiple pets including homes with both a dog and cat. The more pets that share a home with their humans, the more difficult it becomes to keep home hygiene and cleanliness up to a safe, clean, and comfortable standard.
So, what are some important hygiene-helping considerations when households own multiple pets, all of whom have to eat, sleep, and poop—all within the shared space of our homes?
Managing Flea Maintenance
One of the first considerations, when you have multiple pets, is keeping up good protection against fleas. Fleas can potentially carry diseases, but more commonly they cause itching and irritations, not only on pets but often on pet owners as well. Nothing is more embarrassing than having a guest in your home discover they are getting bitten by fleas. Fleas also cause skin problems on your pets that can lead to excessive shedding, increased odor, and other issues that lead to an unpleasant and unsanitary home environment.
If you have noticed fleas in your home, then it’s time to have your house treated to prevent further infestation. Fleas multiply rapidly, with a single female flea capable of laying up to 2000 eggs in her lifetime. Thorough vacuuming of carpets, cushions, and pet beds can help to remove flea larvae, which can burrow deep into hiding inside fabrics.
The best way of dealing with a flea infestation is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. This means your pets should be treated for fleas with animal-type specific products such as a good flea treatment for dogs in either drop form or taken internally. Cats should also be treated, but never treat a cat with flea products intended for dogs—even those marketed for small dogs.
Preventing Pet Accidents
Dogs should be walked often to prevent accidents inside the home. Most dogs really do NOT want to go to the bathroom in the house, as their ashamed faces will immediately let you know. It’s important to get to know your dog’s typical habits so you are aware of when he most likely needs to go out. Most dogs need to go out first thing in the morning, after eating, playing, or exercise, and periodically throughout the day. It’s essential to allow them outside to “go” before bedtime.
If your dog does have an accident, it should be cleaned up as completely as possible with a cleaner intended for pet accidents. Many of these cleaning products contain special enzymes to break down pet urine and feces for more complete cleaning and odor removal.
Cats should have a litter box that’s scooped out daily, with the litter completely replaced at least every two weeks. Cats are finicky, and they don’t like to dig around in a dirty litter box. They will sometimes show their displeasure by relieving themselves near the box rather than in it, or worse, they may find a plush carpet, plant pot, or even the fluffy comforter on your bed to be a better alternative than stepping foot in a filthy cat litter box.
Fending off the Fur
Both dogs and cats shed their fur on a daily basis, as well as a seasonal “blowout” where the shedding becomes excessive. This is just a normal animal characteristic, but it can be irritating inside our homes when we find ourselves constantly fighting pet fur. While you will never win the war against pet fur, there are some tips to help you keep winning the daily battle.
Thorough vacuuming with a vacuum that’s improved for pet fur removal is essential. Many come with attachments to help remove fur from hard-to-reach places such as deep inside couch cushions and on stair risers.
Swiping a slightly dampened dryer sheet over sofa cushions and dog beds is a great way to remove pet hair and also leave a fresh scent. Dryer sheets can also easily remove pet hair from corners, baseboards, curtains, lampshades, and other hard-to-reach areas. Try brushing a dryer sheet over your clothing before leaving home to remove pet hair from your clothes.
Frequent brushing of your pet’s fur can help to remove loose hair from your pet before it can be shed all over your home. Many great pet brushes are specially designed to remove loose fur. Brush your pet outside or on a porch in order to keep loose hair from flying around your house. (Throw it out in your yard for the birds. They love to line their nests with fluffy pet fur!)
Fighting Pet Food Mess
Keeping a splash-mat under your pet’s food and water bowl will help to protect flooring from pet food spills and water splashes. These mats can be easily wiped clean. It’s also important for your pet’s health to keep their bowls clean. According to the Center for Veterinary Medicine, pet food bowls should be cleaned with warm water and mild dish soap after every meal. Water bowls should be cleaned at least every other day.
Store your pet food in a climate-controlled space where it is safe from rodents. If you chose to store good dry dog food in a lidded bin, place the entire bag inside the bin rather than dumping the kibble out. Dog food bags are designed to keep the food in a dark, dry environment to prevent it from deteriorating.
Keeping Your Pet Clean
Most dogs should be bathed between every three months to every other week. Long-haired dogs whose fur may collect more debris may need to be bathed more often than shorter-haired dogs. The frequency with which you bathe your dog also depends on his activity level and how dirty he gets when playing outside. It’s important to keep your dog clean so that your home stays clean, however, over-bathing a dog can cause skin irritation. A dog’s skin produces oils for coating fur in order to protect their skin. Bathing too frequently can cause more scratching and shedding.
Cats don’t typically require bathing unless they accidentally encounter a skunk or get into something outdoors that is smelly. Cats do an excellent self-grooming job and rarely have a bad odor.
Having pets brings joy into a home, but it also brings dirt, food, grime, and pests. It’s important for the health and comfort of both pets and family members to keep your pets and your home as clean as possible.
