This archive report was first published on 24 November 2019.
Protect Your Belongings from Pet Damage ¶
As a pet owner, it's not uncommon to find your belongings damaged or destroyed by your furry friends. However, with the right strategies and tools, you can prevent this from happening.
According to a Wirecutter review, one effective way to redirect your cat's scratching impulses is to place a cat scratcher near their favorite scratching spots. The reviewer, who tested dozens of cat scratchers with the help of 74 cats and kittens at a local rescue group, recommends these as their favorite scratching posts.
When it comes to preventing pets from peeing on everything, it's essential to direct their behavior onto pet-friendly alternatives and reinforce good behavior with treats or praise. Pads like the Iris Neat 'n Dry can aid in housebreaking dogs who think everything in sight is a tree, and they work well for elderly dogs who need a designated place to go indoors.
For cats who sneak behind the sofa to urinate, placing a strip of aluminum foil back there can be an effective deterrent. However, if they continue to relieve themselves nearby, it's likely due to a change in their environment, such as a new scented cat litter or a smaller litter box. Reverting back to their bathroom preferences or scooping the litter box daily can be a quick fix.
Other times, marking behavior can be a sign of a bigger concern, such as stress or pain. Synthetic pheromone sprays and diffusers can reduce territorial marking and alleviate newfound stress. Wirecutter recommends Feliway products for cats and Adaptil products for dogs.
But if your pet howls when they're marking, or you see blood in their urine, it's best to get them to the vet to rule out a urinary tract infection or other medical concerns.
Finally, to stop your pets from chewing on your things, keep your home-office buddy safe by wrangling tangled-up cords with reusable cable ties, cable sleeves, and a power strip hider. Then lift them out of paw's reach and secure them with a wall hook or tape them to the underside of your desk.
