Decorating and your pet

[Julie-Ann]

Has having a pet changed the decor in your home?

Be it in a positive or a negative way - pets often change the decor in our homes.
It can be all the hair that is now floating around the house or the piddle stains on the carpet.
Or it can be the cute toy they love that always seems to be laying in the middle of the floor.

The biggest change to our decor was when we got a new kitten. I sent my husband and son down to the pet store to buy a scratching post for her. I'm thinking something beige coloured about 30cm x 30cm, that tucked into a corner in the family room. What came home was a bright green 3 storey cat hotel about 90cm high and 120cm wide, with a hammock included!:eek: Somehow it just didn't work with my decor. It now is out in the garage and we have a small beige scratching post sitting in the corner.

I'd love to hear how your pet has influenced the decor in your homes.

[rachel]

We've got two furry beasts and highly polished floorboards.. when the door is open and there is a breeze you can see little ***** of fur bouncing down the stairs..

The cats (well, the younger one) have also added some abstract scratch designs to the back and sides of our dark leather couches and we too have a giant scratching post in our garage.

The biggest change is that the house is riddled with cat doors and we have a cat run out the back! It is fully netted in. I'm a pretty strident supporter of cat registration legislation and I practice what I preach :)

[Julie-Ann]

Our cat went through her scratching phase on the couch as well, but because it is macrosuede I was able to cut the little threads she had pulled, so it's not so noticeable.
She still attacks the curtains every now and again.
But we love her and when she jumps on your lap my decor doesn't seem so important.:)

[Julie]

Pets... after Sooky died I resolved never to have another dog because of the hair, everywhere and I mean everywhere! Well my husband and duaghter outnumbered me and we now have a new puppy in my nice new home! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! I have surrendered and live once again with dog food -yuk, dog poo yuck yuck and dognesss. BUT I do love it when he is cute and cuddly. I have compromised by excusing myself entirely from all the tiresome jobs that go with pet care, that is definitely daughter and hubby's roll!

[la belle]

We have a delightful Toy Poodle/Bijon puppy who we just adore.In the laundry is a lovely pink fluffy bed for her to sleep on at night and in the family room ,we have a wrought iron dog bed which is very in keeping with our french style decorating and she actually likes to sleep on it. However, to stop her going upstairs and weeing on the beautiful carpet we have made a cardboard barrier
which she cant get over.It sort of blends with the wood floors!!! However, if anyone has some tips on how to deter dogs from peeing on carpets, I'd love to know, plus any tips on getting pee stains out of carpets! :o

[chelseeratta]

la belle, instead of the cardboard you can get a kiddie gate, that allows you to open up like a little door, you can get them at target, baby shops etc.

as for the peeing factor, being in the rug business we love having rugs down, but our 3yr old chihuahua is terrible, he pees on everything (****pile rugs more than flat) and we have tried everything, including the deterent sprays which smell down right horrible! here are the three steps for cleaning anything wool that has fresh pee on it! incl rugs and carpet

1. Cold water rinse
2. One teaspoon of wool detergent with one teaspoon of white vinegar in one litre of water
3. Clear household disinfectant

Keep in mind that you will need to call a professional if its an old stain

[anastasiaC]

i dont have any pets...just some birds and they're outside in a large aviary....but wow Bright green kitty house - thats a nice challenge to co-ordinate with your style! hehee