You’ve decided that it’s time to open up your home to a furry friend. That’s great! Whether it be a cat, dog or any other type of animal, there are important steps you need to follow to ensure your home is pet-friendly.

Gather All Your Cords

You don’t want your pet to get tangled in electrical wires and cords, so make sure to gather and tie the cords together where possible. For example, behind your TV, there’s a good chance that there are lots of cords. You’ll want to group these together and tie them with a zip tie.

Always Check Your Cabinets and Drawers

Small pets, especially kittens and such, are prone to sneaking their way behind drawers and cabinets when you have them open. Sometimes, these animals are so tiny that even once you close the cabinets and drawers, they’ll fit without you noticing you closed them up. Because of this, always do a double check before accidentally losing one of your furry friends.

Clean Your Countertops with the Right Cleaner

Did you know your cat can jump about seven times the length of his or her tail? It’s because of this that you’ll likely find it roaming on your kitchen table and countertops. Keeping this in mind, make sure to clean these surfaces using antibacterial soap; this way your cat won’t be trekking around dirty paws.

Keep the Lids Closed

From your trash cans to your toilets, always keep the lids closed. Even though cats aren’t the biggest fans of trash and water, they’re still curious, and if they manage to get into either of these areas, this can lead to a huge –not to mention nasty– mess.