We have a lot of animals in our 640 square foot home… 2 dogs, 1 cats, and 6 baby chickens (currently). At any given time, I will be dog sitting or have a chicken inside the house after a bath. It can be mayhem! But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I read recently that people are adopting pets more and more these days and it really made me happy. But in case you’re staying home and struggling to have a pet in a small space, I wanted to share a few tips that have helped us across the years!
My Best Tips for Having Pets in a Small Space
Designate an area for their bed
Each pet needs their own space, no matter what. For us, that means that Lucy has a small sheepskin on the back of the sofa so she can wait for Sean to come home for lunch. Noodle has a bed near a vent and on Sean’s side of the bed because he likes him more than me! And Georgette has a bed in a spot that gets the best afternoon sunlight.
Each animal should have an eating area
We are very lucky that our dogs are not territorial or food aggressive. That was actually one of our biggest concerns when Sean and I first introduced them. We still make sure that each dog and the cat have their own place to eat because it helps to keep the peace. I also recently trained the dogs that they only get meals if they are sitting patiently on the dining room rug, waiting for me. So usually about an hour before they actually eat, that’s where you can find them!
Plan toy storage
It drives me crazyyy when the dog toys are strewn about all over the place. Every night before bed, I gather up all of the toys and put them in a basket by our front door (you can see it here). The dogs will undoubtedly get the toys out again the next day, but it always makes me happy to get them put away. Also, this practice makes for way fewer trip hazards!
You will need a really good vacuum
Yeah… definitely invest in the best vacuum you can afford when you bring an animal into your home — no matter the size of it! Animal hair is especially noticeable when you have pets in small spaces because it just doesn’t have anywhere else to go. One day, I really want a robot vacuum…
Accept that there will be odors
I’m not saying that you should accept really really bad smells… but there is a chance your home will smell like there are pets living there. It happens to the best of us! I’ve shared loads of tips for making your home smell amazing, so that’s a really great place to start. Usually, I have at least one candle burning when I’m home and use baking soda to help deodorize the litter box.
What other tips do you think help when having pets in a small space?? Leave a comment and let me know!
