Whether you have recently adopted a new furry friend or you’ve been a pet parent for years, you’re probably always looking for ways to make your life easier. As lovely as it is to have a trusted companion by your side at all times, pets can be hard work!
With the many stresses of life, owning a pet can be a great stress relief. Whether you’re worried about the COVID-19 pandemic or your increasing work responsibilities, your furry friend is there for support.
Luckily, there are lots of things that you can do to make being a pet parent easier, such as using a dog food subscription service or getting puppy training. Often, spending a little bit of extra money on these important can save you a lot of time and energy.
However, you don’t need to spend a bunch of money to make your life easier. In this article, we’ve got some affordable tips for every dog or cat owner to make things less stressful and more enjoyable.
Get Your Pet’s Favorite Food
Buying the right pet food is important to keep your furry friend healthy and content. When they are getting the nutrition that they need and the food that they genuinely enjoy, they can thrive.
When you buy food that your pet enjoys, they are less likely to turn their nose up at it, meaning you won’t be throwing away any leftovers. This will save you a lot of money over the course of your pet’s life.
If you are unsure exactly which foods are best for your pet, ask your vet for some guidance. They will be able to give you their expert recommendations based on your pet’s individual needs.
For example, some dog breeds require specific types of food, and if your pet has digestive issues or other health conditions, they might need to be on a special diet.
Use a dog food subscription service to save even more time and energy. You can sign up for a regular delivery of your pet’s favorite food so your dog can eat a nutritious diet without you even needing to leave your home.
Plan Your Long Term Budget
When you have a pet, you can expect several ongoing costs. In return, you get a new best friend!
Over the course of a pet’s life, you can expect to pay up to $9,900 every year. Not only do you need to get the basics like food, bedding, and toys, but you may also need to fork out for grooming services, dog walkers, and veterinary bills.
All of these things can add up over time and if you fail to set your budget effectively, it can come back to bite you. As soon as you become a pet parent, you need to consider how you’re going to budget to meet your pet’s needs.
You also need to keep a small emergency fund aside to ensure you can pay for any unexpected bills. Unfortunately, you can’t predict accidents and injuries but if your pet needs emergency surgery or ongoing treatment, you can use your emergency fund instead of pulling from your other bank accounts.
Hire Professional Groomers and Dog Walkers
Owning any pet is a full-time job but being a dog parent can be particularly time consuming. Cats don’t require the same attention and care as dogs in most cases.
If you’re happy to spend some extra money in return for saving time, hiring professional dog groomers and dog walkers could be the answer.
Instead of bathing your dog at home, brushing their fur, and cutting their nails, you can leave it to the professionals. They will make your dog look stunning by the end of a grooming session while you’re out and about completing your other errands and daily jobs.
Similarly, if you struggle to find time to walk your dog every day, why not get somebody else to do it? Hiring a professional dog walker is a cost-effective way to make your life easier.
Most dog walkers look after several dogs at once. Your dog will get the opportunity to socialize and interact with other animals, which can contribute to their overall health and well-being.
Get Scratching Posts For Your Home
This next tip is particularly helpful if you are a cat owner but can apply to dogs in some cases.
Cats enjoy scratching on different materials to file down or sharpen their claws. They especially seem to enjoy digging their claws into your favorite sofa or your brand-new divan bed.
To prevent your cat from scratching half of the furniture in your home, get a bunch of cat scratching mats and place them around your home. Aim to have one scratching mat in the rooms where your cats tend to spend most of their time.
It might also be worth getting a flat scratching may but you can place it outside your bedroom door overnight if your cat tends to pluck at the carpet when you are asleep. You can also get special sticky tape to lay down on carpets to prevent them from plucking.
Cat scratching mats are made out of special material that can help to file down your cat’s claws when they get too long. This means you won’t need to cut their nails yourself, saving you time, and saving your carpets and furniture from being ruined.
Protect Your Car Seats
If you plan to take your dog out for long walks through muddy trails and wet forests, you might end up with a very muddy car after a few weeks. To save you from having to wipe and clean your car, place waterproof mats over the seats before you let your dog jump in.
Even if your dog is sitting inside a cage when in your car, they can still end up getting mud and wet fur everywhere! They can also accidentally dig their claws into the seat as they get in and out of the cage. Using protective mats saves you time by keeping your seats clean and free from scratches.
