When you have pets, designing and maintaining a pet-friendly backyard doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Create zones specifically for relaxing and playing. Make your outdoor living spaces a good place for your four-legged friends to be by incorporating simple, inexpensive ways where they can be safe and healthy.
A Tall, Strong Fence
A tall, strong fence is the first step to making your backyard pet-friendly. While, regardless of what type of pet your family has, it should be tall (at least six feet) and strong enough to deter runaways and adventurers, cats and dogs have different fence requirements.
Cats
Since cats like to climb, it should have an overhang that curves inward to prevent them from scaling the fence. You can also install rollers that have same affect.
Keep trees trimmed back and remove any patio furniture near fences to prevent cats from using them as ladders.
Any type of fencing material is suitable for felines.
Dogs
Dogs like to jump, but they also like to dig. Fences intended to keep dogs inside the backyard should include a wire mesh extension a minimum of two inches above ground and six to eight inches below ground.
They prefer to be able to see what’s going on – select a picket fence with gaps, a trellis fence, or a chain link fence.
Wood can splinter. Choose fencing materials such as metal, wire mesh, and vinyl to discourage chewing and scratching.
Pet-Friendly Landscaping
Dogs like to chew when agitated, and lick and taste when they’re exploring. Cats instinctively graze for digestive reasons; also, out of boredom or playfulness. But the danger is the same – a landscaping plan for a pet-friendly backyard should include non-toxic plants such as basil, carrots, zucchini, beans, camellias (flowering shrub), coral bells, (perennials), rosemary, and sunflowers.
Pets just being pets can destroy a traditional grass lawn. Consider replacing the lawn with artificial turf or ground covers like microclover (recovers from pet urine) and creeping thyme (handles foot traffic). If you prefer grass, replace your current lawn with RTF grass (naturally repairs itself) available in seed or sod rolls.
Choose pet-friendly mulch and eco-friendly lawn care products. Avoid traditional chemicals and insecticides.
If you have a compost pile or composter in your backyard, keep pets away from it.
To discourage dogs who love to dig from digging up your garden, create a designated area filled with soft soil or sand. Or edge flowerbeds with pet-friendly materials such as brick pavers, concrete blocks, and metal or wood with rounded tops.
To discourage cats from digging in your herb and vegetable gardens, keep the earth moist – they do not enjoy muddy paws.
A Place of Their Own
In addition to spaces where they can play, include places pets can call their own.
Cats
A catio is a patio for cats. Designed to keep felines safe while outside, catios are outdoor areas typically enclosed with mesh panels or wire fencing.
While cats don’t like getting wet, they do like drinking from moving water. Install a fountain to give them a place to hydrate after stalking birds or investigating “intruders.”
Give your cats something to scratch. Install a scratching post. Purchase an indoor one that is made of wood or vinyl (not fabric) and anchor it in concrete so it doesn’t blow away or get toppled when in use.
Dogs
Add a dog house for naps and to get out of the hot sun. Alternatives to a dog house are a dog bed on the patio or place a body pillow under a tree.
Install a water feature. Just like kids, dogs like to play in a sprinkler on a warm day. Buy a kids pool just for your pooch – purchase one made of heavy-duty plastic so it can withstand paws and claws. Create a doggie shower area – a good place to play and also a handy place to rinse off mud after a walk in the rain or playing in puddles.
Build them an obstacle course – include ramps, hurdles, and crawl tunnels that test their agility and to have as much fun as possible.
