Despite being your best friends in the entire world, pets can sometimes make a real mess. They damage the furniture and sometimes wreak havoc on the home. For pet owners who don’t want to give up on living a peaceful life with their fluffy companions, we’re going to enlist some of the best cleaning hacks, DIY toys, and many other tips that will make your home a happy place for pets and people alike.

And remember, whatever happens, you can always educate your pet and find ways to distract their attention in healthier ways. A relentless pet is only looking for some action, and you can help them with that!

Conceal the litter boxes.

Cats require easy access to their litter box, but the vast majority of homeowners don’t like keeping their feline’s toilet in plain sight. You can eliminate that eyesore and give your cat much-needed privacy. How do I do that?

Easy! Secret away the litter box in an old laundry hamper or small cabinet. Then, cut a cat-sized door in the side so your beloved cat can come and go as she pleases. Or, you can slide the panel of an old media cabinet open. Pro tip: the DIY litter box holder might help cut down on unwanted pet odors and tracked litter.

Lay down a mess-minimizing mat.

Even if parrots and other birds are wonderful pets that are loaded with personality, they still tend to make a mess every now and then. You could always try placing a desk chair mat underneath your birdcage to keep all the stray seeds and droppings in one place. It will be easier to clean it up!

Get clever with kibble storage.

Those of you who have a four-legged friend are usually well advised to store dry pet food in a large plastic pitcher. The container will keep the kibble fresh, and it will also allow you to pour the food directly into the pet’s bowl. Trust me, if you do this, you will realize what a breeze mealtimes can actually be!

Tackle pet hair with a squeegee.

Probably one of the biggest downsides of owning a dog (if there’s any) is that never-ending collection of pet hair that piles up pretty much everywhere around your home. You can eliminate the fur from your carpet and upholstery by simply scraping those surfaces with a window squeegee. The bathroom tool will keep the hairballs at bay, hence reducing the allergens indoors.

Build a DIY pet enclosure.

If you would like to save the cash you could spend on a Critter Cage at a pet store, just make your own DIY version. You can do that from scratch or by simply transforming a suitably sized shelving unit. There are multiple tutorials for homemade pet cages around the internet, and most of them require a bit more effort than drilling holes and installing some glass or even clear plastic.

The finished product will probably be more attractive anyway (and better suited to your decor) than any other out-of-the-box options you would normally find in pet stores. Pet lovers who aren’t that handy can easily order a small animal hutch from Etsy.

Make your own pet odor eliminator.

Unpleasant pet odors can seep into carpets and leave a lingering scent in your home. If you want to get rid of those pesky and unpleasant smells, you can whip up a DIY carpet powder and sprinkle it on your floors whenever you vacuum for a little boost of freshness.

Provide built-in food and water bowls.

Pet bowls often slide around hardwood and tile floors during mealtime. This could potentially lead to spilling water and kibbles all around the place. Well, you can easily put an end to the mess by buying or constructing a built-in receptacle for those bowls. All you have to do is measure and cut bowl-size holes into a small bench (or a chest) and then lower your pet’s food and water into the holes.

Build a stylish pet bed.

Instead of completely relying on a store-bought cushion or pet furniture, you might want to consider building a DIY bed for your dog or cat with a couple of basic tools. You can simply paint and decorate the bed to match your home’s decor for a uniquely personalized touch.

Craft a carpet-lined cat tree.

Cats love climbing and scratching, but all those acrobatics can be quite destructive if you ask me. You can keep your feline from creating all that chaos and completely ruining your furniture by making some carpet-lined cat trees and shelves.

Your kitten will be able to climb without any consequence and have a designated target for its little claws!

Use a doggy doormat for muddy paws.

Whenever it rains, your dog might inevitably head for the muddiest part of the yard. It’s just a thing that dogs like doing. To make sure that your canine doesn’t trail wet muck all around the house, choose one entry door for use during inclement weather.

Also, keep a towel and a heavy-duty doormat there, and train the dog to stay on the mat until you’ve cleaned its paws. This way, there won’t be any mud stains on the carpet!

Upcycle a sweatshirt into a dog bed.

Instead of throwing away your old sweatshirts after your next closet cleanout, you could keep one and fashion it into a functional dog bed. With only a couple of materials on hand, such as a sweatshirt, scissors, and padding fabric, you can whip up a dog bed! Oh, and let’s not forget: you might also need a needle and a thread, but who doesn’t have those at home?

Keep a bag of walnuts on hand for scratches.

If you have a pet but you also love wood furniture, then you’re probably having a “fun time.” Truth be told, these two combined are the perfect recipe for disaster. When scratches occur, you can simply rub a shelled walnut on the scratch in the direction of the wood grain, and the surface will look as good as new.

This super quick fix is one of the best, most affordable, and easiest ways to fix scratches on wood and keep your furniture looking like you don’t even own pets with claws.

Bring a pantry treat to bathtime.

So many dogs out there hate baths, but let’s be honest: without the occasional scrub, they will bring indoors all the odors and mess. If your dog has a hard time staying still in the bathtub, you could try this super simple and effective hack: spread a generous amount of peanut butter on the tile wall so they can lick while you rinse them down.

This will keep your dog focused on something other than the bath, and it’s also extremely easy to rinse off the shower when you’re done.

Discourage curious felines with aluminum foil.

If you have a cat that oftentimes confuses your favorite furniture piece for a scratching post, then you’ll want to try this hack. For one reason or another, cats don’t like the texture of aluminum foil. In fact, they will avoid it as hard as they can.

Some cat owners spread a sheet of aluminum foil on their kitchen counters, wrapped around the furniture legs, and even surrounding houseplants to keep their cats out of trouble.

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