Pet-friendly designs a growing decor trend
When it comes to pampering their pets, Canadians put their money where their mouths are, spending billions each year to house, feed and amuse these cuddly companions.
More than half of all households in the country now have a pet, and about 900,000 people acquired one during the pandemic, according to research by Abacus Data. The most popular are of course cats and dogs.
Higher-end home design now often includes a mud room entrance for dogs, some of which have shower-spray functions for dirty paws and mud-caked tails. Designers like Atlanta-based
Lisa Brooks considers the needs of four-legged residents in the homes she works on, and adds clever features like an in-drawer feeding station in a kitchen made with custom-configured Elmwood cabinets.
For other examples of pet-conscious design, go to aroundthehouse.ca.
For cat lovers, there's Catit, which sells foods, toys and other fun gear. Some serve practical purposes, like a Pixi Fountain that filters clean water for drinking, and is easier on the pet's neck than trying to twist its head under an unreliable tap. When the cat-shaped 2.5-litre reservoir is near empty, kitty's “nose” lights up. A stainless steel lid is dishwasher safe.
To keep fur babies busy, there's a motion-activated dancing fish with a refillable catnip pocket. It's powered by a rechargeable battery. There's also a selection of handsome animal-shaped corrugated cardboard scratcher/ loungers (also with catnip) that will deter furniture damage.
Toileting dogs in highrise urban settings can be a challenge — especially in poor weather and for people whose work takes them from home for long hours. Like Alain Courchesne, the Montreal-based interior designer who devised a stylish solution to pet hygiene needs after adopting an Italian Greyhound.
The result is the Canadian-made Doggy Bathroom. Launched in 2019 after a Kickstarter that raised 130 per cent of its goal in 45 days, the brand is already moving into France and the U.K.
Doggy Bathroom consists of a non-slip rubber base that comes in four colours: two types of grey, blue and pink. It holds absorbent pads, which can be purchased on an individual package or subscription basis. For privacy, there's a sleek cover made from recyclable, low-emission plastic that can be adapted to male and female dogs. There are two sizes (71 by 51 by 41 centimetres and 60 by 46 by 33 cm).
For extra comfort, you can place a washable, absorbent microfibre mat at the entrance. New colours and patterns for it will come seasonally. The website has training tips, as well as installation direction, sales, and support.
Because there will always be accidents with pets, KLIIN has launched two new Bio-pods to deal with pet stains and odour. Also Montreal-based, KLIIN was one of the first companies to make recyclable pods of cleaning solution that users mix with water. Each recyclable pod — about the size of a wine cork — screws onto the top of a 750-millilitre spray bottle filled with water. A quick shake and the pod's contents dissolve instantly.
The design drastically reduces its carbon footprint, and formulas are highly biodegradable. I've tested several of KLIIN'S products in the past, and they all performed well.
One of the two new Pet Bio Pods is an almond blossom-scented fabric and surface cleaner; the other an unscented odour absorber made from enzymes and micro-organisms that rapidly accelerate decomposition of organic matter to eliminate smell at the source.
An efficient vacuum that gets regular use is a must for pet hair, especially in homes with allergies or asthma sufferers.
Shark has a new cordless pet stick vacuum for hard and soft surfaces with a handy detachable hand-held unit — very useful for the car, Rover's favourite chair or a food station. It runs for up to 40 minutes in a standard mode, and the full stick is a manageable 7.5 pounds.