Solutions for Keeping Your Pet Out of the Kitchen

Day 3 of our 30 Days to the Best Pet Home is all about keeping your pet safe by keeping them out of the kitchen. On Day 1, we talked about pet-proofing the cabinets (which is still the best solution for cats), but today I want to talk about some additional safety solutions, specifically gates to keep your pet out of the kitchen.

Why is it important to keep your pet out of the kitchen?

Simply put, it’s a safety issue.

Even though your pet might not be able to get into the kitchen cabinets and eat anything dangerous (thanks to your awesome pet-proofing), they could still be exposed to toxins if you’re cooking and you drop poisonous food items on the ground.

Secondly, they could get hurt in the kitchen. Most things in the kitchen are either hot or sharp. Chances are if you are in the kitchen making a delicious meal, your dog wants to be in the kitchen too. Especially if they think they might reap the benefits of a few dropped pieces of delicious people food. However, in the kitchen, they could easily get burned, or get something hot or sharp dropped on them.

Therefore, for your pet’s safety and your peace of mind, it’s a good idea to keep your pet out of the kitchen.

Now, let’s talk about gate options.

If You Own a Home

If I owned a home, I would want to put together, a permanent gate in the kitchen entry way. The great news is, a DIY doggy gate can be customized to your style and fit seamlessly with your decor.

My father has over 40 years of experience in the lumber industry, and he recommended Pine as the wood of choice for building a DIY doggy gate and sticking to a budget.

I have pinned an option below that links to a blog post from Yellow Brick Home. This post has full DIY instructions for building your own doggy gate, including materials. (I really love Yellow Brick Home, and if you are enjoying this series, I highly recommend you check out their site!)

 

If You Rent

If you rent, you may not have the opportunity to build your own doggy gate. I know my husband and I don’t have the option to put anything too permanent in our place. Therefore, we opt for a good ol’ baby gate.

However, we are lucky that Rooney doesn’t challenge this baby gate, because he could definitely knock it over. If you are worried that your dog might knock over a baby gate, you might want to try a free-standing gate that is a little sturdier, like this one from Wayfair or this one from This Old House.

I would love to hear your feedback and ideas. How are you keeping your pet safe from the kitchen?

Disclaimer: I am part of the Wayfair Homemakers Program. I am occasionally provided with Wayfair products in exchange for my honest opinion. My Kid Has Paws strives to share only products we believe would benefit our readers.