Pets sometimes feel like humanity’s greatest gift, but there are times when they feel like little devils. The list of things pets do that annoy us is pretty long, and we certainly don’t have the time to cover them all. Fortunately for you, we’re here to let you in on some of the more irritating things they do, as well as how to fix them. That way, you can convince your parents that you will know how to handle your pet even when they’re being a pain.
A key thing to note before we begin is that if you are getting a pet that will be in a cage all day, you probably won’t have to worry about these things. It’s hard to do annoying things in a confined location.
Scratching or Chewing on Your Things
This is the habit that will likely frustrate your parents the most, so you’ll want to ensure that you have this one covered. We’ll let you know that declawing your pet or yelling at them is never the answer. The best way to fix this problem is to give them something else to use, like a scratching post or chew toy. Both of these actions are instinctual and won’t be able to be broken.
If the other objects don’t stop them from doing these things to your parents’ furniture, then you’ll need to look into a chew deterrent spray. These are pretty effective, but for added measure, you should make a habit out of not allowing your pets on the furniture they’re intent on destroying. When you’re out of the house, you’ll likely need to crate them to keep it from happening when you’re not around.
Eating Food That Isn’t Theirs
Whether it’s human food, food that isn’t theirs, or things that aren’t food at all, pets get curious and eat stuff they shouldn’t. Obviously, every once in a while isn’t a bad thing, but if they make a habit of it, it’s going to be a problem. If they’re eating your food off the counter, then you need to get better about putting it away when you finish. If they’re eating other things, then a bit of training will do them some good. Just make sure you don’t yell at them while doing it.
Leaving Messes All Over
Now, it’s time for the final thing pets do that annoy us. It doesn’t matter if it’s their food and water, loose fur, or bathroom messes—all of these will annoy you and your parents, especially if someone gets it all over themself. For most of these, properly training your pet will be the best avenue for you to take. Pets tend to make more messes when they’re young, so you can easily train them out of it as long as you put in the effort.
For issues like shedding hair, obviously, you’ll just have to deal with this one as it comes. Luckily, there are many ways to clean stray hair and other messes with ease. If you’re quick about it, you might even be able to clean things up without your parents ever finding out.