What to Do With a Cat During a House Renovation

If you’re a cat owner and you’re planning a house renovation or any other home improvement projects, it’s important to consider your furry friend’s safety and well-being during the construction process.

Our Cheshire home renovations experts are here with some tips on what to do with your cat during a house renovation:

1. Keep Your Cat Safe And Away From The Construction Area

Cats are naturally curious creatures and may want to explore the construction area, which can be dangerous for them.

It’s important to keep your cats in a separate room or area of the house that is far away from the construction area. This should be a safe place that will ensure that your cat doesn’t accidentally get injured or escape. By following these tips, you can ensure that your cat stays safe and healthy during a house renovation.

Place physical barriers like baby gates or doors to block off the area where the renovation is taking place, aka, cat-proofing the area. This will prevent your cat from accidentally wandering into the construction area and getting injured.

If your cat needs to cross through the construction area to access food, water, or the litter box, provide a clear pathway for them. This could be a covered walkway or tunnel that keeps them safe from falling debris or sharp objects.

If you need to let your cat into the work area for any reason, make sure to supervise them closely. Keep them on a leash or in a carrier, and only allow them around the construction project and the construction workers for a short period of time.

If you’re unable to keep your cats away from the construction area, consider hiring a cat sitter to look after them during the renovation. This will ensure that your cat is safe and well-cared for while the construction work is taking place.

2. Consider Boarding Your Cat For Its Own Safety

Boarding your cats at a cattery or pet hotel can be a good option if your home renovations are going to be major projects that involve a lot of noise and dust. It can take a long time to renovate a house so here are some things to consider when choosing a boarding facility.

Research different catteries or pet hotels in your area and read reviews to find a reputable facility that is well-regarded and well-known by other cat owners.

Schedule a visit to the facility to get a sense of the environment and the level of care provided. Look for clean and comfortable accommodations, and make sure that the facility is staffed by knowledgeable and caring professionals.

Make sure that the facility can accommodate your cat’s specific needs. For example, if your cat has special dietary requirements or needs medication, make sure that the cattery or hotel is equipped to handle your cat’s needs.

Book your cat’s stay well in advance to ensure that there is availability during your home renovation period.

While boarding your cat can provide a safe and comfortable environment for them during a home renovation, it’s important to remember that this can also cause your cat stress throughout the whole experience.

To help ease your cat’s anxiety, consider bringing along their favorite toys or bedding, maybe even their own litter tray if the cattery allows it, and ask the boarding facility if they offer pets any additional services like playtime or cuddle sessions.

Additionally, make sure to communicate any special instructions or requests with the boarding facility to ensure that your cats receive the best care possible.

3. A Safe And Quiet Room

If you decide to keep your cat at home during the renovation, make sure to create a safe and comfortable space for them. This could be a room that is far away area from the loud construction sounds and workers, where your cat can have access to food, water, a litter box, and their favorite toys. You may also want to consider using calming aids to go into the room, like a plug in diffuser that emits pheromones or herbal remedies to help your cats feel more relaxed and comfortable.

Whether you’re renovating to increase property value or implementing home renovations before selling, this is always a good idea to keep your feline safe.

Choose a room that is as far away from the loud noises of the building works area as possible, and that is relatively quiet and peaceful. This will help your cat feel safe and secure, and reduce their stress levels. The bedroom is a good choice for a safe room as cats will usually spend the night with their owner as they feel safe and secure there. Make sure to put some sort of sign on the door though as to let the construction workers know that your cat is in there and therefore will not be let out.

Provide your cat with a comfortable and cozy bed to sleep in. You can use a soft cat bed, a cushion, or even a cardboard box lined with blankets or towels in a quiet room. Perhaps even use blankets and towels that they usually sleep on or with as this will smell like home to them and be more comfortable when they are separated as the construction begins.

Make sure that your cat has easy access to their food, water, and litter trays. Keep their food and water bowls away from the litter box to prevent contamination and ensure that they actually eat and drink (as food too close to where they go to the toilet can cause them to not eat as they think that something is wrong with their food), and make sure that their litter box is clean and easily accessible throughout the whole house.

Provide your cat with plenty of toys and entertainment to keep them stimulated and happy throughout your home improvement projects. This could include scratching posts, interactive toys, or puzzle feeders.

If your cat is particularly anxious or stressed during the renovation, consider using calming aids like pheromone diffusers, herbal remedies, or medication prescribed by your veterinarian.

Remember to spend time with your cat each day, even if it’s just for a few minutes. This will help them feel loved and reassured and can help reduce their stress levels.

Additionally, check on your cat regularly to make sure that they are safe and comfortable in one room, and to ensure that their food, water, and litter box are clean and well-maintained. By following these tips, you can create a safe and comfortable space for your cat during a house renovation.

4. Minimize The Noise And Dust

Loud noises and dust from the renovation can be stressful for cats and dogs, so it’s important to minimize the impact on them as much as possible. You can do this by using barriers, covering furniture and surfaces with sheets, and sealing off the renovation area to prevent dust from spreading throughout your home. Here are some tips on reducing dust during a home renovation.

Work with your contractor to schedule the renovation work during a time when you won’t be home, or when you can confine your cat to a safe and quiet area of the house. This will help minimize the amount of noise and disruption your cat experiences.

If possible, use sound barriers like blankets, acoustic panels, or soundproof curtains to help dampen the construction noise throughout the process.

Use fans or air purifiers to help circulate the air and minimize the amount of construction debris surrounding the environment. If your cat shows any symptoms of dust inhalation or chemical ingestion, call the vet immediately. Minimize smells by keeping any room well-ventilated throughout the building process.

Use plastic sheeting or tarps to seal off the building works area, and to prevent dust, debris, and paint fumes from spreading throughout the house. All the workmen should be able to provide you with sheets and tarps as these should be brought with them to the project anyway. You may need to provide extra sheets if this is not enough though.

Clean up the construction area regularly to minimize the amount of dust and debris in the area. This will help keep the air in the room cleaner and healthier for your cat.

If possible, use low-dust materials like low-VOC paints, drywall compound, and low-dust sandpaper to minimize the amount of debris produced during the renovation work.

Remember, even with these measures in place, there may still be some noise and dust during the course of a house renovation. Keep an eye on your cat’s stress and behaviour levels, and be prepared to make adjustments to their living arrangements if needed.

By taking steps to minimize the noise and debris during a renovation, you can help keep your cat safe and comfortable during this potentially stressful time.

5. Supervise Your Cat's Outdoor Activities

If you have a cat, it’s important to supervise its outdoor activities closely during a home renovation to keep them safe and healthy. Here are some top tips on how to supervise your cat’s outdoor activities during a house renovation.

If possible, keep your cat indoors during the renovation to prevent them from wandering into the construction area. This will help keep them safe from potential hazards like power tools, nails, and sharp objects.

If your cat is used to spending time outdoors, make sure to supervise their outdoor activities closely during the renovation. Keep them on a leash or in a secure outdoor enclosure, and make sure that they are always within your sight.

Keep an eye out for potential hazards in your yard or outdoor space, like loose nails or debris that may have been left behind by the construction workers. There may also be spilled chemicals around while the work is still taking place, so make sure to keep an eagle eye on your pet.

After each outdoor play session, make sure to check your pet for any injuries or signs of distress. Look for cuts, scrapes, or bruises, and make sure that your cat is eating, drinking, and behaving normally. If they have anything wrong then call a vet immediately and explain the situation to them.

Let your contractor know that you have a cat and that you will be supervising their outdoor activities closely. Ask them to keep any potential hazards contained and to clean up any debris or nails regularly to minimize the risk of injury.

Remember, during a house renovation, there may be increased noise, traffic, and potential hazards in your neighborhood. Keep an eye on how your pet is acting, and be prepared to adjust their outdoor routine if necessary. By supervising your cat’s outdoor activities closely during a renovation, you can help keep them safe and healthy.

Providing Luxury Cheshire Homes

Read here for more survival tips while living on a renovation site. At Elliott Construction, we provide a vast amount of home construction services and products to the North West and best places to live in Cheshire. We build new homes in Cheshire, including the following areas: