Pet-Friendly Gardens: Simple Swaps for Animal Friends

Caroline Smith

If you live with animal friends (or they visit from neighbouring gardens or as garden guests!), it’s good to ensure that your outdoor space is a safe haven, free from unsafe landscaping, toxic plants and chemicals or pestocides. Here are a few tips to ensure they are as safe, as they are happy exploring!

Also view information by species.

How to keep gardens secure for pets

• Obviously a good fence is important to stop animals accidentally escaping to nearby roads etc. Neutering male dogs and cats is often recommended, as it stops them roaming streets to look for mates (or sometimes fights).
• If you are on a low income, Blue Cross offers low-cost services for dogs and cats. Read more on finding free and affordable vet care.
• Wildlife campaigners ask people to cut a 13cm by 13cm hole in fences to make hedgehog highways (so they can travel between gardens at night to find food and shelter). If you have ‘escapee pets’ that would be small enough to go through these holes, you can block them up during the day (when hedgehogs are asleep) to keep pets safe.

How to choose pet-friendly landscaping

• Paving is usually recommended, unlike gravel which can get trapped between claws. However paving gets hot in warm weather, so provide shady places (even cats can get heatstroke) and ceramic bowls (hard to knock over) that are cleaned, rinsed and filled with fresh water daily.
• If your dog has an outdoor kennel, ensure it’s made from wood (not tin, this could overheat in warm weather).
• Organic lawns are safer (garden chemicals/pesticides can increase risk of bladder cancer, even for dogs playing on neighbouring lawns). And heat up less than artificial grass (plus they smell nicer for animals!)
• Choose non-toxic wood stain for fences and garden furniture (creosote is now illegal for non-commercial use). Also ensure broken fence posts (and balcony rungs) are mended, to reduce risk of snagging.
• Clear your garden of litter and keep chemicals locked away. You can bin empty bottles at kerbside (don’t rinse or pour product down sinks). Take bottles with product inside to hazardous waste for safe disposable (if you don’t have a car, ask your council for collection).

Keep pets safe in all weathers

• Ensure shady areas for pets in warm weather. Never use human sunscreen on pets (wash off your skin before letting them kiss you, as most brands contain toxic zinc oxide – same applies for deodorants, cosmetics and skin creams with cocoa butter). If used, choose a pet-safe sunscreen recommended by your vet.
• Never leave open barrels of water around (drowning hazardsa and stagnant water attracts mosquitoes). Use a quality water butt with pet/child locks. Also ensure ponds have sloping sides  (cover or fence off when not in use, never use netting as this can trap wildlife).
• It’s not true that cats always ‘right themselves’). If your cat lives above ground floor, keep windows locked (only keep top inaccessible windows open). Cat window screens or ‘catios; let them enjoy fresh air. 
• After walks in long grass, check ears/paws for grass seeds (if embedded, call the vet). Learn how to remove ticks from dogs.
• After snowy walks, rinse paws with warm water (to remove rock salt). Also beware of foxtail grass (this can migrate to the brain, and be fatal).

Choose pet-friendly garden plants

• Even brushing a tail against some toxic plants (like lilies or sago palm) can harm. So it’s important to choose pet-friendly plants.
• All bulbs (daffodiles, crocuses, tulips, poppies) are toxic to pets (as are rhododendrons – including for rabbits and guinea pigs).
• Avoid plants rich in essential oils (lavender, pine). Cats in particular cannot break these down in their livers (also choose unscented cleaning and laundry brands – citrus is especially unsafe).
• Don’t burn citronella near pets. Waspinator is a paper bag that looks like a nest to territorial wasps (install before nests occur, for best results).

Blue Cross has tips on pet-friendly gardens. Campaigners want warnings on seed packs (and in gardening books) to alert of dangers. Learn more about:

1. Toxic plants to dogs
2. Toxic plants to cats
3. Toxic plants to rabbits
4. Toxic plants to guinea pigs
5. Toxic plants/trees to horses
6. Toxic houseplants
7. Toxic Christmas plants (holly, mistletoe, ivy, poinsettias)

Signs of plant toxicity in pets include vomiting, drooling and seizures. If concerned, seek immediate vet help. Animal Poison Helpline runs a 24-hour helpline (for any toxin concern). Vets can use VPIS Global.

For Dog’s Sake is a lovely book with info on toxic plants and foods to avoid, with an illustrated first aid guide. It’s out of print in some areas, but order from the author direct, and receive a free gift!

Avoid mulches that are unsafe near pets

Mulch is good for no-dig gardening. But some garden mulches are not safe near pets. Keep pets away from:

• Fresh compost (contains mould)
• Cocoa mulch (has the same toxin as chocolate)
• Pine mulch (puncture risks)
• Rubber mulch (choking risks)
• Straw mulch (only digestible by ruminants, hay is better)

Organic gardening is much safer!

• If you garden organically, you don’t need chemicals. Also avoid commercial slug/snail deterrents (even ‘pet-safe ones can harm – choose humane non-toxic slug/snail deterrents instead).
• Keep sharp tools locked away. Use edging shears over strimmers.
• Ideally have your mechanic change your car’s oil and antifreeze (poisonous to pets and wildlife). If you do change it yourself, choose propylene glycol (think P for protection) version that is not safe, but safer than ethylene glycol. Use a funnel. And absorb spills with sand or kitty litter, then scoop and pin (don’t mop, this will spread the spill).

Collar safety and ID

• It’s UK law for cats over 20 weeks (and dogs over 8 weeks) to be microchipped, so vets can find guardians if lost. You can get this at reduced rates for low incomes.
• FlexiTags lists important information and medical indo, without need for hanging tags that could snag.
• Experts say to avoid collars until around 8/10 weeks (puppies) or 6 months (kittens). Blue Cross has tips on quick-release cat collars.
• Dog collar strangulation is a common issue for vets, when they get tangled during play. Quality quick-release dog collars remain secure on walks (the lead is locked through D-rings). But breaks off in emergencies. KeepSafe in North America is the main brand.

How to keep cats away from birds

• Keep cats indoors at dawn/dusk (when birds are likely feeding). Avoid wooden bird feeders (cats can claw up). Place them 10 feet above ground, sheltered from wind/sun with 360-degree view to spot predators.
• Get involved in community efforts to provide natural habitats for birds like hedgerows (berries!) and tree-planting, to provide natural roosts.
• If you use bird feeders, experts recommend placing them within 3ft of a window (so birds can’t build up speed) or over 30 ft away (these are not failsafe, but can help stop bird strike alongside other methods like Feather Friendly visual markers and bird-friendly glass).

Pick up the poop!

• Animal poop contains a toxin that can cause blindness to other pets, children and wildlife, if left on lawns (or anywhere). So immediately bin in biodegradable poop bags.
• Female dogs especially tend to pee in the same place. Flushing area immediately with water, helps to prevent brown patches on your lawn.

Keep pets away from snakes 

Adders (England’s only venomous snake) can bite dogs, if disturbed.

• Dog-Friendly Cornwall has tips on when to avoid walking (‘safe hours’ were previously before 9am and after 7pm). But climate change has adapted temperatures, so this does not always follow.
• If you think an adder has bitten your dog, call a vet immediately (read how to avoid & treat adder bites).
• Goodheart Animal Health Centres has tips to protect small dogs (advice could apply to other species) from birds of prey.  Attacks are rare, but info is useful for people who live near eagles and raptors.

Tips to prevent snake bites

• Always keep dogs on leads when walking in tall grass or bush. Be extra careful around piles of wood and rocks. And creeks or other water sources, especially early morning or evening.
• Don’t leave food (or fruit waste) outside (this can also attract rodents).
• Abroad, humane dog trainers can teach dogs how to avoid snakes.

If your dog is bitten by a snake:

• Keep calm and stay quiet, so your dog doesn’t panic. Lift and carry your dog to the car to stop venom from spreading (don’t let them walk).
• Don’t wash or attempt to treat the bite, instead take your dog immediately to a vet for professional treatment.
• If you can safely take a photo of the snake, this helps vets pick the right medicine. Animal Emergency Service has tips on symptoms and treatment of snake bites.