Pet owners love their pets…so much so that they are very often considered to be part of the family. They offer unconditional love and are some of the best companions anyone could ask for. If you are a proud pet parent, there are a few special precautions you need to take in regards to plumbing that you may not be aware of.

Most common household pets are furry, and therefore can shed lots and lots of hair, especially when it comes to bathing. Pet necessities like cat litter can wreak havoc on your plumbing system.

Below is a helpful list of the best tips to keep your plumbing safe as a pet owner.

Wrap any exposed piping and use drain covers:

When puppies and kittens are teething they will begin to chew on things to ease the teething pain, like furniture legs or exposed piping. Puppies are especially known for the amount of things they will chew, so it is vital that you wrap all exposed piping to prevent them from damaging the pipes or harming themselves. Make sure that all drains are covered to prevent animals from getting their paws caught in the drains.
Small pets like hamsters, birds, guinea pigs, and fancy rats can easily crawl into open drains or exposed pipes. You want to pay special attention to floor drains and ensure they are closed off to pets.

Be cautious when flushing:

Pets love to use the toilet as a water bowl. While this may not bother you as a pet owner, your pipes and toilet may say otherwise. Not only is allowing a pet to drink from the toilet quite unsanitary, it can also lead to clogs in your plumbing system. Cats carry litter on their paws, and litter is a big no-no for plumbing. Keep the toilet lid closed to prevent animals from drinking out of it.

Avoid flushing pet waste down the toilet. Even if a product claims to be “flushable” it can still harm your plumbing system.

Prevent hair clogs with a drain stopper or stainer:

Just like human hair, pet hair can easily clog a bathtub or sink drain. If you bathe your pet at home, you may be causing a serious drainage issue by washing pet hair down the drain. It may not seem like your cat or dog sheds that much, or even at all, but the truth is all pets shed to some extent. You can prevent hair clogging issues from humans and pet friends alike by using Shower Hair Catchers or Bathtub Hair Catchers. These products also make cleaning the tub or shower easier, so it’s a win-win all the way around!

Prevent digging:

Most homeowners do not know exactly where their plumbing lines run on their property, so it has always been recommended to have the utility company locate water and drain lines for you before you do any digging for home and landscape improvements. It is also important that you know where your lines are located if you are a pet owner. Dogs especially love to dig, and can do a good deal of damage to water and sewage lines. Find where these lines are and try to keep your pet out of these areas, or at least prevent them from digging too deep.

We have a wide variety of strainers for pet owners to use in showers and tubs.

– Bathtub Hair Catcher with Suction Cup
Capture hair to prevent clogs with our unique patent-pending silicone suction cup bathtub hair catcher. It works best on smooth surfaces and fits most standard lift & turn, push button, and trip lever bathtub stoppers.
–Bathtub Hair Catcher with Suction Cup (2-Pack)
Our patent-pending silicone suction cup bathtub hair catcher comes in a 2 pack, perfect for the pet owner with more than one tub or shower.
–2-in-1 Bathtub Hair Catcher and Stopper
Our innovative stopper and strainer hair catcher combo easily and discreetly capture hair to prevent slow or clogged drains so you can say goodbye to clogged drains forever!
–Hair Catcher Bathroom Tub Strainer in White
Unlike other “in-drain” hair catchers on the market that are smelly and become gunky with soap build-up and matted hair, our tub drain hair catcher is easy to clean and will not hold the smelly drain odors. It comes in an innovative designed flower-shape with unique tiny pegs that catch and trap unwanted hair and debris.
–Hair Catcher Bathroom Tub Strainer in White (3-Pack)
Use this Hair Catcher to protect your drain from unwanted hair clogs and debris. It helps to keep the drains flowing freely by eliminating clogs from foreign objects. It is easy to install and no tools are required.

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