Most pet parents are the ultimate in devotion when it comes to their cats and dogs. We love their purrs and wags and all the silly things they do. But that doesn’t mean they’re perfect, and one of their less charming traits is their ability to track mud, grass clippings and other yard debris, and heaven-knows-what-else into the house. A clean house is a nice thing. Muddy paw prints all over the floors? Never.
There is one simple solution to this problem: install artificial turf.
Artificial turf trumps mess, even muddy paw prints
Your lawn can be a surprisingly big factor when it comes to mud-season paw problems. When it rains, natural grass gets soaked and stays soggy because it often doesn’t drain well. If you’re one of the many whose yard soil has a high clay component, you know what we’re talking about. So any residual dust or dirt that was on the grass turns to mud.
Add to that the fact that natural grass isn’t in the best condition during the winter. In colder temperatures it can go partially dormant, leaving behind dried debris just waiting to stick to some unsuspecting pet’s feet and fur. That debris is joined by left-over trimmings and built-up thatch that remain after you mow, so there’s even more to track in.
Artificial turf, on the other hand, drains like a champ. The turf itself is designed for that, and the multi-layer sub-surface installation system ensures the grass will perform as expected. No matter how much it rains, it won’t puddle up or get soggy, so it doesn’t make mud. It doesn’t go dormant or accumulate clippings because you never have to mow it. So it’s not only cleaner than natural grass, it’s prettier all year long.
Mud will happen anyway
Dogs, especially, have a special knack for getting dirty. So unless you cover your entire property with artificial turf (something even we don’t recommend), there will still be opportunities for Fido (and Fluffy the cat) to get muddy.
Even if you are lucky enough to have a mud room, an excited pet can quickly zip through and into the rest of your home. All bets are off, when it comes to muddy paw prints on your floors. So, what’s a loving bug frustrated pet parent to do?
Create a washing station
You could put a pot of water just outside the door. When your dog or cat is ready to come in, you can bathe their feet in the water to cleanse them, then wipe them dry. Then your pet is ready to enter. Or you could invest in a special doggie doormat, a pet paw cleaning glove or some other product made especially for this purpose.
Try pet footwear
Rain boots can be quite stylish, and they come in all pet sizes. Some you can even throw in the washer. Nonetheless, your dog may take exception to this concept and be disinclined to cooperate. After a knock-down-drag-out struggle worthy of a YouTube video, you may be disinclined to cooperate yourself. Not to mention you’ll have to do this dance every time your pup wants to go out. Wiping off your dog’s feet at the door is looking better and better.
Your cat? Forget it. You’ll need first aid.
Keep feet trimmed
Excess fur between the paw pads just collects more mud. This can be a problem with dogs, so trim that fur so it doesn’t protrude. Keep nails clipped short, too.
Turn paw cleaning into a treat
Just like people, dogs and cats can suffer from dry feet in winter, and that not comfortable. So after you give their paws a trim, treat them to a soothing foot massage with moisturizer or paw conditioner. A nice cookie or catnip chew would be the perfect finishing touch. You’ll have a happier, healthier pet and a cleaner house, too.
