How to Live in a Tiny Home with a Pet: Complete Guide

October 30, 2019 | Comments 0 Comment

The tiny house movement poses a lot of challenges, and pet ownership is one of them. This is a major concern, especially for the peeps who can’t live without their pets.

For many, sharing a tiny space with pets is unmanageable. But is it?

Is It Possible to Live in a Tiny Home with a Pet?

Yes, you can live in a tiny home with a pet. Actually, virtually any pet! Isn’t this great news?

If you already live with your pets and want to downsize your home, this means you don’t have to surrender them and live with the guilt for the rest of your life.

Of course, there will be special challenges in taking care of your pets (and making sure you meet their needs).

There’s a lot to consider when you want to live in a petite home with pets. And indeed, their comfortability and safety are your primary concerns. This raises several hurdles, mainly if your tiny house is on wheels.

Are Tiny Homes Safe for Pets?

This is an interesting question. A pet-friendly home should be safe for pets.

It’s worth noting that the safety of your pet depends on so many factors: (1) the kind of pet you have, (2) the number of pets you have, (3) the interior design of your tiny home, and (4) the structure, mobility, and stability of your home.

While there are pets that don’t need much space to live (and be happy), some are better situated in large, spacious areas. High-maintenance pets that require special care may not be fit to live in off-grid tiny houses with limited utilities.

How to Live in a Tiny Home with a Pet

We all have a soft spot when it comes to our furry friends. They’re adorable, playful, and make for a good company.

Living with pets is fun and cute, but then again, it comes with a lot of challenges. For one, since you’re living in a small-spaced home with your pet, you sure don’t want to smell like your pet! You don’t want to be called “the boy that smells like a dog,” right?

And you definitely do not want your friends to avoid your tiny house (albeit its good design) just because your house “doesn’t smell good” (and by that they mean your house smells dominantly of cat litter, gross much?)

We understand the problems, and we’re here to help you. Below are some tips on living in a tiny home with pets (you might want to jot them down).

Vacuum for your tiny home

Whether you have hardwood or carpeted flooring, a vacuum can help you keep your home clean. No, you don’t need an expensive one. What you need is a good one. We highly recommend BISSELL Cleanview Swivel Vacuum Cleaner.

Choose a vacuum that’s light and easy to maneuver. It should also be able to reach under furniture where your pet usually lies lazily.

Skip carpeting

You can skip carpeting depending on the type of pet you have. Short-haired pets probably would not make it necessary for you to skip carpeting.

However, if you have long-haired animals or pets that love to bound around, it will be good if you skip carpeting and choose hard flooring instead.

Durable hard flooring material can stand up wear and tear that your pets might cause. Plus, they’re pretty easier to clean.

A tiny robot for tiny house

If you’re always on the go, you probably can’t vacuum every time your tiny home needs it.

So the best way to keep the house clean (while your busy or driving) is by relying on Mr. Roboto. Consider purchasing an automatic vacuum like the Roomba iRobot. In just a click of a button, you can keep down the pet hair the entire day!

If you want our recommendation, choose Robot Vacuum Cleaner by Anker.

Hide the kitty litter

Spare yourself from staring at your cat’s litter the entire day. Your house may be tiny, but there is always a way to keep the litter box out of sight.

While we love to brag our cats to our friends, your kitty’s litter box is probably the last thing you want you to show your friends.

You don’t have to spend big on a space-saving kitty box. You can create your own (if you can). Really, all it takes is creativity.

You can place the litter box in the body of a bench. Make sure there is a hole so your feline friend can access her litter box and do her business.

That’s just our ideas. Of course, there’s a lot of concepts out there that you can follow so you can keep your cat’s litter box out of sight and out of your nose.

[Must Read: 12 Life-Saving Tips for Living in a Tiny House With Kids]

Place the bowls in the right spot

Some pets can get a bit (or overly) sloppy when they eat or drink. They can even leave a puddle around the bowl, and for sure, you don’t want that on your floor or carpet.

So consider placing the bowls on the floor of your shower stall. This will help your pet establish a feed area and also develop good eating habits.

How awesome and clever is this Steel Pet Bowls No-Spill Resin Station from UPSKY?

How to Live in a Tiny Home with Dogs

Living in a tiny home is so much fun when there is a dog around, wagging its tail, tongue out, eyes filled with happiness.

When you live with your dog in a petite home, there are things you need to consider to ensure your pooch is happy, comfortable, and safe.

Not all dogs are for tiny houses

If you’re yet to move into a small home with your dog, it’s essential to take note that not all dogs fit the tiny house living.

For example, if your dog constantly barks at every noise they hear or gets anxious on car rides, then they might not be ready to live in a tiny house on wheels.

If you’re outdoorsy who loves to go hiking, biking, or kayaking, then you will want to bring a dog that can keep up with your active lifestyle!

Sure, you don’t want to leave your dog all alone in your mobile home all day while you’re out there, exploring caves or confronting the waves.

Your dog will need to stretch his legs and go to the bathroom pretty often. And if your pet is in a new place, he/she could get nervous if left alone for a long time.

Research pet policies before moving

You’re probably going to move around if your tiny house is on wheels. The policies change depending on where you park. For example, some state parks in the USA do not allow pets.

That being said, it’s essential to know if the park where you plan to stay at accept dogs.

If you’re not sure about the campground’s policy regarding pets, it’s best to call them and talk about the concerns and questions you have.

Give your dog his/her own space

There should be a spot in your tiny home that’s solely for your pup. Place their favorite dog toys and blanket on that spot. This gives them a sense of comfort in their new area.

Introduce your dog to other dogs

Dogs love to meet new friends, and sometimes they go overboard. So before your canine jumps on your neighbor’s lap, make sure to walk him around the campground to get to know your neighbor slowly.

[Interesting: Tiny Home Safety: Top 26 Life-Saving Tips From the Experts]

PROS and CONS of living in a tiny home with dogs

Living in a tiny house with a dog is fun, but it can also be stressful, especially if you haven’t traveled or lived with a dog before.

Below are the pros and cons of living with a dog in a tiny home:

Pros:

Most campgrounds and state parks allow pets (if you’re living in a small house on wheels).
Your pup gets to travel to different places and can live a more active lifestyle
You can go to places without ever leaving your pooch alone at your house

Cons:

Not all campgrounds and state parks allow dogs or certain breeds of dogs.
There will probably be other dogs in the campground you’re staying at. This could pose a problem, especially if your pup has never been around other dogs.

How to Live in a Tiny Home with Cats

Cats have different needs. And though they are small, they can be quite demanding.

Don’t bore your cats

Here’s the deal… bored animals are bad animals. Sure, cats are an excellent option for a tiny house pet, but you have to ensure your feline friend is well mannered and easy going before living in a small space.

If your pussycat is unhappy or bored, she will highly likely put her attention to every surface of your home. Your feline will spend her time scratching and tearing apart everything her nails could get into. Floors, wallpaper, doorposts, upholstery… you know.

So make sure your cat has assorted toys to play with and that your tiny home has features that your pet can play with.

Hide the litter box

Cat poop is deadly… okay, that’s a bit exaggerated, but who knows? One thing is for sure, you don’t want your cat to do her business anywhere in your home but the litter box.

And surely, you don’t want your kitty’s litter box boldly displayed in the kitchen or bedroom.

This is the chance to be creative and innovative. Place your cat’s litter box in a spot that doesn’t block the way. Also, make sure to put the litter box out of your sight but still accessible for your cat.

You can learn from @thatthowlife in this Instagram post.

Create a catwalk

Your cat needs a comfortable space where she can walk or just lie down to lick her body.

If you have a cabinet, the top of it could be dedicated to your cat. Since it is level with your loft, your cat can easily climb on it.

Give your cat a cozy nook

Cats need privacy. They don’t always like hanging around with their hooman. They need a place where they could get away from people if they wanted. And weirdly, they like high places.

So make sure to create a spot for your feline, preferably up high as that’s what they love.

Check out this cat bed cave we found!

How to Live in a Tiny Home with Fish

While many love dogs and cats as pets, others prefer pets that don’t shed hair, make noises, or destroy things. And fish, probably, best fit these qualities.

Fish don’t have hair that you need to pick up, nor do they bark or yowl. For some, they are the best pet.

Owning a pet fish shouldn’t be a problem in a tiny house that’s built on a foundation. However, it could be a challenge if your mobile home is on wheels.

If you transport your trailer house, there’s a high chance the water is going to get sloshed all over, and the fish might get shoved around the tank. It really is not a hospitable environment for your fish.

But hey, don’t lose hope. There are still a few things you can do, so having a fish tank is still feasible.

You may get a spherical tank to minimize the sloshing. We’re not sure, though, if the stress on the fish would be any less, but at least the water wouldn’t slam your fish too hard.
When traveling, you may put your fish in a large pickle jar (gallon size). Make sure to add oxygen pellets, which would act as the aerator or air pump. The jar allows you to put the cover, so it wouldn’t spill. Then, surround the jar with towels, so that the jar wouldn’t break.

Once you have a campground to park your tiny house on, ensure to put your fish back to its aquarium. It will help them get the comfort back and not get stressed.

[Interesting: Tiny House Rooms: 25 Amazing Decorating Ideas]

How to Live in a Tiny Home with Small Pets

Maybe you really want pets to live with you in your micro house, but you don’t want antsy big dogs or aggressive cats. Well, there are other small pets you can take care of!

One thing’s for sure: all pets need food, water, and shelter. Some of them require a particular kind of care.

Rodents, for example, need a cage and running wheels. They also don’t like a plain-looking cage. They are happier if their cages have bedding and nesting material, cages, and hideouts.

Birds need mirrors and swings. They also need chewing blocks, or else they won’t stop tweeting all day and night!

Oh, I hear you asking why birds need mirrors. Well, a mirror helps some parakeets to feel like they have a friend in the cage.

Pets Make Our Lives Better

We can all agree to this. Yes, taking care of them can be stressful, and making sure they are happy and content is challenging. For the most part, the challenge really is living with them in a tiny space.

You want your pets to enjoy your petite home without feeling claustrophobic. This being said, you must think about living with pets in a tiny home very, very deeply.

If you’re planning to create your tiny home yourself, make sure to design your house perfect for both you and your pet. Or if you’re going to buy a tiny home, check if the interior has features that your pet can use.