Clutter Hack: How to Organize Your Pets' Stuff

Between the toys, treats, leashes, crates, pills, sprays, food and grooming supplies, your pets' stuff can quickly become an organizational nightmare. Here's how I keep my cat Noni and Benny Bix Ochman Labradoodle Puppy's stuff organized.

   • Leashes and harnesses are on a hook right next to the door, so is a box of plastic bags for pickup.

   • Portable play: A canvas shoulder bag we take to the park every morning is right by the front door. It contains plastic bags, a water bottle, a frisbee and a tennis ball.

There's also a a Boson's Whistle. Benny is trained to come when I use it, and he can hear it even when he is out of the range of my voice.

   • Food: Dry food for the cat and the dog are in separate heavy-duty plastic containers with lids. They're on the counter, with a measuring cup inside. (In addition to kibble, Benny gets raw meat, cooked veggies and marrow bones. I'll tell you how I organize the preparation and storage in another post.)

The cat's dish is on the counter because he'd never get to eat otherwise. (Cat food is second only to cat poop at a doggie delicacy.)

   • Cat litter: is kept in the bathtub so it's not spilled all over the bathroom floor. Walking on cat litter barefoot, as you undoubtedly know if you've done it, is painful. And the shower curtain gives the cat some privacy. The litter is in a cabinet in the bathroom, along with litter pan liners.

   • Medications - are in the same cabinet as our human vitamins, and we keep Frontline, heartworm pills, ear cleaning supplies, doggie toothbrush and toothpaste, in a drawer.

   • Toy storage : The cat, alas, has none of those cute little mice and other tiny cat toys because the dog eats them. He gets catnip, and we play with him with his Cat Dancer and his all-time fave toy, a leather shoestring.

The dog toys are out of hand. Benny likes them on the living room floor. We put them away, he takes them out and strews them around. So far, every solution we've have tried has been eaten. But the search continues for the perfect container. Suggestions, anyone?

Posted September 19, 2007, filed in How I de-cluttered, Clutter Control Products, Clutter Hacks