The 10 Most Popular Pet Places of 2017
Honestly, every pet is our favorite, but these 10 stories about pets and their homes drew the most readers this year
Every Monday for the past year, we’ve featured a furry — sometimes scaly — critter and the place it calls home. We’ve seen that cats sprawl out on desks while their human companions work. Dogs snuggle into the bed and homeowners find ways to keep the sheets clean, because who can say no to that furry face? And mini pigs get muddy and bathe with rubber duckies.
Most of all, we saw that pets, no matter the breed, make a house a home. Now let’s welcome (in reverse order) the 10 most popular Pet’s Place stories from 2017 based on views, and our favorite tip from each.
Most of all, we saw that pets, no matter the breed, make a house a home. Now let’s welcome (in reverse order) the 10 most popular Pet’s Place stories from 2017 based on views, and our favorite tip from each.
9. Gigi the Perfect Roommate
A human roommate moved out and Gigi the cat moved in at this Michigan home.
“The task of finding another roommate that would live up to my standards was daunting, so I decided maybe a cat would make the perfect roommate,” Kari Radermacher says. And Gigi has. She keeps herself occupied during the day by napping and playing with toys on the hardwood floors. When Radermacher comes home from work, she’s an armful of snuggles.
Home tip: Use a spare or guest bedroom as the cat’s room when you aren’t expecting company. This gives them their own space. If you don’t have an extra room, here are 15 design-friendly places that might work for your cat’s litter box.
Read more about Gigi’s home in Michigan
A human roommate moved out and Gigi the cat moved in at this Michigan home.
“The task of finding another roommate that would live up to my standards was daunting, so I decided maybe a cat would make the perfect roommate,” Kari Radermacher says. And Gigi has. She keeps herself occupied during the day by napping and playing with toys on the hardwood floors. When Radermacher comes home from work, she’s an armful of snuggles.
Home tip: Use a spare or guest bedroom as the cat’s room when you aren’t expecting company. This gives them their own space. If you don’t have an extra room, here are 15 design-friendly places that might work for your cat’s litter box.
Read more about Gigi’s home in Michigan
8. Two Photogenic Pals
Hugo and Coconut roam and play around the house together and look for places to snuggle, such as in baskets and on cozy blankets. Because of that, Eliska Kubikova and Lukas Korynta keep soft blankets on the bed and on chairs.
Home tip: Keep a lint roller nearby, especially if you like to take photos of your cats. You can quickly clean up a scene and then snap your cat’s photo.
Read more about Hugo and Coconut’s life at home
Hugo and Coconut roam and play around the house together and look for places to snuggle, such as in baskets and on cozy blankets. Because of that, Eliska Kubikova and Lukas Korynta keep soft blankets on the bed and on chairs.
Home tip: Keep a lint roller nearby, especially if you like to take photos of your cats. You can quickly clean up a scene and then snap your cat’s photo.
Read more about Hugo and Coconut’s life at home
7. Cats That Inspired a Bed
Kristen Cella lives in a 500-square-foot apartment with her husband, daughter and two cats, Roxie and Bollini. She also runs her cat bed business out of the space.
Roxie and Bollini actually inspired Cella to start her business. Four years later, Bollini watching while Cella sews is a daily sight.
Home tip: Clean up cat hair with rubber gloves. “Rub your hands over anything covered in pet hair,” Cella says. “It pulls the hair off like magic!”
Read more about this home-based business in San Francisco
Kristen Cella lives in a 500-square-foot apartment with her husband, daughter and two cats, Roxie and Bollini. She also runs her cat bed business out of the space.
Roxie and Bollini actually inspired Cella to start her business. Four years later, Bollini watching while Cella sews is a daily sight.
Home tip: Clean up cat hair with rubber gloves. “Rub your hands over anything covered in pet hair,” Cella says. “It pulls the hair off like magic!”
Read more about this home-based business in San Francisco
6. Goober the Lizard
Beth Teutschmann, a photo editor, shares her home office space with a bearded dragon named Goober. While she works, Goober is always close by — either in her tank or curled up in a corner of the room.
For extra entertainment while she works, Teutschmann sings for Goober. “Not good songs, but songs like, ‘My name is Goober, sitting under my heat lamp, eating my bugs because I love them!’ ” she says.
Home tip: Introduce your pets to new environments slowly. If you aren’t sure how they’ll react to one — in Goober’s case, the grass in the backyard — have them wear a collar and leash until you know they’re comfortable.
Read more about Goober’s adventures at home
Beth Teutschmann, a photo editor, shares her home office space with a bearded dragon named Goober. While she works, Goober is always close by — either in her tank or curled up in a corner of the room.
For extra entertainment while she works, Teutschmann sings for Goober. “Not good songs, but songs like, ‘My name is Goober, sitting under my heat lamp, eating my bugs because I love them!’ ” she says.
Home tip: Introduce your pets to new environments slowly. If you aren’t sure how they’ll react to one — in Goober’s case, the grass in the backyard — have them wear a collar and leash until you know they’re comfortable.
Read more about Goober’s adventures at home
5. Unlikely Apartment Mates
At first, Nova the Cavalier King Charles spaniel wasn’t too sure about her prickly new roommate, Ozzie the hedgehog. “They’ve ended up being the perfect pet duo,” Justy Nusbaum says. Most days, you’ll find Ozzie wandering around the apartment and Nova following behind to see what he’s up to.
Home tip: Find separate places for each pet’s food. In some cases, you may need to put one’s food away during non-meal times. That’s what Nusbaum does with Ozzie’s food so the dog doesn’t eat it.
Read more about this unlikely pair’s home
At first, Nova the Cavalier King Charles spaniel wasn’t too sure about her prickly new roommate, Ozzie the hedgehog. “They’ve ended up being the perfect pet duo,” Justy Nusbaum says. Most days, you’ll find Ozzie wandering around the apartment and Nova following behind to see what he’s up to.
Home tip: Find separate places for each pet’s food. In some cases, you may need to put one’s food away during non-meal times. That’s what Nusbaum does with Ozzie’s food so the dog doesn’t eat it.
Read more about this unlikely pair’s home
4. Two Climbing Cats
Andy and Ollie may have different personalities, but both appreciate the DIY project their owner, Lisa Harmon, completed for them. Harmon researched, sketched and installed the above-window shelves, and added carpet to them for traction.
Home tip: Don’t be afraid to install something, even if you live in a rental. “After living in a space for a few years, it’s easy to feel uninspired by your surroundings,” Harmon says. “I was super excited to be able to create something practical for the cats that also blended really well with my aesthetic.”
Read more about these climbing shelves
Andy and Ollie may have different personalities, but both appreciate the DIY project their owner, Lisa Harmon, completed for them. Harmon researched, sketched and installed the above-window shelves, and added carpet to them for traction.
Home tip: Don’t be afraid to install something, even if you live in a rental. “After living in a space for a few years, it’s easy to feel uninspired by your surroundings,” Harmon says. “I was super excited to be able to create something practical for the cats that also blended really well with my aesthetic.”
Read more about these climbing shelves
3. Lessons From Labradoodles
Piper and Boogie, though a little rough on the house, make up for it with love and photogenic moments like this one. They do know what furniture they can and can’t climb on. “Boogie and Piper both rule the house, respectfully,” Ashley Channer says. She helps keep her sofa looking nice by covering the surface the dogs lie on with a blanket and regularly washing the bedsheets.
Home tip: Wash your bedding in a baking soda and vinegar mixture on a weekly basis to keep it clean and bright.
Read more about these big dogs’ home
Piper and Boogie, though a little rough on the house, make up for it with love and photogenic moments like this one. They do know what furniture they can and can’t climb on. “Boogie and Piper both rule the house, respectfully,” Ashley Channer says. She helps keep her sofa looking nice by covering the surface the dogs lie on with a blanket and regularly washing the bedsheets.
Home tip: Wash your bedding in a baking soda and vinegar mixture on a weekly basis to keep it clean and bright.
Read more about these big dogs’ home
2. Hank the Pig
When Hank moved in, Will and Ashley Glass had to pig-proof the house, which Ashley compares to baby-proofing. They covered the outlets and added latches to the cabinets.
They also had to stock up on blankets. “He loves to dig around in them and bury himself,” Will says.
Home tip: Make bath time fun and it may be easier to get your pet used to regular bathing. Hank prefers a rubber ducky or 20 to play with in the tub.
Read more about Hank the pig’s home
When Hank moved in, Will and Ashley Glass had to pig-proof the house, which Ashley compares to baby-proofing. They covered the outlets and added latches to the cabinets.
They also had to stock up on blankets. “He loves to dig around in them and bury himself,” Will says.
Home tip: Make bath time fun and it may be easier to get your pet used to regular bathing. Hank prefers a rubber ducky or 20 to play with in the tub.
Read more about Hank the pig’s home
1. A Home for Fosters
This household of four — a couple and their two dogs — welcomes in new faces all the time. The new arrivals are local foster dogs who need a temporary place to stay until they find a forever home.
Drew and Jenna Kutcher’s goal is to make every foster feel comfortable and safe in their temporary home. Judging by this photo, it’s clear that fosters Finn and Belvedere are pretty content with the extra love from Drew.
Jenna sets up a space just for the foster in her home office, and the couple install child gates to keep areas of the home closed off to the new pups.
Home tip: Have lots of dog beds around the house, especially if you have multiple pets. That way, everyone can have their own space to relax in while staying close by.
Read more about this home for foster dogs
Your turn: Which Pet’s Place story from 2017 was your favorite? Was it one of the above or another pet’s home from the series? Let us know in the Comments.
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Read more stories about pets
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This household of four — a couple and their two dogs — welcomes in new faces all the time. The new arrivals are local foster dogs who need a temporary place to stay until they find a forever home.
Drew and Jenna Kutcher’s goal is to make every foster feel comfortable and safe in their temporary home. Judging by this photo, it’s clear that fosters Finn and Belvedere are pretty content with the extra love from Drew.
Jenna sets up a space just for the foster in her home office, and the couple install child gates to keep areas of the home closed off to the new pups.
Home tip: Have lots of dog beds around the house, especially if you have multiple pets. That way, everyone can have their own space to relax in while staying close by.
Read more about this home for foster dogs
Your turn: Which Pet’s Place story from 2017 was your favorite? Was it one of the above or another pet’s home from the series? Let us know in the Comments.
More
Read more stories about pets
Shop for pet products
That’s Stewy, sprawled out on interior designer Shelley DeFrancisco’s desk. “We haven’t stopped laughing since he arrived,” DeFrancisco says. He’s quite calm in this photo, but he’s been known to bat pens around the office and paw at the printer while it’s operating.
Home tip: Place a cat bed or perch near the window. When your cat isn’t napping, it gives him or her a safe place to watch the birds outside, a favorite hobby of Stewy’s.
Read more about Stewy’s life at home