Our guide to pet stairlift safety
From dogs and cats to birds and lizards, pets are wonderful little companions who do so much to brighten our lives, regardless of our age and ability. During the nearly 50 years we’ve been in the mobility solutions business, we’ve found that those who come to us for a stairlift already have a pet at home. With their enquiry, there are sometimes concerns about the safety of their animals around their new stairlift.
We’ve put together this guide to help anyone out there who wants to introduce a stairlift to their home to help with mobility, but is worried about pet safety.
What risks come with having pets around a stairlift?
While many pets have good intuition when it comes to some dangers, such as moving vehicles and poisonous plants, they don’t understand how they can be harmed by everyday objects. Because of this, they’re more likely to interact with or get in the way of these objects, including stairlifts. If a pet is struck by a moving stairlift, it could cause injury or worse to the pet, and damage to the stairlift.
Safety tips: How to keep your pets safe around stairlifts
Fortunately, it isn’t too difficult to keep your pets safe while stairlifts are in operation. Here are five tips to ensure their safety and comfort while the stairlift is in motion.
Train your pet to stay away from the lift
The best way to keep pets away from stairlifts is to teach them. This is, of course, much easier to do with dogs, but dogs are typically the most curious of stairlifts. Train them with positive reinforcement or whatever works best for your pet to not approach the chair while it’s in motion. Create a designated ‘safe space’ for your pet, an area that is just theirs to relax in, and train them to retreat to this space during stairlift operation.
For cats and other pets that may not respond as well to training, you can still make it clear that the chair is not a toy. If you already use any techniques to teach your cat not to jump on the kitchen counter, or to stop your rabbit from chewing the living rug, use those same methods to deter them from the stairlift.
Check the area for your pet before operating the lift
Do a visual sweep of the area around your chair and the path it will take up and down the stairs before operating the chair. Cats in particular like to sleep in the strangest of places, so it’s important to ensure they’ve not tucked themselves beneath the chair or along the track.
Stay aware of where your pet is
While using the stairlift, keep an eye on the stairs to ensure your pet doesn’t suddenly decide to climb on the track or attempt to jump up to you. While modern stairlifts should be equipped with sensors that prevent collisions, it’s essential to stay vigilant regardless. Our stairlifts feature an emergency stop button, so if you spot your pet suddenly in the way, you can press this to immediately stop the chair’s motion.
Fold up your stairlift when not in use
Many straight and curved stairlift models boast foldable features, such as footrests and armrests. When not in use, fold these away to remove obstructions that could trip up or otherwise injure your pets, particularly those who love to run up and down the stairs without looking where they’re going.
Do not attempt to bring your pet on the lift
While it may seem like an easy solution for getting your pet around, especially if they’re older or have limited mobility themselves, you should not take your pet with you on the lift. It is essential not just for their safety, but yours, that you keep them off the seat or your lap while it’s in motion.
The first risk is that they may fall or jump from your lap, either into the path of the moving chair or down the stairs from a height, and injure themselves. The second risk is that their weight could push over the limit for the stairlift’s capacity, leading to damage or breakdown. The third risk is that if the pet struggles or panics, it could cause you to lose your balance and fall off the chair yourself.
Do not bring your pet with you on the stairlift. We recommend looking into other mobility solutions designed specifically for pets if yours is having trouble navigating stairs.
Find the right stairlift for your home
If you’re thinking of introducing a stairlift to a home with pets, we can help. We have a wide selection of some of the best stairlift models available, including compact stairlift designs, which further reduce the amount of staircase space taken up. Get in touch with us for expert advice, or visit us in Ipswich for a chat with our friendly and knowledgeable team.