ArcaMax

Dear Cathy,

I have three budgies: two in one cage; one in another. I want to paint my room with Emulsion on the walls and the doors sanded down and painted. Would my birds be safe in a spare bedroom, if so for how long.

— Sheila, Redruth, Cornwall, England

Dear Sheila,

It’s great that you’re considering your parakeets' safety before painting. Birds have extremely sensitive respiratory systems, so taking precautions when using paint and sanding in your home is essential.

Ideally, the safest option would be to have your birds stay with a friend, neighbor, or family member for a few days until the fumes and dust have fully cleared. If that’s not possible, keeping them in a separate, well-ventilated room with the door closed can help, but it’s essential to ensure that no fumes or dust can reach them. I don't know where the spare room is in relation to your painting area, but I would guess that fumes and dust could still reach them, as that seems a bit too close for comfort.

Emulsion is a water-based paint and generally safer than oil-based products, but even water-based paints can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are harmful to birds. When selecting paints, it's important to choose low VOC or VOC-free options whenever possible. I am not sure what’s available in the UK, so I recommend checking with your local paint store for safe, bird-friendly products.

Even with low VOC paint, though, I suggest waiting at least 48 to 72 hours after painting before returning the birds to the room – possibly longer if it’s a damp or cool time of year, like it often is in Cornwall. A good rule of thumb is the sniff test: If you can still smell the paint, it’s not yet safe for your budgies.

Also, sanding before painting can release fine dust particles that can linger in the air and settle on surfaces, both of which are dangerous to birds. Be sure to clean thoroughly and allow everything to air out before your budgies return to the space.

I’m so glad you’re thinking ahead to protect your birds. Your thoughtfulness with this project will go a long way towards keeping them healthy.

Dear Cathy,

My Bichon, Ollie, was afraid of stairs for three years. I tried everything. I bought an expensive rug for traction and even offered a group of teenagers $150 to teach him. He’s not food motivated, so nothing worked.

Then, during a visit to my daughter’s house, her three guinea pigs had to be moved upstairs to keep them out of reach of her curious one-year-old. We introduced Ollie to them first. He was gentle, though he did surprisingly snap once, so up the pigs went.

Three minutes later, we looked around and said, “Where’s Ollie?” He was upstairs, no problem at all, clearly looking for those guinea pigs!

— Dawn Meyers, Roanoke, Virginia

Dear Dawn,

Well, that little stinker. For three years, Ollie avoided the stairs like they were lava. Then suddenly, guinea pigs become his personal stair-climbing motivation.

You’re not alone in the “my dog won’t do stairs” dilemma. Many small dogs are cautious around steps, especially if they’ve slipped before or just don’t feel confident. It often takes the right reason, which is usually food, to make them change their minds. In Ollie’s case, curiosity clearly won out.

While I’m glad Ollie finally conquered the stairs, it’s also good the guinea pigs were out of her reach. Even the gentlest dogs can act on instinct, especially around small animals. Thanks for making me smile with this one.

Dear Cathy,

We recently discovered that one of the pet-friendly hotels we’ve stayed at before now has a new restriction – pets are no longer allowed to be left alone in the room. We had to quickly adjust our plans and bring our (thankfully small) dog along during the day. Since it wasn’t a prepaid tour, it was only a minor inconvenience — but a good reminder for travelers to double-check hotel pet policies before booking.

– Karen, Redwood City, California

Dear Karen,

Thank you for sharing this helpful tip. More and more pet-friendly hotels are adding fine print to their pet policies, and you're absolutely right, travelers should always double-check before booking. While many places welcome pets, restrictions like not leaving them unattended in the room, breed or size limits, or extra cleaning fees can surprise even seasoned pet travelers.

If a hotel doesn’t allow pets to be left alone, it’s a good idea to plan pet-friendly outings or look into local pet sitters or doggy daycares in advance. Calling the hotel directly and asking specific questions about their pet policy can help avoid any last-minute surprises.

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(Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal.)

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