Are you familiar with the term “Biophilia”? According to the biologist E.O Wilson it is defined as the genetically embedded attraction towards nature. The first time that the psychoanalyst Erich Fromm described the term biophilia in the 18th century, he thought of biophilia as a “passion for the love of life and everything alive.” This article is all about the benefits to your pet’s well-being through biophelia designing.
In the modern world, this term is now defined as a “deep connection with living things and the desire to be surrounded by the nature of the world.” Another reason we love our pets so much!
Biophilia also explains why humans have a great attachment to the sound of rain on the iron roof, the sound of the waves touching the shores, and the birds’ spiritual sound singing in the forest. Similarly, it further describes why we like plants in our office, pets in our home, and the natural light surrounding us. All of these elements are considered biphilia designing or biophilic design.
Biophilia has the same effects on pets as it does on us physically, psychologically, and socially. Pets also feel calm in the space with more greenery, vegetation, and trees. Using natural designing elements will offer your cat or dog a connection to the great outdoors.
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How Can Biophilia Designing Improve Your Pet’s Well-Being?
Our world is full of different patterns and colors. Our pets have a close connection with these various natural aspects. As a result, biological factors help them make decisions and improve their mental abilities, so it is better to enhance their natural environment. Biophilia designing can actually improve their physical health.
Using patterns, colors, textures, and images from nature will act as a biophilic reminder for your pet. When your pets experience nature in their living area, they will feel healthier and happier in their outdoor environment or at the veterinary clinic.
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The pattern and color that we conclude from the biophilic designs reinforce your pet’s connection with nature and significantly affect the feeling of happiness. Therefore, when selecting your pet’s furniture, always look for one that expresses close contact with nature. There are many cat climbers and scratchers and dog apparatus that now offer elements of nature.
Your pet can experience biophilic designs through direct experience of nature and an indirect understanding of nature.
Natural Light
Natural light is very essential to maintaining the fundamentals of pet health and wellness. The natural cycle of the seasons, day and night, changes in response to the sun’s location and process, and they play a critical role in maintaining a balance in your pet’s life.
Natural light will not only help move and find the way, but it also contributes to satisfaction and comfort. In addition to merely exposing natural light, you can appeal to your pet in different aesthetic shapes and forms by creating shadows and light, the integration of light, and the variability of light.
If you have a cat, investing in a catio or outdoor cat enclosure can be a safe way to offer your kitty natural sunlight. Dog’s having access to a park and frequent walks will also benefit by being outside.
Light also has many health benefits. It can trigger all the metabolic activity in the pet’s body. In the morning, the sunlight, when it falls on the eyes, helps maintain the circadian rhythm.
The circadian rhythm plays a vital role in controlling hormone production, brain activity, biochemical activities, and cell regeneration.
Pets get a daily dose of vitamin D from sunlight too.
You can use natural light for your pets by bringing it deeper into your indoor space through skylights and clerestories. In addition, light can be achieved by contrasting darker and lighter areas by changing the duration of daylight over time.
Arranging your pet’s furniture to maximize natural light is an important part of making sure your furry friends are comfortable in their home. To help, here are some tips on how to arrange your pet’s furniture so they can enjoy the sunlight:
- Place furniture near windows and sliding glass doors. This will allow your pet to bask in the sun’s warmth and watch the world go by. Just make sure to draw the curtains or shades when the sun is too intense.
- If you have skylights, keep them open during the day so that your pet can get some natural light.
- Place furniture in a sun-filled room or area. If there is an area of your home that gets a lot of natural light, place pet furniture in that spot so that your pet can enjoy the sunshine.
- Consider rearranging your furniture from time to time. Even if your pet loves the sun, it’s important to move their furniture around every now and then to keep things interesting.
- When arranging furniture near windows and sliding glass doors, make sure they are not too close so your pet can’t jump out. If you have a cat, make sure to place furniture away from the window sills.
Arranging your pet’s furniture to maximize natural light is an easy way to make them feel happy and comfortable in their home. With just a few simple steps, you can make sure that your pet gets their daily dose of sunshine.
Fresh Air
You should be aware that the amount of air and the natural ventilation system is essential for your pets’ productivity and comfort. Your home’s natural ventilation system can be enhanced by varying humidity, temperature, airflow, and barometric pressure. In addition, you can access the outside environment through operable windows and other openings in the house. An air filter can be beneficial to you and your pets!
Water
Water is one of the essential nutrients for any living creature, as it can improve your pet’s health, promote satisfaction and relieve stress. You may have the feeling that your pets are naturally drawn to water, especially dogs, and its attraction reaches the highest level in the summer season. Bringing your dog to a dog park can be extremely helpful to your dog’s emotional health.
Pet Water Fountains
Having a pet water fountain in your home is a great way to ensure your pet is getting the hydration they need. Pet water fountains provide a constant source of fresh, filtered water, and can help promote healthier drinking habits for your furry family members.
Not only that, but pet water fountains can also act as a decorative element in your home. By incorporating biophilic design elements, such as pet water fountains, you can bring a sense of nature into your home.
When it comes to the benefits of pet water fountains, there are several. For one, the continuous flow of water encourages your pet to drink more, thus ensuring they are properly hydrated. Water fountains also help keep water fresh, as the water is continually circulated and filtered, eliminating any bacteria or impurities that can build up in a regular bowl. Additionally, the sound of running water can be calming and soothing for your pet and can also help reduce stress.
In addition to the physical benefits, pet water fountains can also be a great way to add a unique element to your home decor. The fountains come in a variety of styles, ranging from modern and sleek to traditional and rustic, providing a wide range of options to incorporate into your home. Plus, they’re easy to maintain and require minimal cleaning.
Overall, pet water fountains can be a great addition to your home and lifestyle. Not only do they provide a consistent source of water for your pet, but they can also add a unique, biophilic element to your home decor. With their ease of maintenance and ability to promote healthier drinking habits, pet water fountains are definitely worth considering for your home.
You can adopt various strategies to satisfy your pet’s desire to be in contact with water by making aquariums, fountains, prominent bodies of water, and pools of water. Additionally, water in any integrated environment can be perceived as relaxing and enjoyable if moving, clean, and felt through many senses.
Plants
Greenery, mostly the plants with blooming flowers, are considered champions in providing a nature experience in any enclosed environment. Vegetation around your pet can reduce emotional stress, enhance performance, improve comfort, and increase productivity.
However, there is a point to consider that a single plant will not have any beneficial effect on your pet’s health. Plants in closed buildings must be ecologically connected, abundant, and local rather than exotic species.
You should also consider which plant can be toxic to pets if accidentally ingested to keep your pet safe.
Animals
The presence of other animals has a tremendous psychological impact on humans’ mental health, but it is variable in the case of the pet. Keep one thing in mind: always check your pet’s temperament and another animal before keeping them together. Sometimes your pets can become insecure due to their territorial behavior and may suffer from anxiety.
For example, suppose you have a dog, and you want to have a cat. In that case, you should introduce them slowly and allow them to come into contact gradually. According to recent studies, early socialization has shown benefits in such cases.
Weather
An experience of the climate and its awareness is essential for pets, as it plays a vital role in your cat or dog’s survival and fitness. Experiencing the outside atmosphere or your pet contact with the weather in the built-in environment can be stimulating and satisfying.
This contact may be possible through exposure to the outside environment or by creating an artificial climate inside the building by manipulating temperature, airflow, humidity, and barometric pressure.
You can choose a specific layout and adopt a few strategies to view outside windows, decks, porches, balconies, pavilions, colonnades, and gardens.
Fireplace
One of mother nature’s elements that can bring a natural vibe into you home is a fire; contained in a fireplace of course! Fireplace can produce many benefits and can be a source of warmth and comfort to all who gather around. Cats and dogs alike love to curl up by a fireplace. It is super cozy and warm and the crackling sounds seem to soothe them like a lullaby. Obviously, it is very important to keep your pet safe around fireplaces so do take the necessary precautions.
Fire can also help maintain the pet’s body temperature, especially in cold climates, which can be essential for good health.
Biophelia Designing Through Images To Improve Your Cat and Dog’s Health
Photos and landscapes of nature such as animals, plants, water, landscapes, and other geological features can be very satisfying intellectually and emotionally. Painting, photography, murals, sculptures, videos, and other representation techniques can form these images.
Keeping your T.V. on with a video of wildlife or a waterfall can add extra biophilic noise that may comfort your cat or dog while you are at work.
Natural Colors
For a long time, many scientists believed that cats only see the world in black and white. However, modern research has suggested that cats have excellent color vision. Cats see different shades of green and blue, but they also see other colors and perceive more clearly about them like most humans.
Cats love to get lots of sunlight, climb high places, and see the colors of the world. When you want to form a biophilic design for your pets, create a special place for your furry friends, a place where they can feel the colors of nature. Expert from ThePets writes that a great solution to keep cats away from your furniture may be a cat tree, which can promote cat’s overall health and sustain their well-being.
When using bright colors on a canvas for pets, emphasize the things that attract your pet like sunsets, flowers, rainbows, and different animals and plants. However, try to avoid colors that have a lot of vibrancy and contrast.
Naturalistic Shapes and Form
Some natural shapes and forms significantly affect pets’ mental health, as they bring them in contact with nature. For example, cats instinctively love to climb and scratch, so you can provide them with cat towers and scratching posts. These man-made cat accessories resemble the natural sources used by wildcats.
Biophelia Improves Your Cat’s Catio
Biophilia designing techniques can greatly enhance your cat’s outdoor cat enclosure and catio. Just like humans, cats also benefit from being surrounded by natural elements such as greenery, vegetation, and trees. These elements can have a calming effect on cats and provide a connection to the great outdoors, making their living environment more comfortable and enjoyable.
By incorporating biophilic design into your cat’s outdoor space, you can create a relaxing and stimulating environment that promotes their physical, psychological, and social well-being. Adding plants, trees, and even water features can provide a sense of tranquility for your feline friend.
Moreover, incorporating natural elements into your cat’s outdoor space can also make it a more attractive and functional space for both you and your pet. For example, plants can provide shade and shelter while also adding to the aesthetic appeal of the space.
Using biophilia designing techniques can greatly improve your cat’s outdoor living environment. By incorporating natural elements into their outdoor cat enclosure or catio, you can create a space that is both calming and stimulating for your feline friend, while also making it a more visually appealing and functional space for you.
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Conclusion
Nature inspires us all in different ways, and the same goes for pets, but the benefits are undeniable. Biophilia designing has a significant impact on the physical, mental, and psychological health of pets. Biophelia designing can compliment your home, improve your health and your pet’s life as well. Biphilic design should ultimately add a nice vibe to your home overall!
For more cat decor and home design ideas check out this list of ‘cat-friendly home design ideas’ blog posts we rounded up:
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How Biophilia Designing Can Improve Your Pet’s Well-Being
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