Reddit mentions: The best dog stairs & steps

tl;dr: Adopt the kitty and sorry for the wall of text.

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YES! Big kitties need love too! Especially kitties who have special needs! Kittens get adopted super quick but it can take so long for adult cats. Thank you SO MUCH for considering adopting a big mini panther! I may primarily foster kittens, but adult cats are where my heart is. We had a big mini panther (that was my old account, recently changed names so made this one) who was the mama to 5 beautiful tabby kittens, and she's still in the shelter. Giving her up was the hardest and my heart aches every time I check the adoption page and see she's still there.

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You seem to know what kitty you want but you're on the fence about it, so let me help you lean one way or the other. Hopefully to adopt the little big boy because the fact that you have one picked out already means you're 95% ready. You're just being responsible and making sure you would be the best person for this special cat and I SO appreciate it!

• DON'T LET PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF GOOD! Your big mini panther's life in your home will absolutely be better than at the shelter unless you're gone A LOT. Shelters are stressful places for animals and sick animals come and go. I seriously can not stress that even if you're not the world's most perfect pet parent, you will be far better than a shelter.
  
• The fact that you're even considering that you might not be a good pet parent means you'll be a great pet parent. Who are the best parents you know? The ones that go OMG BAYBEEEEZ and get pregnant and don't do any research? Or the ones that go "I really want kids, but I might not be up to the task. Let me take time, research, and consider if this is a good choice." You're thinking it through, so if you decide to take him home I know you'll be great. I know this because not taking him home is an option that you're considering because you're thinking of what is best for a cat that isn't even yours yet.
  
• However, kitties cost money. This is ESPECIALLY true if you have a special needs kitty. Do his legs just look a little funny and he walks like a goof? He won't be much more expensive than any other cat. You may want to consider buying some pet stairs to make things easier, but other than some minor one time accessibility things it might not be anything. Will kitty require surgery, frequent vet visits, or other long term ongoing costs? That's definitely something to account for. With the fosters, I've scoured all over for the best cheap stuff. I like to get rid of all things like scratchers and non-plastic toys between litters so nothing can get passed between litters so you can bet I know a lot of cost effective things to buy! I'd be THRILLED to share them with you if it would mean getting a cat out of the shelter.
  
• The care for kitties is also a concern with special needs cats. If your silly legged big mini panther won't be able to say get in and out of the litter because of his legs, are you willing to go the extra mile to make sure that he has an easy time and if an accident happens are you willing to deal with it more frequently than another kitty? It sounds like he just has silly legs so it's not something to even think about, but think worst case.
  
• That being said, cats are super easy to care for, especially adult cats. I would actually be way more "well... think about these things" if you were getting a kitten. They are just as much as a pain in the ass as they are cute and they require SO much work. Worth it but chances are I'm not adopting a kitten again even though I foster them as a "job". Adult cats though do their own thing. They can handle you being gone for most of the day because they will sleep for most of time you're gone, and as long as you can play with them a bit, give them food, and cuddle them when you get home, you both will be fine.
  
• One very big consideration though is your schedule and any potential medications. Typically medications need to be given once a day so you can just pick whatever time works best for you, but some kitties (think diabetes) need medicine multiple times a day. Can you get home to give them medications or get someone else to? If yes, bring the baby home. If no, do something else such assssss:
  
  • Pay for the adoption fee for someone else to bring him home. It's a really easy, low effort way to help him get into a home faster. It doesn't prevent a good person from adopting him if you're concerned about the "If they want a free cat, they probably won't take good care of him"
    
  • Some shelters will let you sponsor an animal to pay for their medical care. You can make sure he's living a good life without bringing him home. My shelter is basically the local animal control so they don't ask for sponsorship, but this a shelter we've adopted from who does. Ask yours for what you can do!
    
  • Try fostering adult cats yourself. When animals sit in cages all day every day, it's hard on their mental and physical health. Giving them a break is an amazing thing! It can also let you know if you're ready for a cat and how you would do with them without making the 20 year (based on age ofc) commitment. Tell your shelter you're thinking of adopting but don't know if you're ready, and ask if they would let you foster to see if you would be up to the task. A lot of people try fostering and foster fail on their first batch because it's so hard to return them since you get so attached.
    
  • I wrote something here about what you can do to help animals. So if right now isn't the best time, you can still help!
    
• If this is your first cat, I wrote up a quick thing here about bringing them home. I was thinking about it for a while and basically wrote it super quick when a friend from the /r/aww discord was about to bring home his first cat, so it's not written very well nor does it have a lot of the things I recommend buying. But like I said in the cost section, I have a TON of very cheap things that are really good that I would love to recommend.

Here is a picture of my girl, just so you know that I am definitely dealing with a very long backed dog. So, I do take some precautions when it comes to her activity. For instance, I walk her about 2-3 hours per day, but I make sure that it's mostly grassy trails and not a lot of cement. When I walk her on cement, we keep the walks short-ish (40-60min). Cement puts more stress on dogs bones/joints, and that includes their backs.

Another thing I do is keep the running around short. I do play fetch with her, and I allow her to run back and forth, and run around the yard.. however.. thankfully she takes breaks on her own. She will run really really fast across the entire yard, and then she will lay down and gnaw on a stick. We give her a minute or so of a break, and then we resume the running. Frequent breaks are important, and we are extra cautious. On top of that, we keep this form of exercise kind of short. We keep her outside running around for about ten minutes before we bring her inside for a nice long break. Then, after about an hour or so, we go back outside to play some more.

I also, of course, train a lot with my dog, so she is always mentally tired. She is a Competition Obedience dog, and a Canine Nosework dog, so we have a lot to work on during the day. I am also a positive reinforcement dog trainer, so I really need to make sure my girl is her best self!

Maybe the little guy would benefit from more freedom, alongside more mental/physical stimulation. If you're able to give him a better life, I think it would be better for you to take him in. Of course, this is totally just my personal opinion, after just one tiny little itty bitty glimpse into your MIL's lifestyle.

I think if your MIL were to carry treats around with her, and keep them on her at all times, she could toss them far away from the couch each time the pup approaches the couch. Whenever she wants him to just go away, she can begin to toss treats all around the room. This will make the floor a rewarding place to hang out. I also recommend she gets a nice comfy dog bed for the dog so he can hang out on the floor comfortably. That's the other thing we did for my girl. We have these exact doggy steps for the bed/couches/chairs/etc. We also have this $90 X-Large pet cave bed for my girl so she has somewhere comfy to lay on the floor. This is definitely important for Dachshund's backs. Here's an album of the X-Large bed.. which is just ridiculously large.. there really is no need to buy the bed this large.. I can comfortably fit inside of it and sleep.

So, I think if your MIL truly needs to stop with the force training, and needs to start using encouragement to get the pup to do what she wants. This will definitely build a better bond between them, and it will help the pup be less defiant!

it sounds like while you're providing him with toys that he should be playing with instead of tearing up his environment, he's not as interested in those toys as he should be. Bunnies can be pretty picky about WHAT they want to chew on.

Experiment with a few different types of toys - you never know what he'll really get into until you try it. This is from the sidebar (which I know you said you've read).. trying some different options here might work better for him.

I can tell you from personal experience that my boys never like chew sticks, straw mats, straw caves/hovels, stuffed animals, or pretty much anything that said "for rabbits" on it. However, they LOVE tearing up an old phonebook. they love cardboard boxes - but they were never interested in them until i filled the boxes with things they could chew or dig in (unbleached/dyed packing paper - like the roll of plain brown paper you can get from the packing section of most stores, that weird softer cardboard packing material, hay - LOTS of hay, things like that). Once they saw they could get in there and have an activity, they liked it a lot better. They also liked it a lot better after I gave them a bigger, fort-sized cardboard box, and cut holes for them in all four sides to they can get in and out of it easily. they LOVE tossing plastic bottles around. They like it even more if it has a little bit of liquid in it (make sure the lid is tight so they can't open it).. that way there's a tiny bit of weight in it when they toss it about. they also love pet ramps (you can often find these a lot cheaper on woot.com). And they love it when i make a cubby hole for them somewhere, and put a chewable mat/rug down in it for them. It's like a combination hidey hole/dig spot for them.

You can also try treat traps. I've never tried them, myself, but for a more rambunctious bunny, it would likely keep them pretty occupied. As for your carpet, you can get a few small, cheap rugs to put down in his pen over your rental house carpets to keep your place safe. We have hardwood floors, so we put down various rugs around the house, not just so that if they dig, they dig in the cheap rug instead of our nice floors, but also to give them traction in their normal hang spots.

If distracting him with more interesting activities fails, you can get some sour-apple-tasting no-chew stuff from the pet store, and spray it in the places he tends to chews where he shouldn't be chewing. Just check the ingredients, and make sure there's nothing in there that might upset your bunny boy.

good luck!

I bought the Pet Gear StRamp for $43 including shipping (Ebay) in January. I like it, but I don't know if I would like it as much if I'd paid the Amazon or pet store prices. Pretty sure my wieners hate the name as much as I do, but they love the ramp. (Err Stramp!)

Sometimes I think it's a little steep, but I'm a chronic worrier. That's probably my only issue with it. I love that they use it for getting down from the bed; they never did that with the stairs. Also, I'm not technically inclined at all, so the fact that it was like building with Duplo blocks was nice.

I bought stairs for my bed for my little guy to get up and down, and even though he still could and preferred to jump I would scold him for doing so. I made him get used to the stairs. Now about seven years later (he’s twelve now) he prefers the stairs and when he does try to jump, which is not often (maybe once-twice a month when he gets the zoomies), he only has about a 50% success rate. Its much safer and much better for their backs. My gf is a vet tech and has seen many doxies come in with back problems from jumping.

I’m really glad I got him stairs. Please don’t let your little wiener be a jumper!

He is super adorable by the way :)

EDIT: he actually has two sets of stairs. He uses this one for going up and this one for going down.

Yes of course she's allowed in bed 😊. We have doggie steps that go up to the bed. She has no problems using them. Sometimes she even leaps off them! We actually got a chihuahua as a friend for her who is smaller than her so that she would feel like the dominant dog. I think that your baby would like that as well. She feels like the momma dog and is always watching out for the little Chi.

These are the steps we got.
Solvit PupSTEP Plus Pet Stairs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MD57OO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Gmhtzb5Q7VJ0M

I got these steps as a gift and I love them. I have a 3 pound Yorkie and a 7 pound Bichion mix. I have had them for three years and still in great condition.

Check this out on Amazon:

3 Step Doggy Steps Pet Stairs Dog Ramp
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008M9XLO8/ref=cm_sw_r_an_am_ap_am_us?ie=UTF8

I have this one for my dog. It's $46 so not too expensive. She's only part dachshund so she can jump up pretty well but when we got a new mattress that is a few inches higher she kept missing. Now she loves to use the stairs and it makes me feel better that she has less of a chance of hurting herself. She still just jumps up or off when she's excited though.

https://www.amazon.com/Solvit-PupSTEP-Plus-Stairs-25-Inch/dp/B00JEDNSJO/ref=lp_2975326011_1_10?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1491487125&sr=1-10 I'd encourage you to get something like this. They make stairs to help older/smaller dogs get up on the bed. I think she'd appreciate it.

I purchase this really nice set of stairs/ramp for my standard Dachshund about a month ago. It was a little pricier than I had originally planned on spending but it looks really nice, has a handle for easy moving (between bedroom and livingroom for me), and the option to be either stairs or a ramp.

I priced it out before and the dog ramps are cheaper to buy than build. Mostly comes down to space and effort to sand the wood, stain it, clear coat it to keep possible splinters down.

If you're just looking for something to make it easier, an item like this might be good instead of some wooden monstrosity:

https://www.amazon.com/Foldable-Breathable-Cushion-Detachable-Product/dp/B07168HWT6

To play the home version of this game, simply buy the classic barrel O lube ^({as if you don't already have one})

And a bunch of these.

Then invite your friends over, for an evening of fun!

My elderly ferret did poorly with ramps so I removed all the ramps & replaced them with those stairs for small dogs. They're covered with fake lamb's-wool. As an added bonus they have a plastic frame making ideal hidey holes underneath. It's a little pricey & takes up allot of space, but totally worth it if they'll fit in your cage.

Here's a link on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RWT2SRA/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_XqShDbG40DPVR

I had to go through this last summer with my girl. We ended up having to do surgery. I don't know how/if you deal with her getting up and down from furniture I just wanted to plug a great product I found for a really good price.

These have been AWESOME and in all honesty probably saved her life because they finally got her to stop jumping.

Don't know if you need the link but I would rather you know than not know!

http://www.amazon.com/Solvit-PupSTEP-Plus-Pet-Stairs/dp/B000MD57OO/ref=wl_it_dp_v_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3PCQ4WJ3LL6EA&coliid=ISZ6R0D6QH5PU


This would be really helpful for my dog who's been having trouble jumping up on furniture. This weekend me and him are probably gonna go to the park and play frisbee!! :) Thank you for the contest!

1.21 Gigawatts

Not really. It's "Pet stairs."

IMO, to be a ladder, there has to be large gaps between each step, and the the angle has to be set at greater than 45 degrees. If a normal, healthy human could use the steps comfortably without a handrail or grasping a rung/step while climbing, then it's stairs.

Source: None; that's just where I draw the line, I suppose. Actual definitions probably overlap at some point.

Dog stairs like this one: http://www.amazon.com/Solvit-PupSTEP-Plus-Pet-Stairs/dp/B000MD57OO (They're good for elderly dogs of any breed, also)

For stumpier-legged dachshund mixes, ramps might be better than stairs.

Here's an Amazon link to what I just got my little one. The 3-step size is good for an average size cat. Pet Gear Easy Step III Pet Stairs, 3-step/for cats and dogs up to 150-pounds, Chocolate https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003SZUNQU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_QZL0xbTBHKKGW

I got them on amazon. I’ve had them over 5 years and they’re still sturdy. This is a less expensive version of the ones I have PAWLAND 2-in-1 Portable Folding Pet Stairs for Dogs, Cats, high beds, Wood Pet Safety Beside Dog Ramp, Dog Steps, Easy Climb Pet Step Stool (White) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F2GKK8M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_1IjwCbF5VJK3W

And these are the ones I have:
Pet Studio Pine Frame Dog RampSteps, 3 Step https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004IN9NAS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_LIjwCbDXAWVX3

http://www.amazon.com/Solvit-PupSTEP-Plus-Pet-Stairs/dp/B000MD57OO/ref=zg_bs_2975332011_1/192-3451477-6150151


Less strain on joints for your favorite companion! :)

Here it is on Amazon. It's cute to watch him haul fuzzy butt up it. :)

Oh poor baby, just make or buy a ramp or a small stair case... or even set up a couple of boxes downside like step stools for her beside the bed for a while (weigh them down) so she can use them... she will learn after a while.

For a ramp you can get a plywood cut to size to home depot and glue to is some self adhesive carpet squares.

Or get something like this.

Or stairs like this. Tons of options.

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Don't force her to jump till she is comfortable - you don't want her hurt!

I have a corgi and I bought these stairs off Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MD57OO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. I haven't really had any issues with them, and my corgi loves them!

My dog had a few mishaps when younger so now she barks and moans to get up the bed. I used to have a small ladder for her and it helped wonders.
Maybe that could be a good thing for your babe? make it easier for him to grab a midnight drink or bite.
https://www.amazon.com/Solvit-PupSTEP-Plus-Pet-Stairs/dp/B000MD57OO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1485004708&sr=8-3&keywords=pet+ladder

I have these stairs. I've had them for years and my dogs use them really well. I know it's not a ramp, but these stairs are not very steep.

You could also make your own. There were more I found when I googled make your own dog ramp. I know for me this would be difficult since I can't make things very well. But if you or someone you know is handy, this could be a good alternative to buying a dog ramp.

You could buy something to help her you know, like this: https://www.amazon.com/OxGord-Stairs-Steps-Portable-Travel/dp/B01N9PZHKK/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1491494225&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=dog+steps&psc=1

Pet Studio Pine Frame Dog RampSteps, 3 Step https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004IN9NAS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_GAcWzbVTJBMTJ

I just bought these last night. The price tag is a little high, but I thought I'd give it a shot. If not, I'll return them and check out the kind you suggested. Thank you! :).

Any tips for training your dog to use them? Or did they just do it on their own?

Our bed is 40" off the floor. We lift our Frenchie on and off. He's allowed to jump on and off the sofa, and to climb up the stairs, but he's trained to sit at the top of the stairs and wait to be carried down. I think this is pretty common for Frenchie owners?

Anyway,these stairs might work for you at 25" high; they can just step from the top step onto the bed.

If you want a cheaper one for bunnies, this works too. It's cheap quality but sturdy enough to carry a 20 lb cat. Anything heavy like a medium to large dog might break them.

If there are places he likes to go which he'd have to jump up on (like your bed or couches), you might want to look into getting some pet stairs for him. Something like this. Dasaquin has significantly helped our cats with arthritis.

I ended up getting this one. It's solid and well made. I got the 150lb rated one, because it has wider stairs.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003SZUNQU

I like this it's convertible from steps to ramp and can be folded and put away too if necessary. Didn't know this kind of option was out there. I just made mine from scrap lumber.

We've had [pet stairs] (https://www.amazon.com/Stairs-Steps-Ladder-Portable-Travel/dp/B000H7K2MM/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1480022030&sr=8-5&keywords=Pet+Steps+Stairs) like these for an elderly cat, so she could get up onto a bed.

That is so cute, poor baby. :3. I thought about these for my little pooch when I got a higher bed, but she took the height transition just fine and learned to take a run up before jumping. :P

I don't usually advocate the use of pee pads, ever. But this time, I'll concede that they are a necessity. On that score, you're doing it pretty much right, but if you can, get them out a little more often.

For the jumping, if you want them on your couch, get some stairs for the dog. They do make them for smaller, shorter dogs to get up onto furniture. If you don't, you might want to start training them in the 'leave it' command. Once this is in place firmly, you can tell the dog to leave it when it comes to the sofa, and they won't even try.

I have this set from amazon and my 2 year old dog figured them out within minutes. My 14 weeks old puppy finally figured out how to get UP them last week, but she won't go down (and we don't want her). I've been working and she will be sleeping and I suddenly hear her barking because she went into the bedroom and is on the bed and can't get down. I give her less then a month before she will go down the steps and another 2 months before she will go down our house stairs.

Solution.

We bought 2 of these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZJ8RE0C/ref=twister_B00ZSMMTS6?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Velcro'd them together to get enough height up the couch. Both of my pugs prefer to use them than jump up and down.

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Solvit-PupSTEP-Stairs-Foldable/dp/B000MD57OO

That's the general concept of what I'm looking for, but there's a ton out there with price points from $20 to a few hundred. I found this one, but I need to get home and see how tall the bed of the car is.

http://www.amazon.com/Solvit-PupSTEP-Plus-Pet-Stairs/dp/B000MD57OO/ref=pd_bxgy_petsupplies_img_y

Yeah it’s tough when they get older. Maybe you could look into getting a set of those mini stairs like these to put next to the bed and at least alleviate one of the problems?

First of all, has the vet told you that it is this cat's time? Is he in constant pain, is life no longer worth living? There are a few things you can do about him not being able to jump up on things, like getting some pet stairs (like this). Don't put him down until you are sure.

Secondly, "putting him to sleep" by feeding him alcohol is a horrible idea. If you want him to pass on in familiar surroundings, there are vets who will do this in your home. If it is because you cannot afford a vet, contact your local SPCA and see if they have any services to help you.

Third, if you have the cat put to sleep properly by a vet, they will inform you of your options regarding his body afterwards. They can take it away, or you can get him cremated. There may be other options as well.

Fourth, don't do anything differently for Jake. If he seeks out attention more, give it to him, but don't hunt him down for it. Cats grieve in their own way, and making sure everything else in his home is the normal routine will help him adjust to the loss. I think the only thing you really shouldn't do is get a new kitten or cat too soon. Wait until both you and Jake are ready for it.

Finally, you are not more upset than you should be! He's your cat, your pet, your buddy. You probably interact with him much more often than you did with your aunt. Holding it in is just going to come around and bite you in the ass; if you aren't allowed to properly grieve, it will take you longer to come to terms with it. Allow yourself to cry, even if it's in the shower so no one else can see (if showing emotion in front of others is difficult for you).

Once again, it may not yet be his time, and he could have years ahead of him if you give him a few extra things, such as pet stairs or more soft places to sleep down low. Ask your vet. And for god's sake, don't perform the euthanasia yourself.