According to the Humane Society of the United States there are 77.5 million dogs and 93.6 million cats living in homes across the country. The statistics for other pets are not as large, but the Humane Society’s studies show that pets of one kind or another are found in nearly every home in the U.S.
Thanks to the internet and wholesale pet supply companies there are lots of options for pet owners looking for pet food storage that looks more like furniture than a storage container. And pet food storage furniture can look like almost anything. Imagine an old fashioned apple barrel or feed bucket with a lid, a standard wood storage cabinet or a pretty pink plastic low chest with food and water bowl storage underneath. What about an English sideboard complete with drawers for snacks and treats and a large pull-out storage bin that can hold up to 50 lbs of dry food? Put a fluffy pillow on top and place it in front of a window and voila it’s the perfect perch for the cat who has everything and everything needs a place.
Maine Bucket Co. actually makes a half-round storage container that looks like a half-round whiskey barrel. Made of Northern white cedar with a flip up lid, these are an attractive alternative to the plastic pet food bins that can be left in a corner of a family room or kitchen. No one need ever know it’s not just a pretty accessory to your home decor.
Another great way to incorporate food storage that looks like furniture into your home is with a beadboard pet food container by Orvis. Styled to resemble a potato bin or an old cedar chest, with a hinged lid to keep food clean and dry, these are both attractive and practical. Some even have cut outs for food and water dishes on the top to create an elevated feeding station that even the pickiest decorator will have trouble finding fault with.
Because this kind of storage is often made of wood, a plastic liner may be a good thing to add if not included with the piece. To cut down on the risk of contamination by organisms that cause stain and odor and mold and mildew, there are now on the market, storage containers made with Microban technology. Available in a wide range of sizes there is sure to be one that will fit into your home like a glove.