Quick answer: A pet-friendly house paint is really a low-VOC, low-odour, waterborne paint. There is no paint certified as “pet-safe”, but water-based paints with no added volatile organic compounds give off far fewer fumes than solventborne ones, which matters for animals with sensitive airways. In New Zealand, look for Environmental Choice approved waterborne paints, keep pets out during painting and curing, and ventilate well.
You are ready to add some colour to your walls and picture the finished room. Somewhere in that excitement it is easy to forget the family members closest to the floor and the freshly painted skirting: the cat, the dog, the rabbit. Animals breathe faster than we do, spend more time at ground level, and cannot tell you when fumes are bothering them.
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So the question a lot of Auckland homeowners ask is a good one. Is there such a thing as pet-friendly paint, and how do you choose it? The honest answer is that no paint is officially certified as safe for pets, and any painter or product that claims otherwise is overselling. What genuinely reduces the risk to your animals is the type of paint, its VOC content, how it is applied, and how you manage the space while it dries.
This guide explains what “pet-friendly” actually means in paint terms, why fumes and ingredients matter for animals, which New Zealand paint options are genuinely low in VOCs, and the practical steps that keep pets safe before, during, and after a repaint. It applies just as much to landlords painting a tenanted home as to owners painting their own.
What “Pet-Friendly Paint” Really Means
There is no special category of paint made for pets, and no ecolabel that certifies a paint as safe for animals. What people mean by pet-friendly is a paint that gives off as little in the way of fumes and harmful ingredients as possible. That comes down to two things: the base, and the VOCs.
Waterborne beats solventborne
Paints are broadly either waterborne (water-based) or solventborne (oil-based). Solventborne paints release significantly more volatile organic compounds per litre than waterborne paints, which is why the strong smell of an oil-based enamel lingers for days. Waterborne paints have much lower odour and dry with far fewer fumes. For any home with pets or children, a quality waterborne paint is the sensible default for walls, ceilings, and increasingly for trim, where waterborne enamels now do the job that oil-based ones used to.
VOCs are the number that matters
Volatile organic compounds are the chemicals that evaporate out of paint as it dries and cures, and they are the source of that fresh-paint smell. Lower VOC means fewer of those chemicals in the air. Reducing them improves indoor air quality and, according to Resene, can help reduce the incidence of headaches, respiratory complaints, and allergic reactions. Animals with sensitive respiratory systems, and small pets like birds in particular, are more vulnerable to airborne irritants than we are, so a low-VOC or no-added-VOC paint is the pet-friendly choice.
🎨 Painting tip: Birds are especially sensitive to fumes. If you keep birds, move them well away from any painting and do not return them to the room until the paint has fully cured and the space has been aired out thoroughly, not just until it feels touch-dry.
Read the label, not the marketing
Because “pet-friendly” is not a regulated term, the label to trust is the environmental certification and the VOC statement, not a paw print on a tin. In New Zealand the credible mark is Environmental Choice, the country’s official ecolabel, which sets independent standards for low-VOC paints. Look for that and for wording such as “low VOC” or “no added VOC” on the data sheet. That is a far better guide than any pet-branded claim.
Why Fumes and Ingredients Matter for Animals
Understanding why low-VOC matters for pets helps you make the right call rather than just following a label. Animals interact with a freshly painted room very differently from the way we do.
They live closer to the paint
Dogs, cats, and smaller animals spend their time at floor level, close to freshly painted skirting boards, doors, and lower walls. They also breathe faster and, relative to their body size, take in more air than we do. That combination means pets are exposed to more of whatever a drying paint gives off, for longer. A smell that is mildly noticeable to you standing up can be a lot stronger down where your dog sleeps.
Curing is not the same as drying
A wall can feel dry to the touch within hours but continue to cure and release low levels of VOCs for days or even weeks afterwards, especially with higher-VOC products. This is the step most people underestimate. Choosing a low-odour, low-VOC waterborne paint shortens and softens that off-gassing period, which is better for everyone in the house, pets included.
Licking, chewing and paws
Pets do not just breathe the air. Dogs and cats can brush against wet edges, walk through drips, and lick their paws or coat afterwards. Curious animals may chew skirting or trim. That is another reason to keep them out of the area until paint is fully dry and hard, and to clean up any drips or spatter promptly.
Important note: If your home was built before 1980, the existing paint layers may contain lead. Lead paint is a serious hazard for pets and children, who can ingest lead dust or paint chips. Sanding or scraping old paint releases lead dust. WorkSafe New Zealand sets out how lead-based paint must be handled, so get old paint assessed and removed professionally rather than sanding it yourself with animals in the house.
The Genuinely Low-VOC Paint Options in New Zealand
The good news is that low-VOC paint is no longer a compromise on quality or durability. Water-based paints have come a long way, and New Zealand has strong local options that are independently certified.
Environmental Choice and Resene
Resene became the first New Zealand paint company to offer an extensive range of Environmental Choice approved products, back in 1996, and has developed waterborne replacements for many products that were once solventborne. Environmental Choice approval means the paint has met an independent low-VOC standard, not just a marketing claim. Prefer certified waterborne products for interior work in a home with animals.
Specific low-VOC options worth knowing
Two Resene products are useful examples of what to look for:
- Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen is an Environmental Choice approved waterborne paint that is low in VOCs and durable enough for the rough and tumble of children’s rooms and play areas, which makes it a practical choice for busy pet households too.
- Resene Zylone Sheen Zero is a low sheen waterborne paint with no added VOCs and very low odour, designed for interior living areas such as lounges and bedrooms.
Other reputable New Zealand brands, including Dulux and Wattyl, also offer low-VOC waterborne interior ranges. The principle is the same across brands: choose waterborne, check for Environmental Choice approval, and read the VOC statement on the data sheet. If you would like help matching the right low-VOC product and finish to each room, that is exactly what our free colour consultation covers, and it is part of the low-VOC interior painting we do across Auckland.
— Superior Painters Team
A note for landlords
If you are painting a rental between tenancies, low-VOC waterborne paint is worth specifying too. It reduces the odour and cure-off time before new tenants and their pets move in, and it is a genuinely tenant-friendly choice. For landlords who want painting handled alongside wider property upkeep, our sister brand Superior Property Services covers maintenance across Auckland rentals.
Keeping Pets Safe Before, During and After Painting
Choosing the right paint is half the job. How you run the actual painting is the other half, and it is where most of the real protection for your animals comes from.
Before you start
Plan where your pets will be, alongside the usual steps to prepare your house for painting. For a small job, closing them into an unaffected part of the house may be enough. For anything larger, or for very sensitive animals like birds, arrange for them to stay elsewhere for the day or two that matters most. Remove pet beds, bowls, toys, and cages from the room being painted so they do not collect spatter or fumes.
During the job
Keep pets completely out of the room while painting is underway and while the paint is wet. Ventilation is your best tool: open windows and doors and keep air moving so fumes clear quickly rather than settling. Clean up drips and spatter as you go, especially at floor level where animals will be.
🎨 Painting tip: Do not rely on “touch-dry”. Keep pets out until the paint is fully dry and hard, and the room has been aired out. With a low-VOC waterborne paint that window is short, but it is still worth respecting, particularly for cats and dogs that will nose and lick along the skirting.
After the paint is on
Air the room out well before letting animals back in. Even low-odour paint benefits from a good flush of fresh air. Once you are confident the paint is fully cured and the room smells clean, return pet beds and belongings and let your animals resettle. If anyone in the household, human or animal, shows ongoing irritation, keep ventilating and give it more time.
When a professional makes it easier
A professional crew makes the pet side simpler by getting the job done faster, containing dust and mess, choosing and applying the right low-VOC products, and handling old paint safely on pre-1980 homes. With a dedicated project manager scheduling the work and daily updates, you know exactly which rooms are in play on which day, so you can plan around your pets rather than guess. If you are weighing up doing it yourself, factor in the extra time your animals would be displaced against a professional job that is finished and aired out sooner.
Pets are family. Choosing a low-VOC waterborne paint, checking for Environmental Choice approval, and keeping animals clear until the paint has cured covers the real risks without any guesswork. If you want a hand choosing the right product for each room, we are happy to help.
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Is there such a thing as pet-friendly paint?
Not as an official category. No paint is certified as safe for pets, and a paw print on the tin is marketing, not a standard. What people mean by pet-friendly is a low-VOC, low-odour, waterborne paint that gives off far fewer fumes than a solventborne one. The credible thing to look for in New Zealand is Environmental Choice approval and a low or no added VOC statement on the data sheet.
What paint is safest to use around pets?
A quality waterborne paint that is low in VOCs or has no added VOCs. Waterborne paints release far fewer fumes than oil-based ones. In New Zealand, Environmental Choice approved options such as Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen and Resene Zylone Sheen Zero are genuinely low-VOC interior choices. Whatever the brand, choose waterborne, check for Environmental Choice approval, and keep pets out until the paint has cured.
What are VOCs and why do they matter for pets?
VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, are chemicals that evaporate from paint as it dries and cures, and they cause the fresh-paint smell. Lower VOC means fewer fumes and better indoor air quality. Pets live at floor level near freshly painted trim and breathe faster than we do, so they are exposed to more of whatever a paint gives off. A low-VOC waterborne paint reduces that exposure.
How long should I keep my pet away from a freshly painted room?
Keep pets out while the paint is wet and until it is fully dry, hard, and the room has been aired out, not just touch-dry. With a low-VOC waterborne paint that period is short, often a day, but curing continues after the surface feels dry, so ventilate well and give it time. Birds are especially sensitive and should be kept well away and returned only once the room is thoroughly aired.
Is water-based paint better than oil-based paint for pets?
Yes. Solventborne (oil-based) paints release significantly more VOCs per litre than waterborne (water-based) paints, which is why oil-based enamels smell strongly for days. Waterborne paints are low odour and give off far fewer fumes as they dry. Modern waterborne enamels now handle trim and doors well too, so most homes with pets can use waterborne throughout.
What is Environmental Choice paint?
Environmental Choice is New Zealand's official ecolabel, which sets independent standards including limits on VOCs in paint. An Environmental Choice approved paint has met that standard, so it is a credible, independent signal of a genuinely low-VOC product rather than a marketing claim. Resene was the first New Zealand paint company to offer an extensive range of Environmental Choice approved products, and other brands now offer certified options too.
Is old paint dangerous for pets?
It can be. Homes built before 1980 may have paint layers containing lead, and lead is a serious hazard for pets and children, who can ingest lead dust or chew paint chips. Sanding or scraping old paint releases lead dust into the home. WorkSafe New Zealand sets out how lead-based paint must be handled. If you have an older Auckland home, get the paint assessed and have any removal done professionally rather than sanding it with animals around.
Should landlords use low-VOC paint in rentals?
It is a smart choice. Low-VOC waterborne paint reduces odour and the off-gassing period before new tenants and their pets move in, and it is a genuinely tenant-friendly option that still holds up to wear. It also means a repainted rental is ready for occupation sooner. Landlords who want painting handled alongside wider maintenance can look at our sister brand Superior Property Services for Auckland rentals.
Can you paint a room with my pets in the house?
For a small job, closing pets into an unaffected part of the house with good ventilation can work. For larger jobs, or for very sensitive animals like birds, it is safer to have them stay elsewhere for a day or two. A professional crew makes this easier by working faster, containing mess, using low-VOC products, and giving you a clear daily schedule so you know which rooms are being painted and can plan around your animals.
References
- Resene — Low VOC and no added VOC paints
- Resene — Environmental Choice approved paints, stains and coatings
- WorkSafe New Zealand — Working with lead-based paint