Overview:
Before you
bring your new cat home it is important to spend some time
cat proofing to ensure the house is safe for your new
addition.
One
useful way to visualise potential hazards is to look at your
house from your cat's level. Bear in mind that kittens are
adept climbers & jumpers, and are quite capable of
accessing areas several feet from the ground.
Living
Room/Bedrooms:
Ensure
all power & telephone cords are out of reach to your
cat. Power cords can be quite attractive to chew on so it
is important to keep them out of the way. If you are still
having difficulty keeping your cat away from the power
cords you can try painting them with a deterrent such as
bitter apple. This will taste revolting to your kitten but
isn't poisonous.
There
are many species of plants which are toxic to cats so keep
houseplants out of reach.
Keep
all ribbons, ties, elastic bands out of reach. If you enjoy
sewing make sure your needles are stored away properly.
Candles
& oil burners can easily be knocked over by a kitten &
be a potential fire hazard & severely scald/burn your
cat. Keep well out of your kitten's reach.
Kitchen/Laundry:
Keep
all cleaning chemicals & laundry detergents in a secured
cupboard.
Be
careful with your kitchen waste. It is possible for your
cat to become very sick as a result of eating scavenged
food.
Ensure
the washing machine & tumble dryer doors are closed at all
times.
Don't
leave food lying around. There are some foods (chocolate &
onion to name a few) which are toxic to cats. Also be mindful
of food wrappers such as cling film & aluminium foil which
could be swallowed.
Don't
allow your kitten to play with toothpicks. Keep safely in a
drawer.
Be
careful with unattended hotplates. When not in use cover them
with a hotplate guard.
Bathrooms:
Keep
all bathroom cleaners in a cupboard, preferably a locked
one.
Ensure
the toilet seat is down at all times. Many kittens have
drowned after jumping into the toilet.
Keep
medicines in a medicine cabinet & out of reach of your
kitten.
Children:
Young
children in particular can sometimes be rough on cats,
especially kittens.
Ensure your child is supervised around the cat.
For
more information on children & cats please read here...
Garage:
There
are lots of hazardous chemicals stored in garages. Keep these
in a safe, out of reach place.
Properly
secure heavy gardening equipment & tools you may have
stored in your garage.
Clean
the floor of any hazards such as anti-freeze & oil which
may have leaked from your car.
Garden:
Indoors
(with access to an outdoor enclosure) is always preferable,
however many pet owners still do permit their cat to have
access to the garden. Once again, there are many plants which
are toxic to cats. Be careful that your cat doesn't have
access to these plants.
Snail
pellets/slug bait can be fatal to cats, so don't use this in
areas your cat can access.
Be
mindful of weed killers & avoid using where your cat
wanders/sleeps.
General/Miscellaneous:
Blinds
with cords can be a choking hazard. Tie them up high enough so
they aren't able to be reached by your cats.
Keep
windows closed, if this is not possible install a mesh screen
to prevent your cat escaping or falling from a height.
Keep cupboard &
drawers closed at all times. Cats, but especially kittens are
inquisitive creatures & may jump in & either be
trapped or injured when somebody closes the drawer/door.
Block
off any small areas/nooks & crannies your cat may be able
to crawl into.
Carefully
check any toys your cat has access to. These include both cat
toys & human toys which may be lying around. Ensure they
are safe with no loose parts or strings your cat could chew
off & choke on.
For
further details on household toxins & poisonous plants
read here...
