Common Cat Dangers in the House |
|
As a rule of thumb, if it's not safe for a young child, it's not safe for a cat. - Plants (see our list of plants which are toxic to cats)
- Aluminium foil
- Cling Film
- Tinsel
- String, dental floss, sewing thread
- Drugs (including vitamin pills)
- Electrical cords
- Plastic Bags
- Bags with handles
- Washing machine & dryer
- Leave the door to the washing machine & dryer closed at all times. Before putting on a load, check in the machine to ensure your cat hasn't snuck in. I personally know of one cat who was killed in a washing machine & heard of another cat who was tumble dried for 30 minutes. Fortunately, the cat survived the ordeal with a few minor burns.
- Sewing needles & pins.
- Toothpicks (I know of a cat who ate a toothpick & needed surgery to remove it.)
- Poisons (see our list of some common household poisons)
- Household cleaners (see our list of common household poisons)
- Cheap cat toys
- Check for loose eyes etc.
- Curtain cords
- Food - This includes cooked chicken wings, meat with string attached, food that is past it's use by date. Properly dispose of such items some cats have a tendency to scavenge for discarded food in the garbage bin.
- Elastic bands
- Twist ties
- Toilets - Young kittens can accidentally climb into them & not get out. I know of two kittens who have drowned in the toilet.
- Cardboard - I'm including this because recently I bought a blender, I left the box on the floor, there was a cardboard insert which had a hole in the middle, my cat managed to get his head & shoulders through the hole then became stuck & panicked. Had we not been home it could have been very dangerous.
- Hot Stoves - Never leave hotplates on if you are not there to supervise. Again, I have personal experience with this. Recently my cat positioned herself to jump up onto the stove, fortunately I was standing next to her & managed to stop her before she jumped.
- Scented oils
- Aromatherapy oils (some -Never leave burning candles unsupervised. A cat can knock them over & cause a fire.)
- Small children - Teach young children how to properly pick up your cat. Ensure the cat has a place to escape for time out should it need. Make sure your child knows this spot is out of bounds.
Also see:
Cat safety
Plants toxic to cats |
