Cat-Proof Your Home

The houseplant has survived and you’ve decided you can now own a pet or, more specifically, a cat. But is your home safe for a cat? Here are some tips to make sure it is.

Remember, cats can climb
Cats are naturally curious animals. They’re going to look in every nook and cranny of their new home and will probably test out anything that isn’t secure. Make sure everything that might fall and break, or make a mess, is either safely secured or put away.

Make sure you tie up window blind cords. If your cat gets tangled, they may accidentally choke themselves.

Make some areas off limits
If you don’t want to have to shut every door just to keep your cat contained, you can spray bitter apple or lemon scented sprays around areas where you don’t want your kitty to go. Cats can’t stand the scent or taste of these flavours. Just do a spot test first to make sure it doesn’t stain.

Put toys away
You might look around your house or apartment and not see any toys. But look again through cat’s eyes. Is there anything they might be able to play with, or ingest? Craft items such as needlework, glue and threads should be put away. Any hair ties, rubber bands, ribbons or ties should be kept somewhere off limits so your cat can’t swallow them.

Lid down
Make sure you keep the toilet lid down. A constant supply of water can look very inviting to a thirsty cat, but a small kitten may drown. If your toilet has an automatic cleaning block in it, this could react unfavourably with your cat’s stomach and make your kitty quite sick!

Houseplants outside
If you have any houseplants, check that they aren’t toxic to cats. Ingestion of certain flowers such as lilies or geraniums could prove life threatening for your cat. You can find a list of toxic plants here.

Do you have any tips on cat proofing your home?

Sources and further reading:

How to cat-proof your home: http://cats.about.com/cs/catmanagement101/a/catproof.htm
Kitten proofing your house: http://www.cat-world.com.au/KittenProofing.htm
Cat proofing you home: http://maxshouse.com/cat_proofing_your_home.htm

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