Secure Your House from Feline Invasions in 12 Breezy Steps
In welcoming a feline friend into your home, it's essential to create a safe and cat-friendly environment. Here's a guide to help you cat-proof your home and ensure the well-being of your cat while safeguarding your household items.
Firstly, consider whether your cat will be an indoor or outdoor cat, as the two have slightly different requirements. For indoor cats, stock up on essentials like a self-cleaning litter box, scratching post, and comfortable bed.
To prevent cat damage to household items and ensure cat safety at home, it's crucial to cat-proof your home comprehensively. Key approaches include securing cords and wires, managing unsafe items in kitchens and dining areas, protecting furniture, keeping hazardous substances and plants out of reach, and cat-proofing room by room.
Securing cords and wires can be achieved by tucking them away or using cord covers to prevent chewing or tangling, which can cause harm to cats and damage to electronics.
Managing unsafe items in kitchens and dining areas involves locking trash bins to prevent scavenging, keeping hot surfaces and sharp objects out of reach, and removing small choking hazards like rubber bands from accessible areas.
Protecting furniture can be achieved by providing scratching alternatives, such as sturdy scratching posts wrapped in sisal, to redirect cats from couches or carpets, and choosing cat-resistant fabric materials like microfiber or leather for upholstery.
Keeping hazardous substances and plants out of reach is important to prevent accidents. Store toxic cleaners, medications, and poisonous plants in secured cabinets with childproof latches.
Keeping lids closed on toilets and closets shut helps to prevent access to water hazards and cozy spaces that could be unsafe or lead to damage to clothes or linens.
Using motion-sensor deterrents or pet gates can restrict access to unsafe or off-limits rooms or surfaces when necessary.
For essential purchases to cat-proof your home and enhance cat safety, consider cord covers and cable management supplies, museum putty or adhesive strips, locking trash bins, sturdy cat scratching posts, cat nail caps or furniture protectors, cat-safe repellents, childproof latches for cabinets, soft cat trees, window hammocks, or shelves, flameless candles or diffusers with cat-safe ingredients, and a pheromone diffuser or spray.
For outdoor cats, consider investing in a microchip cat flap. Always ensure the house is warm enough for your cat, and secure windows and doors to prevent any unwanted escapes.
Remember, kittens sleep up to 22 hours a day, so they'll need a comfortable resting spot to retreat to. Remove toxic plants and flowers, such as aloe vera and lilies, from your home and garden. Hide mothballs in a closed drawer at all times, and hide cables and chargers to prevent cats from accessing them and the potential hazards of strangling or electrocution.
Lastly, provide your cat with a good selection of toys to be played with three to four times a day for 15 to 20 minutes. Tie up blind cords or attach them to a hook, and keep kitchen cabinets closed to prevent cats from accessing poisonous human foods like eggs, chocolate, and milk.
By systematically cat-proofing room by room and investing in these essentials, you can protect your household items from damage and create a safe environment that respects your cat’s natural behaviours.
Ensure you have a pet-friendly home for your new cat. Stock up on essentials like a self-cleaning litter box, scratching post, and comfortable bed.
Secure cords and wires to prevent chewing or tangling, which can cause harm to cats and damage to electronics.
Manage unsafe items in kitchens and dining areas by locking trash bins and keeping hot surfaces and sharp objects out of reach.
Protect furniture by providing scratching alternatives and choosing cat-resistant fabric materials for upholstery.
Keep hazardous substances and plants out of reach to prevent accidents, and keep lids closed on toilets and closets shut to prevent access to water hazards and cozy spaces.
Use motion-sensor deterrents or pet gates to restrict access to unsafe or off-limits rooms or surfaces when necessary.
For kittens, a comfortable resting spot is essential, and remove toxic plants from your home and garden.
Provide toys for playtime three to four times a day for 15 to 20 minutes, and keep kitchen cabinets closed to prevent cats from accessing poisonous human foods.
By cat-proofing your home, you create a safe and cat-friendly environment while safeguarding your household items.
