Cat proofing your house can be tricky. Some felines, even kittens, can get into anything.
If you’re bringing home a new cat or kitten, you’ll need to make sure your living space is ready and safe.
Here are seven steps you should take to make your home a little safer and more cat proof!
1. Store Hazardous Items Where Kitty Can’t Get Them
Keep medications and chemicals out of reach. Too many cats get poisoned each year by toxic substances, and this is a preventable accident.
Make sure your trash is secure, as well. Cats can choke on items like discarded bones, packaging, or wrappers. The trash can also have items that are toxic to cats.
If your cat is too clever for child safety locks, you may have to be creative.
2. Get Rid Of Toxic Plants Or Move Them Outdoors
Do you have a green thumb? Make sure the plants in your home are cat friendly.
The ASPCA has an extensive catalog of plants that are toxic and not toxic to your cat. Be sure to read through this list before bringing a cat into your home.
Make sure any indoor plants are cat friendly.
3. Keep Your Litter Box Clean & Easily Accessible
Keep the litter box clean, out in the open, and easily accessible.
Some felines may not be fond of some confined spaces like cupboards or shower stalls. If your litter box is hard to get to, your cat may start using the floor — or worse, your bed or fresh laundry.
4. Keep The Toilet Seat & Lid Down
Some cats are actually drawn to water or will choose to drink out of a toilet rather than use their bowl. So it’s important to keep the lid down when the potty is not in use.
Provide your kitty with a safe water supply. Some cats absolutely need the water to be as fresh as possible, and others have discomfort when their whiskers touch the sides of their water bowls.
Consider getting a cat water fountain if your kitty is picky about drinking.
5. Secure Draw Strings And Blind Cords
Cats love playing with loose strings and hanging cords which could potentially cause asphyxiation if your cat were to get tangled up.
This can be remedied by putting a knot in the middle or using a clip to keep the cord up high where kitty can’t reach it.
6. Check Washers, Dryers, & Boxes
Always double check before closing your washing machine or dryer door. Cats like confined spaces, and sometimes they’ll sneak into your laundry machine.
Be sure to check boxes before you throw them away or pack them shut. There was a story on the news a few years back about a cat getting packed in a neighbor’s boxes and shipped to Hawaii. Thankfully the cat survived.
But kitties love boxes and tiny, quiet places where they can snooze in peace. When boxing items for storage, it’s a good idea to double check before sealing.
7. Stock Up On Toys
Make sure that you have lots of toys for Captain Whiskers to play with!
Cats love toys and you can make so many toys for cats using simple household items. Get crafty with these awesome, easy to make cat toys.
This may not sound like a way to make your home safer for your cat. But if you don’t provide your cat with toys just for them, they may decide to make their own toys out of your belongings.
This can be destructive and dangerous, so fight boredom with designated cat toys.
Do you have any other tips for cat proofing your home? What steps do you take to keep your cat safe around the house? Let us know in the comments below!
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