By nature, cats are inquisitive and playful, and once you bring him/her home, she will want to explore every inch of your home. Cat proofing your home is important to prevent accidents and illness.
Household Hazards
- Furniture. Certain types of furniture are potentially dangerous to cats. Reclining chairs can trap a cat that crawls inside, so check for your cat’s presence under the leg rest or inside the recliner before returning it to an upright position.
- Ironing Boards. Irons left standing can topple over and injure your cat, so put them away when you are finished. Don’t leave irons unattended.
- Clothes Dryer. Because cats love to snuggle in small, warm spaced, they often crawl into clothes dryer s if the dryer door is left open. Many cats have perished when their owners turn the dryer on without realizing the cat is inside. Close the dryer door after you remove a load of clothing to keep your cat from taking a nap in a potentially dangerous location.
- Electrical cords. To keep your cat from accidentally electrocuting itself, tie up loose electrical cords to conceal them in hard plastic or rubber runners purchased at the hardware store.
- Small objects. Small objects can lodge in your cat’s digestive tract if swallowed. Keep them safely out of your cat’s reach.
- Windows. To keep your cat from accidentally falling or escaping through an open window, fasten window screens securely.
- Toilets. The toilet can be a popular watering hole for your cat. A small kitten could fall in and drown or a cat could become poisoned if the toilet contains an automatic toilet bowl cleaner. Keep the toilet lid down at all times to prevent a feline tragedy.
- Chemicals. Chemical cleaning products are poisonous if your cat ingests them. If using chemical cleaners concern you, substitute safe cleaning products such as vinegar/water mixtures or baking soda.
- Ovens. When cleaning the oven, close the door to prevent your cat from walking on the chemical oven cleaner, and after removing your latest culinary creations from the oven, be sure to close the hot oven door to keep your cat from burning its paws if she jumps on it.
- Antifreeze. All antifreeze is poisonous to cats, so keep antifreeze spills cleaned up.
- Drugs. Common anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen are extremely toxic to cats as well as analgesics such as acetaminophen (Tylenol). If your cat ingests only two regular strength Tylenol tablets in a 24-hour period, it may be lethal. Keep all medicines out of your cats reach.
