How to cat proof your home?

Curiosity killed the cat. Trust me, they sure do get into a lot of trouble! And once bitten twice shy doesn't work with every cat either. The best way of protecting kitty, is to try cat-proof your home.

Strings, yarn, plastic bags

Most cats go crazy over string and yarn. Some cats shred plastic bags. This really becomes a problem when kitty decides to eat them. The string might attach itself to a part of the body (like under kitty’s tongue) and cause the intestine to bunch up. This bunching up can be life-threatening and require surgery.

Cat food

Most cats stop eating when they are full. However, there are some cats who have poor control of their appetite and are compelled to eat and eat nearly anything. If you have one of these cats, you would not only need to meticulously measure out portions of food for your cat, but also prevent kitty from helping himself to your store of cat food. There are various methods of preventing the cat from your store of food – what method you need to use would depend from cat to cat.

• The simplest method would be storing food in a cat proof container. (Some cats would work out how to open them)
• Store your cat food in a locked cupboard.
•  If you cat can’t really jump high due to arthritis, you may consider storing on a high shelf.

Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

Most cats hate water, but odd that it may be, some love it in the washing machine, dryer or dishwasher. Simply check before you load and check after you load that there’s no cat in there before you turn it on.

Wires, electrical cords

On top of the problem of intestinal bunching, live wires and cords can be a one zap death to poor kitty. Some cats are attracted to these wires and may nibble on them. You can bundle your wires and encase them to prevent kitty from biting them. We found encasements in our local IKEA store.  Try to avoid wires or cords which dangle as they are more attractive to cats. Other alternatives include covering your wires with white vinegar. You can also use commercially available products to prevent kitty from biting. Finally, you can train your cat by using a loud noise to scare it.

Trash cans

Some cats might find the trash can very attractive. Just be careful, if you have something sharp in it, it may hurt kitty. Cats might find trash cans attractive due to food scraps. Things like bones can be very dangerous as they can splinter and cut kitty’s insides if it decides to eat them. Most cats love boxes and confined areas. Sometimes you might find kitty sleeping in the trash. Just be careful what’s in your trash before you put it out for collection!

Carpet

Cats need scratch to keep their claws in shape. But kitty might think your carpet would be the best place to do so. You can always train kitty to behave by using a loud noise or a water gun. But you can also chose to use carpet which can withstand a great deal of damage. What you want to get is a cut pile (not a loop pile), stain resistant and heavy duty carpet. The best solution is to get tiles or wooden floor boards – these are still best when trying to clean up stains kitty might cause.

Furniture

Furniture can be damaged by cats who scratch them. Start training kitty from young that the furniture is not the place to scratch by using a loud noise or a water gun. Alternatively, you can put double sided tape on the area where kitty is scratching. Cats really hate their paws stuck and they tend to learn very quickly that scratching at that spot is a very bad idea.

Training your cat can be very challenging. It needs to be consistent. It is best to train your cat while it is still a kitten. But once trained, it is very rewarding!

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