Making your house safe for cats is a must if you have a little furry friend. Having recently got a kitten myself, it’s been a learning curve figuring out how to keep him safe. A lot of people don’t realize how important it is to consider how things in your home might be dangerous. Additionally, many don’t know what a pet-safe home looks like.
In this article, I explain the top things you can do to make your house safe for cats. This covers everything from windows to plants and cleaning products. There will always be more you can do, so take this as a starting point. Read on to find out more!
Safe Spaces
First, the space you have must be made suitable for a pet. Having a cat is a bit like having a baby. You need to consider the placement of various items in your house, and what could cause your kitten harm. To keep your cat safe, you may sometimes have to compromise interior design.
Don’t Let Things Fall
Most obviously, you need to make sure any items which could fall on your cat and cause significant harm are secured. Cats are notorious for jumping on anything and everything. Especially with kittens, this is not something you can really avoid. So, make sure you don’t have anything that could crush your furry friend when they decide to jump on it. If there’s an unsecured bookshelf, or maybe a table with a big vase on, find ways to keep them secured. For example, museum putty is great for holding down china and pottery items.
Windows
Next, you need to think about whether your windows are safe for cats. Especially for house cats, windows can be a major problem. In my home, I’ve had a few close shaves where the cat has seen something outside, and nearly ended up jumping out of a high-up window. Keep windows shut around your cat when you’re not monitoring them actively. If you’re really worried, you can buy a window screen which goes over the opening. This will catch your cat if they decide to jump at the window. This will make your space more safe for cats.
Plants To Avoid To Make Your House Safe For Cats
The next major thing to consider is houseplants. Many are actually toxic, or semi-toxic, to pets. If you have a lot of houseplants, you must look up which are especially bad for your cat before you bring them into your home. The same goes for garden plants if your cat goes outdoors. Many kittens especially are very curious, and like chewing houseplants if they come into contact with them. Keep any plants up high or on a surface your cat can’t or won’t reach.
As for outdoor plants, if your cat roams around freely, you might not be able to prevent them eating something dangerous. Remove the worst plants from your garden, and make sure you’ve got pet insurace in case anything happens.
Lilies Must Be Avoided To Keep Your Cat Safe
One plant you must not have in your house or garden when you’ve got a cat is a lily. Any type of lilies are extremely toxic to cats. If they even lick a tiny bit of pollen, it can be fatal within 3 to 6 days. Keep lilies out of your house and if your cat does come into contact with them, take them straight to the vets. This is extremely important for keeping your cat safe in your home.
Cat Grass As A Houseplant
Still want some greenery in your home? I have a brilliant suggestion for you. Cat grass is a great houseplant which is also safe for cats to chew on. You can grow it in pots or special containers made for it and your cat can eat it as much as they like. It’s actually quite good for their teeth and digestion, too. Additionally, make sure you grow it specifically for your cat without any chemicals, as some found outside are contaminated.
Cleaning Products Which Are Not Safe For Your Cat
Finally, you need to be careful with cleaning products to make your house safe for cats. Don’t leave any strong chemicals like bleach or worktop cleaners open or anywhere that your cat can access. Keep them locked away in a cupboard, and utilise child safety lock solutions to prevent access. Even laundry detergent can be a risk, so make sure this is safely stored away. Furthermore, cats often dislike citrus smells. Opt for cleaning products with a citrus scent to put your cats off of licking them. Even better still, keep cats in a separate room when spraying products and cleaning surfaces.
Conclusion
So, there are a lot of different things you can do to make your house safe for cats. Whilst this list isn’t exhaustive, it covers a lot of them main issues and is a great place to get started as a first-time pet owner especially. Many people don’t think of the basic safety measures when buying a pet. Hopefully this article has given you a start on what to think about when trying to make your house safe to cats!
