Cat Proofing Your Home - What To Do And What Not To Do

You have taken a good decision to bring a cat home. They are loyal and affectionate creatures. However, before you bring a cat home, it is important to take certain precautions. Cat proofing your home is necessary if you want to preserve your valuables as well as your non-valuables. The following tips can help you decide what to keep and what to put away.

1. Curiosity kills the cat. You must have heard of this phrase. Cats are curious animals by nature. They want to explore every nook and cranny of the house. So you will do well by putting away all those valuable vases and other decorative stuff in the living room.
2. Lock all the breakables and keep them locked! It is better to take care now, because trying to protect your valuables later will be extremely stressful.
3. Ensure that the cat cannot climb the drapes and curtains. Avoid keeping any furniture that can help your kitten reach any heights in the room.
4. Cat proofing your home also involves doing away with some of your favorite plants. Do not keep any plants in the house that might contain toxins. Cats, especially kittens, love to play with the leaves of the plants. And in the process, they tend to bite the leaves. This can prove dangerous if the plant produces harmful substances. If you are not sure of the toxic nature of the plant, then gather information from a nursery or a pet care shop.
5. Cover all exposed sockets and put all electric wires out of reach of the cat. Do the same with phone cords. A kitten finds a cord an irresistible play material. But it is more likely to end up entangled in one of them.
6. Blind cords should be kept out of reach of the cats. While cat proofing your home, make sure that the cords from hanging blinds are not left untied.
7. Do not keep any sprays or poisonous chemicals in the house. Your curious kitty will surely want to taste it.
8. Keep the cat away from the garbage bin. Consuming contaminated or leftover food can cause poisoning in you cat. Cover the garbage bin and secure the lid tightly, so that your pet is unable to open it.
9. Knives, blades and forks should be put away securely. The cat might be tempted to lick them and cut its tongue in the process.
10. If you stay in a place that experiences harsh winters, then put away the fire completely in the fireplace. The cat will be fascinated by the burning flames and might try touching the burning coal too. Also, do not leave electric heaters switched on when you leave the room.
11. Stationery material including scissors, stapler, staple pins and paperclips should not be left lying around. Chances are that they would be quickly swallowed or else taken for a toy by your feline friend.

Having a cat for a pet is almost like bringing home an infant. Think of all the care that goes into protecting a child from being harmed in the house. Cat proofing your home involves the same amount of care and attention. The only difference is that you are not only safeguarding your new pet, but also protecting your house, thereby preserving your sanity!