Cat-Proofing Your Home

Home Hazards

• When you bring a cat into your home, you need to do more than set up a litter box and buy cat food. If you haven't owned a cat before -- or even if you have -- your house can contain hazards that will put your new pet's health in danger. Cat-proofing your home involves recognizing those dangers and taking steps to remove them. You need to cat-proof both the inside and outside of your home to keep your new pet safe.

Indoors

• Inside your home, focus on removing poisonous plants and physical dangers. Peace lilies and other members of the lily family cause kidney failure in cats if ingested. Either place the plants on high shelves out of a cat's normal area of play or remove them from your home. Make sure all cleaning supplies are kept in cabinets -- even natural ones. Citrus oil can make cats ill, even though it's safe for humans. Don't knot your blind pulls; cats can get tangled in them and strangle. Cats are as likely to drink from a toilet as dogs, so keep the lid down to protect them from exposure to lingering bits of cleaner.

Outdoors

• Contact your local poison control center for a comprehensive list of toxic plants used in landscaping in your area. Everything from showy hibiscus to simple tansy can make cats ill if they eat them. Commercial pesticides and weed killer are poisonous to cats and can be ingested if it chews on treated grass, so keep your pet away from recently treated areas in your yard. Clean up oil spills and antifreeze leaks in your garage as soon as they happen to keep your cat out of them.

Considerations

• In addition to taking steps to protect your cat from dangers around your home, you should also act to keep parts of your house safe from your cat. Keep your cat from sharpening its claws on your carpets or furniture by providing a few scratching posts around your home. To ensure your cat uses its litter box, clean it at least once a day. Provide plenty of toys to keep your cat occupied so it is less likely to take an interest in playing with your belongings.