| Anyone who has ever spent an extended period of | | | | out. Once a cat starts chewing on one, they are not |
| time with a cat knows they are notorious for finding | | | | eager to stop. |
| the one single thing in the house that they should not | | | | Fold and secure the chords from your hanging |
| touch, play with, or eat. | | | | window blinds, and keep it out of your cat's reach. |
| Sure, you can go out and buy countless toys of | | | | As scary as it may seem, a cat can get tangled in |
| every size, style, and even flavor, and they can be | | | | them and be strangled. |
| thrown helter skelter anywhere and everywhere, but | | | | Many cats love to eat paper so invest in covered |
| if by chance you inadvertently dropped a stray | | | | wastebaskets and kitchen garbage containers. |
| rubber band behind your desk in the corner of your | | | | Remove all breakable valuables (such as that antique |
| home office, have no doubt that your cat will find it. | | | | porcelain clock grandma left you) from shelves and |
| And sometimes, he or she will eat it. | | | | store them someplace or display them within a glass |
| There are a number of tips you should keep in mind | | | | cabinet. |
| to make sure your cat(s) do not find "toys" that can | | | | Always keep the door to your clothes dryer closed, |
| lead to an unexpected visit to the veterinarian. | | | | and double-check inside before using it. Cats like to |
| Take a walk through your home and survey your | | | | find dark, warm places to sleep, and the results could |
| surroundings. Look for places your cat might go. Look | | | | be tragic. |
| on all the shelves, high and low, cupboards, and | | | | Leaving office supplies and other small items around |
| nooks. Look for anything the cat(s) might ingest and | | | | can lead to disastrous consequences. Put all rubber |
| remove them immediately. | | | | bands, paper clips, thumb tacks, balloons, tinsel, and |
| Use animal-safe insect repelant. Commercial roach and | | | | other small articles away in containers. |
| ant poison will kill cats if ingested. | | | | Protect your valuables. In addition to securing antique |
| Cover electric cords with foam tubes that are | | | | clocks, glass vases, and more, you do not want to |
| available at Home Depot or Lowe's or elsewhere. The | | | | leave out any small jewelry such as rings, piercings, |
| tubes are too thick for a cat to chew through | | | | chains, bracelets, and anything that can fit in a cat's |
| (unless he or she is really determined) | | | | mouth. |
| Citrus scents are great for marking areas you want | | | | Use child-safe fasteners for kitchen and bathroom |
| to be off-limits. Cats hate the taste and/or scent of | | | | cabinets. Cats can find all kinds of mischief inside. |
| them. | | | | Protect your furniture. Cats will climb up on your |
| Research the plants you have in your home and | | | | couch, chairs, drapes, and everything else. You |
| make sure they are not poisonous to cats. Leaves | | | | cannot stop them. This is what they do. Consider |
| are a favorite thing to bite and taste for cats. Even if | | | | covering your furniture with covers and blankets. |
| your plants are not poisonous, you might want to | | | | If you have wicker furniture there is not much advice |
| consider hanging them so they are out of reach. | | | | to offer. Chances are, your cat's claws will tear them |
| If possible, try to keep your cat indoors at all times. | | | | apart in no time. The best chance you have is to get |
| The outside world is filled with poisons, traps, | | | | your cat used to a scratch post for those times |
| hazardous materials, dangerous animals, fast cars, and | | | | where they have the sudden urge to dig their claws |
| mean people. | | | | into something that will give a bit. |
| Anti-freeze is a total no-no. Cats will want to lick it. If | | | | The real secret to making your home cat proof is to |
| possible, never let a cat in your garage. There are | | | | look at your home through the eyes of a cat. If |
| just too many opportunities for trouble. | | | | there is any chance your cat can get to it, and it can |
| Based on my personal experience, do not keep any | | | | be dangerous, do something about it. |
| yarn, string, loose wires, ribbon, twine, or thin chains | | | | |