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How to Cat-Proof Your Home

Cats are curious and, especially in the case of younger cats or kittens, they love to play. Cat play is a way for them to practice their hunting skills. Stalking, ambush, pouncing, and chasing all come out in cat play. But this can literally play havoc on your house if you don't take some time to cat proof before kitty arrives.
 

Breakables
Ok, to get an example of what your cat can do. Go to the store and buy the biggest balloon you can find. Blow it up as full as it can safely be done, but don't tie it off. Now take it into each room of the house and let it go.  As the air escapes the end, that balloon is going to bounce off walls and china alike without a care in the world for what it might knock off a shelf. That's how a young cat can be when it's playing, and two young cats playing in the same home are ten times as bad. Up onto tables, zipping under beds, even straight up your curtains if they're heavy and hang to the floor. Older cats are usually calmer, but they can still knock items off shelves as they jump up to catch those last few rays of sunshine coming in through the window.

Poisonous Plants
Some very common house plants are poisonous to cats, as well as other animals and humans. Here are a few species I know of, but if you are in doubt about any of your houseplants, either get rid of the plant or keep it where you know your cat can't get to it.

Other Hazards
Draw cords for window blinds can be a hazard for children as well as cats. Many people will cut the loop at the end to prevent  a child from accidentally hanging themselves, but cat's are even more mischievous then children and can get tangled in the cords themselves with disastrous results. Looping the end back up over the top of the window may help keep curious kitties away.
Electrical and phone cords are another dangerous problem. Before getting ANY pet, you should make sure that any cord with power running through it is kept covered, out of reach, or simply unplugged.
Other hazardous materials that your pet might find attractive might include rubber bands, paper clips, thumb tacks, broken balloons, and anything else he might get tangled in or choke on. Use a little foresight before getting a new pet, and make sure that your family understands where items like these belong, so they don't accidentally end up in kitty's paws.

The Safe Room
As explained on our page for new cat introductions, a safe room is a good place for you to keep a pet while they're adjusting to a new home and meeting any resident pets. But after the introductions are over, you can still use the room as a place to confine your pet when you have to leave home and don't want her getting into trouble. Make sure she has everything she needs first. Food, water, litter box, and plenty of toys for entertainment.

A Clean Litter Box
People always want to place the litter box in an out-of-the-way spot in order to minimize odor and loose particles of cat litter in the house. So, the litter box ends up in the basement, maybe next to an appliance and/or on a cold cement floor. For obvious reasons, this can be undesirable from your cat's point of view. If you have a kitten or an older cat, they may not be able to get down a long flight of stairs in time  If it's a new cat, she may not remember where the litter box is if it’s in an area seldom frequented. Not to mention the terror your cat may feel if while using the litter box a nearby furnace, washer or dryer suddenly comes on! That may understandably be the last time she’ll risk it going near such a location.

The litter box should be kept in a location that gives your cat some privacy, but is also convenient. If you place the litter box in a closet or a bathroom, be sure the door is wedged open from both sides, to prevent her from accidentally being trapped in or out. You might even consider cutting a hole in a closet door and adding a swinging door. If the litter box sits on a smooth, slick or cold surface, you might put a small throw rug underneath the litter box. Some cats appreciate being able to scratch around their box.
It's best to have at least one box per cat, especially in a larger home where there's a greater distance between boxes. And of course, keep the boxes clean!

Scratching Post or Cat Tree
Scratching is a normal cat behavior, and one that cats are highly motivated to display, so it’s unrealistic to try to prevent them from scratching. The best thing you can do is offer your cat a place specifically for scratching, and encourage her to use it. A good cat scratching post that's tall enough for your cat to stretch out full length against is a good buy, but make sure that it's sturdy and doesn't wobble before making your purchase. If your cat is anything like mine, that post will be well used, and should be capable of supporting the full weight of your cat bouncing off it's side in pursuit of invisible moths, or racing full tilt up it's length to sky dive from the pinnacle at maximum speed.
Even better then a post however, is a cat climbing tree. They'll cost you a little bit more, but they offer your cat a greater range of play and entertainment. A good cat tree will have more than one place to perch or sleep, and maybe a hole or two that she can play hide and seek in.  There are also cat houses, hammocks, window shelves and even cat sized indoor gyms!
 

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