Kitten Proof Your Home

Is there anything more fun then a new kitting? How ever no matter how cute little fluffy might be, the early years will also be the most frustrating and dangerous. Don't let the cute purring, and big eyes fool you. In behind that fluffy cute face is a mind filled with curiosity for the world before them. As you'll grow to learn kittens have an innate ability to turn the simplest situations into a disaster. The key to your kitten and your sanity making it through is a little work on kitten-proofing your home.

The purpose behind kitting-proofing is to ensure you cat doesn't injure himself. It also prevents him from ransacking everything insight. The first step is to think like you cat, get down on all fours and take a look around what could be dangerous at kitty level. Remember though their world doesn't just exist down below, but also on counters and higher. Kittens have a way of being able to get where they want to go.

Placing breakables out of reach is important, kittens love pawing items and sniffing everything with their littles noses. Anything left within their reach could potentially be broken, the smarter the kitten the better chance he/she has of causing trouble.

Keeping plants out of the reach of kittens is important, plants generally aren't safe around cats, often plants aren't safe for kitty either. Chewing on some plants such as the English ivy can be toxic to cats. Hanging your plants or placing them on higher shelves will help keep the two apart. Also be sure to choose non toxic plants such as the prayer plant, or begonia will help ensure kittens safety as well.

Kittens do not tend to chew as much as puppies, but they do play-attack and bite nearly everything. Electric cords can be particularly tempting, and bitten cords can result in severe burns or even death. Get rid of as many electrical cords as possible, and check remaining wires regularly for signs of chewing. Tape cords to the floor to keep them from moving.

Keep garbage away from your kitten. Although cats are generally more fastidious than their canine counterparts, the smell of scraps may tempt them to scrounge. Your kitten might be poisoned by eating chocolate or he might end up with an upset stomach that results in a predictable mess.

Securely fasten lids on trash containers, or store them under the sink or in the garage where he cannot reach them. Never leaving sharp knives, food processor blades or other utensils out on counters where he might try to lick them clean and cut her tongue.

Like children, kittens have a tendency to swallow small nonfood items like coins, erasers and paper clips. Anything left out is fair game for the cat. Carefully cap all medications, and put them away. Pills are fun to bat around the floor, but if swallowed can be poisonous.

Christmas is a wonderful yet dangerous time of year for kittens. The tree seems meant for climbing, and the blinking lights and swinging ornaments tempt the most stoic kitty to indulge. But broken ornaments, extra electric cords, metal hooks or tinsel, sprayed lead-base "snow" and tree needles all pose dangers. Avoid placing decorations on the bottom branches, be sure the tree is securely anchored, avoid tinsel, and use ribbon to hang nonbreakable ornaments.
New cat toys can be a place of danger for kittens. Be sure to remove any eyes, or tails that could be chewed off and swallowed during play. Also keep all tackle boxes, and sewing kits out of reach. Cats love to play with string, yarn, thread etc. However a kitten playing unsupervised with any of the above items could cause cuts from fishing line, or strangulation from string.

Be sure to always tie up curtain and blind cords that are with a kittens reach. Cats can swallow yarn, string etc and it will require immediate surgery. Also the double cords that hang from blinds can potentially strangle a cat if their not careful jumping around. Also before closing dresser drawers, and kitchen cupboards ensure there isn't someone still inside.

Appliances can also be a dangerous thing for young cats. A warm cozy place to nap inside a dishwasher, clothes washer or dryer, or a stove might seem great to kitty but unfortunate pets die each day when these appliances are turned on with pets inside.

Kitten-proofing your home can take some work, but it's worth the effort to ensure your new furry friend lives a long safe life. Always remember if you think they might get into something chances are they could, and would. So always be on the look out for kitten hazards around the home.