Just as young toddlers need safeguards to prevent them from harm in the house, your kitty requires almost as much protection.
By following these guidelines, you can assure yourself that you can provide a safe, healthy environment for your feline friend.
View your Home from a Kitty's Eyes First, take a good look around your home.
Try to see it from a playful kitten or even a fully-grown cat's view.
Very small objects, which can be swallowed and present a choking hazard are the most obvious.
Also, check for any loose fibers on carpets, throw pillows, and blankets.
They are intriguing 'chew' objects and could become detached.
Any loose yarn, even a ball of yarn, is potentially dangerous, unless you are playing with your pet and keeping close tabs at all times..
Make sure to take the string and put it safely away afterward, preferably in a place where inquisitive paws cannot reach.
In the wild, cats were predators.
It has been instilled for centuries, the urge to hunt small prey (be it alive or no), play with, stalk, hiss in bravery and courage in the desire to conquer.
Indoor kitties have the same inclination to seek and find, whether it be a bobby pin to nudge and chase with a furry paw, safety pin, or whatever looks appealing..
Consider a Raised Cat Feeder Some cats will bat small forbidden 'toys' into their food or water dish, also presenting possible swallowing danger.
You can't be watching your kitty every single moment.
A great solution is a raised cat feeder apparatus, which avoids such a potential problem.
This item can be easily mounted on the wall at 'cat-height'.
Protect Collectibles and Designer Home Accessories Then there are the curiosity objects.
Glassware, designer home accessories and other collectible pieces, made of china, porcelain or whatever, that are seemingly beyond reach is a no-no.
You might be surprised how high a kitten can jump, especially as it grows a little older.
Merely placing your objects de' art upon a high shelf is no guarantee you won't find them shattered upon the floor later, with your feline airily prancing away as if he/she has no idea what the shouting is about.
(In truth, unless caught in the act, your kitty is totally baffled as to why you are screaming).
A glass-fronted cabinet to show off your treasures is the perfect solution.
Anything sharp, be it a threaded needle, thumb tack, push pin...
even small nails, are things your kitty considers great fun to bat around.
As well as rubber balloons, rubber bands, hair ties, ribbon..
..
These and other mentioned objects can do serious harm to a cat's intestinal tract, and could be lethal if not detected in time.
Prevention Best Defense Prevention is your best defense.
The 'trick' is to anticipate beforehand just what your small critter might do with a seemingly innocuous thing.
For example: cats have been known to swallow entire pipe cleaners, coins, even Popsicle sticks.
Take special care when doing craft projects.
Don't Forget About the Electrical Cords...
Electrical appliances, especially the delightful cords which look like snakes or worms through the intrigued cat's eyes, are another possible foe.
Your kitty does not know anything about electrical current, plugged-in or not.
Tie up loose wires (coated of course), purchase cord-hiding containers...
tuck wires behind furniture and make sure kitty can't venture behind.
Areas that Pet Owners Sometimes Ignore One area that pet owners seldom think about is cleaning products.
Having a pleasant lemon or pine smell doesn't mean the product is safe.
Carefully examine the instructions on the label.
If it requires you wear gloves or is toxic to inhale (well ventilation is required)...
how do you think your small pet will be affected? Most manufacturers of cleansers do not by law have to tell you the exact ingredients of their products on the label.
Beware if you find big long chemical names you can't pronounce.
Grandma was right! Natural soap & water, vinegar, baking soda and the like...
are the best.
This is almost a 'given', but needs to be included.
Because cats love to dig, as well as bite things, be sure to keep houseplants out of harms way.
A hanging basket, or outside window-box plants are the safest suggestions.
Cat grass (which is actually sprouted oat seeds) and catnip of course, are fine, but especially in the latter case, do not expect these plants to survive a mauling by your kitty.
Some houseplants are okay, but a great majority of them are not.
Examine the instructions whenever you bring new foliage or flora into your home.
If no warning is provided, do not assume the plant is necessarily safe around animals.
Consult a local gardening authority, as there are far too many lethal green things to mention here.
Showing You Care You want to keep your pet happy and safe in its' environment.
By envisioning yourself as your cat and what would appeal to it, you get a pretty good idea of what you must do as a responsible owner.
Your cat deserves it!