Keeping A Home Safe For Your Cat
Keeping A Home Safe For Your Cat
Keeping A Home Safe For Your Cat
Keeping a home safe for your cat is very important because a majority of household cats spend most of their time indoors and may be exposed to potential hazards. It is the responsibility of all cat owners to ensure that their home is safe for their cat. Some of the things that are used around the house for cleaning can be deadly for your cat and should be stored out of her reach. Here is a list of stuff that will help keep your home safe and sound for your cat.
Common Household Items
Many common household items have been shown to be lethal in certain species of cats. Miscellaneous items that are highly toxic even in low quantities include:
Pennies (high concentration of zinc),
Mothballs (contain naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene one or two balls can be life-threatening in most species)
Potpourri oils
Fabric softener sheets
Automatic dish detergents (contain cationic detergents which could cause corrosive lesions)
Batteries (contain acids or alkali which can also cause corrosive lesions)
Homemade play dough (contains high quantity of salt)
Winter heat source agents like hand or foot warmers (contain high levels of iron)
Cigarettes
Coffee grounds
Alcoholic drinks
Keep the above items out of reach and in a safe place so your cat cannot get to any of them and cause harm to herself.
Automotive Products
All automotive products, such as oil, gasoline, and antifreeze, should be stored properly. As little as one teaspoon of antifreeze (ethylene glycol) can be deadly to a cat. Wash off any poisonous substance on your cat's coat or skin before she licks it off and poisons herself. Use cat-safe soap and warm water or give her a complete bath.
Also, cats like to cuddle up around the engine of a car during the cold winter months. Be sure to check under the hood of your car before starting if your cat has a habit of being in the garage.
Medications and Other Products
Never give your cat any medications unless under the directions of a veterinarian. Many medications that are used safely in humans can be deadly to a cat. Keep all prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs out of the reach of your cat, preferably in closed cabinets. Pain-killers, cold medicines, anti-cancer drugs, antidepressants, vitamins, and diet pills are common examples of human medications that could be potentially lethal, even in small dosages.
Before buying or using flea products on your cat or in your household, contact your veterinarian to discuss what types of flea products are recommended for her. Read ALL information before using a product on your cat or in your home. Always follow label instructions. Also, when using a fogger or a house spray, make sure to remove all pets from the area for the time period specified on the container. If you are uncertain about the usage of any product, contact the manufacturer or your veterinarian to clarify the directions BEFORE using the product.
Garden and Plants
When treating your lawn or garden with fertilizers, herbicides, or insecticides, always keep your cat away from the area until the area dries completely. If in doubt, ask the manufacturer whether using the product may be harmful to your cat. Be aware of the plants you have in your house and in your yard. The ingestion of a poisonous plant may be fatal. Always read the labels first to ensure that they are safe for your pets before using.
Miscellaneous Stuff
Here are some more things for you to consider in making your home safe for your cat:
When cleaning your house, never allow your cat access to the area where cleaning agents are used or stored. Some may only cause a mild stomach upset, while others could cause severe burns of the tongue, mouth, and stomach and may even be fatal.
When using rat or mouse baits, ant or roach traps, or snail and slug baits, place the products in areas that are inaccessible to your cat. Most bait contains sweet-smelling, inert ingredients, such as jelly, peanut butter, and sugars, which can be very attractive to a cat.
Sharp objects such as knives and forks, paper clips, carpet tacks and pins should be kept out of a cat's reach. Children's toys and small objects may attract a playful cat and become lodged in her mouth or swallowed. Although kittens are sometimes pictured with a ball of yarn, if ingested, yarn as well as thread and twine could cause serious damage to the intestinal tract.
Lead paint should be removed with extreme caution. Cleanup should be prompt and thorough. Other items containing lead accessible to cats include lead-base paint, linoleum, and caulking compounds. Signs of poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, loss of appetite, loss of muscle coordination, blindness and seizures.
Outside of the house, make sure your cat is clearly identified whether you use a collar and an identification tag or a more permanent form of identification like tattooing.
Conclusion
If you have any small children in the house many of the above safety measures needed for pets are probably already in place. However, in case they are not, this information will help you to protect your cat around the house. One more thing, if you suspect that your cat may have come in contact with any of the above, do not hesitate to call your veterinarian. It is better to be safe than sorry.
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