How To Kitten Proof Your Home

Have you just got a new little kitten? If so you have to be as attentive to them as you would be a toddler. They are curious and always getting into everything.  

Some people make the mistake of thinking that kittens have all of these natural instincts that protect them from danger. This is definitely not true. They are as out of it as human toddlers. They will eat the wrong food, chew on the wrong plant and misjudge distances.

Like all kids, kittens are on a learning curve and they do need to be protected from danger in their immediate environment for at least the first seven months of life.  Here are some ways that you can kitten proof your home so that it is safe for the little critter.  

Check your dryer drum before you to turn it on. Kittens love warm areas and they like to sleep inside dryers.   They could be killed if they are trapped in a dryer.  

Get rid of toxic house plants. A young cat does not necessarily instinctively know which plants are bad for it and which ones are good. The safest thing to do when you have a new kitten is to just get rid of your houseplants.   Use fake flowers or plants instead but be careful there are no small plastic parts on the articial flower that the kitten can pull off and choke on.  

Remove rocking chairs. These are very easy for a kitten to get trapped under.  Keep your kitty out of the garage (especially in the winter.) Kittens are attracted to the taste o poisonous antifreeze.  

Wrap up electrical cords into bundles. The texture of an electrical cord is attractive to teething kittens. Of course chewing on an electrical cord can also cause elrotcution. When purchasing appliances look for ones that have cord retractor or ones where the wires are concealed. This is also good if you have human toddlers tripping around the house. If this is not possible then wrap the cords in heavy plastic tape.  Don’t let cords from window blinds dangle. Tie them up as kittens can get caught in the loops and hang themselves accidentally.  

Don’t leave plastic bags with handles lying around as kittens like the crackling sound they make. However the handles are a real strangulation hazard! Also never leave something like a plastic drycleaning bag around as they could suffocate.  

Keep your windows closed in a way that a kitten can’t slip out the window and fall out. Make sure the window screens fit in there securely.  

Take all big cushions off of the couch. When they are little kittens like to crawl under these big pillows and have a nap. The danger is that they could be sat on and crushed.  Protect your kitten from people who are mentally ill, moody or who have addictions. Pets, especially cats, can be the targets of anger, frustration and other human emotions.  T

he biggest danger to cats is letting them outside. If you live in a rough area know better then to expose a tiny vulnerable kitten to all of the predators (both human and animal) that are out there.

Pet Blog
, , ,

Cats and Children – Dos and Donts

DON’T let your children kiss your cat on the mouth. Cats don’t have any antibacterial qualities to their saliva like a dog. They could catch a virus or a cold.  

DON’T let your child handle a kitten that is less than three weeks old.   This can traumatize the mother. Also your kid may have germs that can make the little kitty sick.   Toddlers should definitely not be handling cats.  

DON’T let your child play in the litter box. Many confused little kids think it is a sandbox.  

DON’T   let your cats feed cats scraps of food from the table. This creates demanding and physically overweight pet that will never let you eat dinner in peace again.   Yet another problem is that your child might be feeding your cat something that is toxic such as chocolate.  

DON’T let your child introduce your cat to another kid unless you or an adult is present. Cats can be unpredictable and many introduce themselves to children with a savage swipe of the claw.   Often they go for the face too. If you don’t want a lawsuit or medical bill from an angry parent don’t do this.  

DO teach your child to groom the cat. This teaches the cat the child is the boss and strengthens their bond.  DO let your child give your cat a treat.   The cat will be nicer to any being that gives it catnip.  

DO encourage your children to feed the cat and empty the kitty litter box AS LONG AS THEY ARE OVER AGE TEN. Any younger and they may forget or play with the kitten feces or be tempted to eat the kitten food. Keep an eye on the situation no matter how old your kids are as you do not want a cat that is starving to death or a kitty litter that I reeking.   Remember that just because you are teaching your child to be responsible does not mean he or she is going to be and your cat should not be the one that suffers while your child tries to navigate a learning curve.  

DO discourage children from pulling a cat’s tail. This can lead to a spinal cord injury that can result in kidney failure.  

DO encourage children to leave sleeping cats alone. Cats need a lot of sleep to be emotionally healthy.  

DO encourage your child to only speak to the cat in a soft, gentle voice.   Punish your child if he or she makes a habit of punishing the cat.  

DO not hesitate to take your child to a child psychologist if he or she it abusing, bullying or torturing the animal in any way. This kind of behavior is often a precursor to serious mental, psychological and social disorders that need to be treated early.  

DO not hesitate to find the cat a good home if the relationship between your child and the cat is not working out. The cat will easily adapt to a friendly environment and your child will learn that wrong actions lead to alienation.

Pet Blog
, , , , ,