Kitten Proofing Your Home

From one of my earlier postings about adopting a kitten, I do hope that I was able to have offered some good advice and tips for readers.

In today's posting, I am going to touch on how you can keep your home really 'kitten proof', without much inconvenience to yourself.

Now that you've decided where you're going to go to adopt your new kitty, probably you have already narrowed your selection to one that you simply must bring home. You have stocked up enough kitty essentials, and you have even prepared kitty's 'room'.

There is still one more step which you need to do before kitty's homecoming: 'Kitty proofing' your home, not only for kitty's sake, but your furniture's too, from wear and tear.

Kittens are naturally curious animals, capable of jumping onto high places, or squeezing themselves into unbelievably small spaces. It may sound troublesome and time consuming, but the effort you are going to put in, in preparing to make your home kitten safe is going to save you from any future potential headaches and vet bills from a hurt or wounded kitten. So start by checking out your home for possible hazards before kitty comes home:

Remove all dangerous products, like car polishing wax, poison, chemical agents, medicines, household cleaners, detergents, and move them into a cabinet with a latch to keep little paws from prying open the doors open. You'd be surprised: yes, they do know how to pry open doors. My cats have been opening my cupboards and slipping into my wardrobe cabinets as easily as I can open them.

Medicines, lotions, bathroom supplies and cosmetics is another hazard list that must be put into closed containers. Remove any/all ant traps, lizard traps and roach traps from areas where kitty might find them. It is important to know and understand which household products are dangerous to your new kitten should an emergency arises.

Other danger 'targets' are your table lamps that might fall over, irons on ironing boards, curtain and electrical cords. Kittens love to gnaw on things that are bite size as they go through their teething phase, so be extra careful especially with electrical wiring and cords. You may want to get your wiring and electrical cords organized with those handy management systems that are so readily available now in the market.

Anything with loops such as paper or plastic bags with the carry handles still on them are DANGEROUS. Plastic bags can suffocate or your kitty may choke on them. Put these bags away out of reach.

Kittens also love to climb on furnitures. Curtain drapes are very inviting to them. You may want to consider covering your cloth furniture. Remove tablecloths or kitty may be tempted to climb up them, and if you do not have anything heavy on the table except for a piece of light flower vase, its dangerous.

Another danger areas: High places: Kittens and cats in general, like to perch themselves on high places, like window sills, balcony edges, top of cupboards, roofs, and look down on the 'lowly' creatures below. So unless your kitty has learned to gain better coordination of her body, it is best to remove fragile, as well as valuable items away from exposed high surfaces, such as coffee tables and top of book shelves. Your china ware displays have got to be relocated to a safer place for their own sake, and for kitty's sake.

The list goes on: some plants are poisonous. Leaves, stems or sap of some plants can cause a major irritation reaction. Check if the plants you are keeping at home or in your garden are safe for cats. Hanging plants that can be jumped onto should be removed.

Kittens should be kept indoors, at least until they are older and bigger and able to fend for themselves. Remember to always close all doors that lead outside. Make sure windows are not left open, and if they are, always have some kind of window grills that will prevent kitty from jumping out.

In reality, cats really do not have 9 lives, despite what you have heard. Therefore, do not take their safety for granted.

The adage " Curiosity killed the cat" does apply though.

Heres wishing happy days for you and your kitty cat.

The writer has 7 cats in his household, all of whom were rescued from the street, some of whom whose eyes were not even open at the time. Through nurturing and taking care of them from kittenhood, the writer has learned a lot in cat care from reading resources on cats, and having interviewed several veterinarians in cat care and health issues related to cats.

The writer is the owner of the site: [http://www.catsandsuch.com]