Cat Proof Your Home
Nov 6th, 2006 by Rob
You’ve heard of child-proofing your home, but did you know that any of the hundreds of common household items that could be harmful to your Ragdoll cat? These harmful items include everything from laundry soap, dishwashing powder, bleach, household cleaners, medication, fertilizer, and pesticides to onions and coffee grounds.
The old saying “Curiosity Killed the Cat” exists for a reason. Cats are often too curious for their own good and are capable of getting themselves in a lot of trouble. Here are several suggestions for cat-proofing your home to prevent the accidental poisoning of your Ragdoll cat.
Dishwashing detergent and the dryer sheets found in your laundry room contain synthetic chemical compounds that can irritate tissue and cause diarrhea and ulcers if ingested. If your Ragdoll comes in contact with these chemicals on its paws or fur they will ingest this while grooming. This is true of any household item your Ragdoll comes in contact with. Antifreeze is another deadly household item you should be concerned about. Many cats are attracted to the taste; antifreeze contains ethylene glycol, a sweet tasting chemical that is fatal for small animals. If your Ragdoll ingests antifreeze your cat could be dead in a matter of hours. The best way to prevent your Ragdoll from coming in contact with antifreeze is to make the garage off-limits for all pets.
When cat proofing your home, treat any chemical, medication, or cleaning product as a potential poison if ingested by your Ragdoll cat. Using child-proof latches on your cabinets will prevent your cat from prying cabinets open to get at the contents. When using chemicals be sure and isolate your cat and only utilize the chemical in a well-ventilated room. If you suspect your cat has ingested anything harmful, visit your veterinarian or emergency animal clinic as soon as possible.
I just read the article in one of the websites about Ann Baker’s cats. I met in her 1972 when I bought some furniture from her. I live not 2 blocks from where her cattery was. My fiance used to work for her when he was a kid. I have another theory on why the ragdoll developed. We live in a town called Highgrove which consisted of mostly orange groves until recently. I maintain that it is something in the soil that causes mutations. My siamese cats can be held on their back with our hand right under their neck and they go totally limp as though they were dead and will stay like that until we move them. Also, cats born in this area are slow to mature. Just thought I would pass this along. Thanks
hi i have a ragdoll male cat that has been neutered but persistently sprays indoors and out and also tries to mate with spayed female ragdoll do yo have any advise please
We have had our Ragdoll for about one month. We inheirited her from a family. She is 4 years old. I had heard how Ragdolls got their name-kind of like going limp when picked up like a ragdoll’s name would suggest. I can assure you, our Ragdoll is anything but limp. She tenses when picked up in the appropriate way with support. Just recently she stopped growling that faded to a mew that faded to a peep. Nevertheless, she is not limp to any stretch of the imagination.