Ragdoll Cat 101: Cat Proofing Your Home
Aug 2nd, 2006 by Rob
Before you bring your new cat or kitten home you will need to cat proof your house. Cat proofing your home will help prevent damage to your household furnishings while keeping your new Ragdoll cat safe from harm.
Cat proofing your home is much like child proofing. Walk through your home and look for breakable furnishings and decorations. Look at your shelves and in your closets; remember your Ragdoll can jump and knock breakable items from shelves and high places. Kittens love to climb; your drapes, furniture, and kitchen cabinets will become a playground for your new kitten.
House Plants
Many varieties of houseplants are poisonous to cats. Cats are hypnotically drawn to plants and will not hesitate to eat any of your plants that are in reach. If you have plants you will need to relocate them to hanging fixtures that are safely out of your Ragdoll cat’s reach. Be careful with artificial plants as your cat may chew these as well; plastic plants can break apart and become a choking hazard for your cat.
Power Cords
Pay close attention to the power cords for your television, stereo equipment, and computers. Cats and Kittens are often fascinated by power cords, speaker cords, phone cords, and appliance cords. To prevent chewing you should bundle these cords together as much as possible out of reach, and treat with bitter apple spray as necessary. The cords from your Venetian blinds represent a different hazard; if you do not want your kitten becoming tangled in the cords. Tie hanging blind cords up out of reach.
Miscellaneous Dangers
If you use roach or ant traps you should keep these away from your pets. Be careful when having your home sprayed by exterminators; you may want to limit the exterminator to outdoor spraying. Pay attention to small choking hazards from paper clips, rubber bands, tacks, party favors, holiday decorations, or cleaning supplies. You may want to invest in child proof latches for your cabinets and kitchen drawers to keep your kitten out. Make your garage off limits to all of your pets. Chemicals found in the garage are fatal to pets and should be kept well out of reach. Keep an eye on your vehicles for anti-freeze leaks; anti-freeze has a sweet taste and pets are often poisoned by ingesting it.