Create a safe and friendly home for cats

When coming home with your new cat, it is completely understandable that you want to make your home and garden as safe as possible. But where to start?

Home security

Many common household items are highly toxic to cats, even in small amounts:

• Cleaning and hygiene products such as bleach and products containing phenols (e.g. disinfectants causing cloudy water) - store in a secured cupboard
• Medicines for humans (for example, paracetamol is highly toxic to cats)
• Car consumables - even a small amount of coolant is highly toxic to cats
• Cosmetics and decorative products, such as hair dyes, spirit, nail polish remover
• Rat / Mouse Poison - If they must be used, they should be located away from places where cats have access, but preferably not to use them as cats may be exposed by eating the poisoned victims
• Snail poison may taste sweet, so use animal-safe products
• Moth balls (naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene)
• Potpourri oils, fabric softener, dishwasher detergents (cationic detergents causing corrosion damage)
• Batteries (acid or alkali causing corrosion damage)
• Homemade dough / plasticine (high salt content)
• Hand and foot warmers (high iron content)
• Cigarettes, coffee grounds, alcohol
• Chocolate (contains theobromine. This is a bigger problem for dogs, but is toxic to cats as well)
• All forms of lilies (leaves, flowers, etc.) present in bouquets or as houseplants (information on other plants - see below)
• Dog flea products can contain permethrin and be highly toxic to cats, so make sure they are kept out of the reach of cats and treated dogs are kept separate from cats

Preparing your home for your kitten

Like other intelligent and lively cubs, kittens examine objects by touching, biting and tasting them. Growing kittens love to explore, but need protection from many dangerous objects in the home when swallowed. Kittens are like little children, curious about everything and oblivious to the dangers, so you need to prepare your home to minimize the risks.

• Place closed litter bins in the kitchen and bathroom.
• Easily broken ornaments should be removed, as the curious kitten will knock them off.
• Keep the doors of the oven, refrigerator, microwave oven, dishwasher, dryer and washing machine closed at all times. Post information on the door to remind everyone to check inside before turning it on, as for small kittens a warm dryer can be an irresistible place to sleep.
• Clean your kitchen countertops to make them less tempting.
• Store household chemicals, drugs and poisons in a closed cabinet.
• Hide all stringing electric cables behind furniture. You can also put a thick cover (available from electrical stores) over the cables to prevent biting them.
• Do not leave plastic bags scattered about. They pose a real threat.
• Lighted candles, incense sticks or oil lamps are asking for trouble - put out any open flames and put covers on any stoves.
• Lower the toilet flap so that the kitten does not fall in and learns to drink from it! It's easy to forget about it, so leave a note as a reminder.
• Install door locks designed to protect children on the lower cupboards in the kitchen, especially when there are cleaning agents inside, as kittens can very well be able to open them.
• Shorten the hanging cords from the blinds and curtains and attach them out of the reach of the animal.
• Food leftovers must be cleaned up immediately. Chicken bones can be very dangerous as they break down into sharp particles when you chew them. Make sure that the kitten does not have access to the rubbish bins / bags, as they are the easiest way for the cat to get to; although dogs tend to be more affected by this problem, some kittens are also unable to resist food debris!

Keep dangerous plants away from your cat

Although we consider cats to be carnivores, many of them like to gnaw vegetables and other plant material. Many will try grass outside or potted foliage at home. They can be dangerous when the leaves or other parts of the plant are toxic.

Ask your vet for a complete list of plants that may be harmful to your cat, but the most common are:

Houseplants

Dieffenbachia, Lilies (often in flower arrangements, all parts of the plant are highly toxic), Philodendron, Mistletoe, Spurge (Star of Bethlehem)

Dieffenbachia, Lilies (often in flower arrangements, all parts of the plant are highly toxic), Philodendron, Mistletoe, Spurge (Star of Bethlehem)

Garden plants

Lilies, Azalea, Daffodil, Tomato, Foxglove, Yew, Hydrangea

Security outside the home

Most cats have an instinct to establish territory, climb trees, hunt and take a nap in the sun. However, being outside the home also puts your cat at risk of disease and parasites, getting lost or stolen, injured or killed under the wheels of a car. Staying indoors all the time may not be good for all cats and requires you to make a much greater contribution to making your cat's living environment exciting. So consider your decision regarding the choice of lifestyle for your cat and discuss it with the breeder or veterinarian. If you decide to let your cat go out, make sure it is as safe as possible for them.

• Do not let your cat go out until it has undergone neutering or sterilization and has completed its immunization cycle.
• After moving, do not let your cat go so that he is familiar with the new environment before he leaves the house.
• Keep track of all vaccinations. Talk to your veterinarian about new vaccines that protect against infectious diseases in cats.
• Regularly use anthelmintic and flea-fighting preparations.
• All cats outside should be microchipped.
• If you have a garden and live in a quiet area, install a cat flap and give your cat access to the garden during the day.
• Keep your pet at home at night. It is not wise to believe that you should release your cat at night, as most road accidents happen at night, as do fights with other cats or even other predators (badgers / foxes etc.).). Invest in a lockable hatch, or use a modern cat hatch with night sensors that automatically lets cats in but doesn't let them out in the dark.
• If you feel your home is not safe enough to allow your cat to go out freely (for example, a busy road nearby), options for allowing your cat to be outdoors include:
• Build a large cat enclosure in your garden with a flap connection. It should have a warm and waterproof part, half in the sun and half in the shade. Add a tree trunk or climbing frame, ropes and poles, some grass and catnip, a litter box and a bowl of water.
• Fencing the garden in such a way as to prevent the cat from escaping.
• Walks with a cat using harnesses and leashes - already introduced in young cats, allow for the adaptation of this method.
• Always make sure no cat is lying in your driveway before backing up with your car.
• Make sure that the collar around your cat's neck is a securely fastened or tear-proof collar, and that it has an identification tag with your address and the phone number of the vet looking after your pet (the clinic will be open during the day while you are at work). ). The reflective stripe on the collar will allow drivers to see your cat at night.
• All cats should be microchipped to ensure they return quickly and safely to their owners. Ask your vet if your pet is already chipped and make sure your microchip supplier database is always up to date.
• Always use a built-in cage or a carrier when transporting your cat outside or in a car.
• Castor your cat to minimize wandering and fights with other cats, as well as the risk of transmitting disease (and of course, eliminating the risk of pregnancy).
• Use chemical herbicides with caution. After applying any chemical, restrict access to the garden, do not allow the cat access to the lawn or garden, while applying fertilizers, herbicides or insecticides, until the area is completely dry.
• Make sure no one in the area uses mouse or rat poison. Eating a cat's poison directly or eating a poisoned rodent can have dire consequences.