Tips for keeping your cats safe and happy indoors

The joy of owning a cat is simply indescribable. Besides the unparalleled love and companionship they bring into your life, they also help to improve your mental and physical health. 

Cats can help to relieve stress, calm your nervous system and boost your mood. Plus, your heart health also gets a boost from these lovely low-maintenance and independent felines.

However, keeping a cat doesn’t come without its challenges. Just as we protect kids at home from potential danger, cats also need a danger-free environment to stay safe and happy all round the clock. Cats can sometimes do what they shouldn’t or go to places they shouldn’t– all the more so because they are naturally curious creatures. 

If you’re looking for tips for keeping your cats safe and happy to prolong your relationship with your beloved pet, then you’re in the right place. Keep the following tips in view, and your kitty is sure to be free of harm.

1. Avoid dangerous plants

Many plants that people love to have indoors are poisonous to cats. And since your feline is always curious, she might want to find out what the green thing is all about. Your cat may sniff or even eat the plant’s leaves, which may result in a series of health issues. This includes kidney failure (rhubarb leaves), heart problems (Lily of the Valley), and many others.

Common examples of plants that may be a threat to the safety of your companion include:

• Azaleas
• Birds of Paradise
• Buttercups
• Caladium
• Carolina Jessamine
• Castor bean
• Christmas Berry
• Day Lily
• Dumb cane Easter Lily
• Elephant Ear
• English Ivy
• Holly
• Hyacinth
• Irises (both the leaves and roots are dangerous)
• Lantana
• Mistletoe
• Morning glories
• Narcissus
• Philodendrons
• Poinsettias
• Wisteria
• Yellow Oleander

You should avoid bringing in these plants altogether for maximum safety. Alternatively, if you have to bring the plants in, try keeping them out of your cat’s reach. You could hang them from a hook on your ceiling far away from shelves and counters. 

2. Keep electrical cords out of reach

Your cat will likely chew anything and everything they find, including electrical cords and cables. Her sharp teeth and claws will enable her to rip apart all sorts of household items. If your electrical cord is connected to a power source and she chews through it, that may lead to severe mouth burns and possibly electric shock.

 Depending on the type of cord, the electric shock may have mild or possibly serious effects such as heart or lung damage. 

Endeavour to cover electrical cords with plastic cord protectors that will block direct access to the wires. You could also coat your cords with things like hot sauce or non-toxic spray, and they will work perfectly well. These protectives have an unpleasant taste which will cause your cat to flee even from the first bite. 

One other important thing is also creating a safe clean home for your cat. If you’re like most cat owners, you’re likely always cleaning your litter box. A premium cat litter can make it much easier.

3. Keep your cat off toxic foods

While certain foods are good and healthy for the human body, they are harmful and toxic to your kitty pet. You should keep them away from her reach and educate your family not to feed the cat with such food. These foods include 

• Grapes
• Onions
• Garlic
• onion powder
• Chocolate
• raisins

You should as well avoid feeding your cat scraps from your buffet table. Many of these meals contain fat and sugar, which may cause your cat to develop pancreatitis. You want to make sure your little companion only consumes healthy meals and doesn’t take anything harmful.

4. Buy safe toys for her

Cats are natural hunters. They are also very playful and wouldn’t hesitate to have fun when they get the opportunity. Giving your cat something to play with brings tons of physical and emotional benefits. 

Firstly, your cat will build confidence and muscle tone and become a better hunter when playing with safe toys. 

Secondly, cat toys always help to keep your premium cat litter active and happy. She wouldn’t feel bored and moody whenever you’re unavailable to keep her company. Plus, toys prevent or drastically reduce behavioural problems such as aggression.  Most importantly, the toys keep your cat occupied and prevents her from going to dangerous places or doing dangerous things. 

There are lots of amazing toys available for cats at reasonable prices online. Ensure that your preferred toys are safe and wouldn’t pose any danger to your feline. Avoid toys with ribbon or string and small plastic eyes as she might end up biting them off and swallowing them. If she swallows these items, she may develop intestinal complications that will usually require the intervention of a veterinary doctor.

5. Keep medications and household cleaners beyond her reach

If you’re used to leaving medications (such as Tylenol, ibuprofen, aspirin, vitamins, etc.) on the table or somewhere within your cat’s reach, it’s high time you stopped that. Not only medications, household cleaners such as dish detergent, bleach, laundry detergent, and so on should also be kept out of range.

These chemicals and medications can be very dangerous for cats when consumed. You should rather keep them tightly sealed and stored in cabinets for additional security. Dispose of any loss pills you find in the home and follow label instructions strictly to avoid unnecessary complications. Some household cleaners are highly toxic, which is why they contain detailed instructions on their usage. 

6. Choose your blinds carefully

Cats love heights, no doubt. From the curtain to wardrobes, cats can climb virtually anything in the home. If your curtains and screens are loose and contain holes, your cat may sustain injuries from accidental falls when attempting to climb them. A great way to keep your little friend safe is by replacing your loose curtains with vertical blinds. You may also need to cut loop pull cords into two strings to avoid getting stuck around your cat’s neck. 

Although keeping your cat safe can seem quite tedious at first, it takes only a few weeks to become your second nature. Plus, many of these measures will help ensure the safety of kids at home, too –an effective way to kill two birds with one stone.