Houseproofing for pets
Cats and dogs are curious and playful, especially when they’re young. Here's how you can make sure your house remains a safe place for them to live, play and explore.
Just as with tiny children, the best way to keep your four-legged friends out of trouble is by removing anything that might cause them harm.
As a starting point, it helps to understand your pet’s natural tendencies and expect that it will cause havoc in your life. Once you’re okay with that, you can set about removing potential catastrophes and giving it ‘safe toys’ to keep it occupied.
Understand the beast
- Cats will climb. Curtains, walls, cupboards. They will also curl up in snug places, such as in your bed or the sock drawer left open in your rush to get to work.
- Puppies will chew. Bones, shoes, anything. A plastic lid on a pill bottle will not withstand a determined pup, and the contents could be deadly.
Protect them from harm
- Like small children, kittens and puppies are curious and will eat almost anything. Keep poisons out of reach and quickly clean up any spills that occur. Make sure your pet has plenty of bones and its own toys, and pick up small toys, batteries, cords or anything it could choke on.
- Chocolate is poisonous to dogs, so don’t give them any and make sure it is always out of reach. Likewise, Peace Lilies are poison to cats; ask your local nursery for pet-friendly plants.
- Keep the toilet lid down, the iron cord tucked away and always check the dryer before use – cats love to climb in for a sleep.
- If you have a balcony, make sure your cat can’t jump up onto the railing – it’s a long way down if puss can’t get a foothold. Keep access doors firmly closed at all times or enclose it with a bamboo screen.
- Make sure the garbage bin has a tight fitting lid, as curious pets can tip it over and cut themselves on tins, bones or other sharp objects.
- Kids, cats and dogs all love Christmas. There are lovely bright balls to chew on, tinsel to tear apart and extra wires with lights attached. Cats have even been known to climb the Christmas tree, so while your pet is a kitten it might be safer to erect a fence around the tree to avoid the potential chaos.
The best way to keep your pet safe is to be proactive and prevent it from eating the wrong things or getting into a situation that can cause harm. If you suspect it has been poisoned, contact the vet immediately.