Mary Allen
When a cat comes into the house, it is important to make special preparations. The bathroom and kitchen in particular easily turn out to be danger zones for house cats – but with a few simple steps, these places can also be made cat-proof.
Just as bathrooms and kitchens should be child-proofed when the little ones enroll, so too are these rooms important when getting a feline friend. You should not only remove possible toxins and pollutants from the reach of the cat’s mouth but also consider that your cat will climb and jump around in all possible and impossible places in the house or apartment.
Make the Bathroom Cat-Proof
Washing machines and dryers are classic sources of danger in the bathroom: Before you switch on the devices, always make sure that the cat has not made itself comfortable between the items of laundry in the drum. It is best to always leave the door to the drum closed. If you keep drying racks or ironing boards in the bathroom, set them up in such a way that they cannot suddenly fall over and injure your pet. Cleaning supplies and medicines should always be stored in a lockable cupboard where they are safe from cats so that your cat does not accidentally nibble on them and possibly poison itself.
If you are just about to take a bath, the cat must not play in the bathroom unsupervised – the risk that it will slip off the edge of the tub while balancing, fall into the water, and not be able to get out of the smooth tub by itself is too great. The toilet lid should also always remain closed – especially when cats are still small, it can otherwise happen that they fall into the toilet bowl and even drown in it.
Avoid Dangers for the Cat in the Kitchen
The number one source of danger in the kitchen is the stove: It is best not to let your cat into the kitchen while you are cooking – this way you not only avoid burned paws on the stove but also cat hair in the food. Incidentally, you should also exercise caution when handling the toaster – if the cat reaches into it, it can get stuck with its paw and burn itself.