By NS Kennedy / Published on December 21th, 2007 / Animals
Lock things up that could cause harm
Keep the washer/dryer door closed at all times
Honk the car horn before starting it up
Use fire carefully
Keep all upstairs windows closed or screened
Store string away tidily
Keep floors free of small things
Be constantly aware of what your cat is doing
Curiosity gets most cats in trouble at some point in their lives. As your cat's caregiver, keeping her safe sometimes seems like a "mission impossible." With a little foresight and action, however, you can create a "home, safe home."
When you're trying to provide the best home possible for your cat, it pays to think like her. Put on some old clothes and get down on hands and knees and take a look around. Is that shiny crystal vase on the shelf a tempting target? Remember that cats will jump onto shelves and tables.
That dangling drapery cord would be fun to leap and grab. What's in this big pot? In case you need help identifying what might catch a cat's eye, here's a list of common household items that are often the cause of cat injuries:
Roach and ant traps
electric and phone cords
cigarettes in ashtrays
open doors and windows
rubber bands
housecleaning chemicals
lit candles
Christmas trees
ornaments
paperclips
rocking chairs
uncovered toilets
trash cans
human medications
chocolate
anti-freeze
unattended boiling pots
electric stove burners
plastic bags.
Cats find plants irresistible as playthings. They love to pounce on them and shred them with both their claws and teeth. Although they are carnivores -meat eaters-they sometimes eat plant material. For these reasons, it's important to make sure the plants in and around your home won't pose a health risk. The following are some common house and landscape plants that are toxic to cats:
Philodendron English ivy
caladium dieffenbachia "elephant ear"
poinsettia
mistletoe
azaleas
holly
berries
boxwood
wisteria
hydrangea
oleander
chinaberry tree
If you live in an area prone to natural disasters, keep an emergency pet supply kit with your own. Include a week's worth of food as well as any medication your cat takes on a regular basis. A photo of your pet is also good to keep with your emergency supplies, in case you are separated from your cat during the event, you'll have a way to get the word out to locate her.
A collar with an identification tag is one of those things that you might never need, but will wish you had if you need it and don't. Even if your cat is strictly and indoor pet, the unexpected could happen. A door or window is left ajar, or a natural disaster creates an opening in your home through which your frightened feline escapes.
Your cat's identity tag should include the following information
Pet's name
Owner's name and address
Telephone numbers (day and evening)
Medical problem requiring medication
Veterinarian's name and number
Current Rabies vaccination information
Reward offer should pet become lost
Many people have their cats micro-chipped for identification. A small silicone chip containing the owner's contact information is painlessly inserted under the cat's skin. Most animal shelters automatically scan lost pets to read the owner contact information. However, if your cat is found by an average citizen an identification tag will speed up your reunion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Pet Medication Supplies http://www.pet-medication-supplies.net can help you get the best possible supplies for your pet. Advantix, Arthramine, Cosequin, Frontline, Heartgard - find the best deals in pet medication for flea and tick control, arthritis and lyme disease. Upto 50% discount everyday on brand names.