Keeping Your Kitten Safe

Have you recently adopted a kitten? Congratulations on your furry new arrival! Kittens may be tiny, but they have a way of just melting us with their cute faces, adorable antics, and affectionate purrs and cuddles. Being a kitten owner entails a lot more than petting and playing with little Fluffy. Our feline friends are curious, playful, and very, very fragile at this super cute phase of their lives. That can make for a dangerous mix! Read on as a local Deer Park, TX veterinarian offers some tips on keeping your feline pal safe.

How Do I Make My Home Safe For A Kitten?

Once Fluffy is fully grown, she’ll pretty much have gotten the hang of being a cat, and may be more interested in napping and batting at catnip mice than climbing your drapes. However, for the moment, you have a furry little toddler on your hands. Having a kitten is in some ways much like having a preschooler. They want to explore, investigate, and taste everything. Many household items pose serious risks to a frisky little furball. You’ll need to do some kittenproofing.

Here are some of the things you’ll want to address:

Toxic Plants

Lilies are likely the most dangerous plants for cats. Even nibbling on a leaf or drinking a bit of the water can be deadly! However, that isn’t the only unsafe plant. Some of the others include the following:

• Tulips
• Amaryllis
• Oleander
• Aloe
• Sago palm
• Autumn crocus
• Hyacinth
• Cyclamen
• Daffodils
• Rhododendron
• Chrysanthemum
• English ivy
• Widow’s-thrill
• Azalea
• Asparagus fern
• Dieffenbachia
• Marijuana
• Poinsettia
• Yew
• Jade plant
• Pothos
• Castor bean
• Narcissus

If you have any of these, make sure they are well out of paws’ reach! Check the ASPCA site here for a full list. 

Small/Sharp Objects

Cats are very inquisitive, and they often like to play by batting things around and sometimes eating them. Anything small or sharp is a potential hazard. That includes things like beads, buttons, safety pins, and craft kit pieces. Rubber bands and hair ties are also extremely dangerous.

Plastic Wraps

For some reason, many cats like the taste and/or texture of plastic. Little Fluffy may very well try to eat a sandwich wrapper or that small plastic jar seal that fell onto the floor. Plastic bags are also dangerous, as kitties can get trapped in them and suffocate. You’ll also want to be careful with the rings that hold beverage packs together. Get into the habit of cutting the rings open. (This is also helpful for protecting wildlife.)

Ropes/Cords

Kitties are super playful, which is one thing that makes them such fun pets. Little Fluffy often can’t resist batting at strings and ropes. This is just as dangerous as it is cute. Your playful pet could get tangled up, which is a strangulation hazard. If your kitty was to swallow any of that string, she would also be in serious danger. Swallowing anything long or stringy can cause potentially-life threatening injuries to cats’ digestive systems. Needless to say, you also don’t want your pet chomping on live wires.

Chemicals/Medications

As a rule of thumb, you should consider any or all chemicals and medications dangerous to your tiny furball. That list includes the following:

•  Garden products, such as fertilizers and fungicides.
•  Cleaning products, such as bleaches, oven cleaner, and detergents.
•  Pesticides, such as slug bait, rodenticides, and bug traps.
•  Automotive products, particularly antifreeze.
•  Art supplies, including paint, varnish, stain, glue.
•  Medication, whether OTC or prescription.
•  Vitamins.

It’s important to realize that your pet doesn’t have to actually eat these products to get sick. Cats can absorb toxins through their skin, so even getting something spilled on them is hazardous. Another factor here is the fact that kitties are fastidious about grooming themselves. This is usually a good thing. However, it means your feline buddy only needs to walk through a puddle of something to end up ingesting it.

Keep these items in counters or cupboards at all times, and keep an eye on little Fluffy if you are using them.

Foods 

Cats are usually a bit better here than dogs, just because most of our feline pals are rather finicky. However, there are some kitties out there who will eat absolutely anything. Others will eat things if coaxed to, or just out of curiosity. It’s important to know what isn’t safe for your little buddy. That list includes chocolate, garlic and onions, caffeine, meat on the bone, raw dough, alcohol, avocado, grapes and raisins, and anything that contains xylitol. Ask your vet for more information, 

What Spots Of My Home Are Dangerous For Kittens?

Addressing the things we listed above will go a long way in keeping your kitty safe. However, there are also hazards that are more or less built into your home. For instance, an open toilet isn’t much of a danger to older cats, as they’d be able to easily jump out if they fell in. A kitten may not be able to get out, and could even drown.

• Large appliances, such as washers and dryers, are another risk. It would be very easy for your little buddy to hop into an open dryer when you weren’t looking.
• Vents and ducts can also be hazardous. Kittens can fit into very small spaces!
• Spaces beneath and behind cushions. Little Fluffy is always on the lookout for snug, cozy napping spots, and she can squeeze into very tight spaces.
• Spots under recliners or rocking chairs are also extremely dangerous.
• Windows or doors with loose screens.
• Kitchen Counters
• Pools
• Fireplaces
• Spaces behind and beneath furniture and cupboards. You don’t necessarily need to worry about your tiny buddy snoozing under the bed, but it’s important to make sure she can only access spots that are safe.

As you can see, that’s a pretty long list. As your feline pal ages, she’ll get too big to squeeze in under your entertainment center, and will make a pretty noticeable lump if she curls up under a blanket for a nap. During little Fluffy’s terrible two stage, you’ll need to keep a very close eye on her. Don’t sit down without checking to make sure she is safely out of the way, and never leave major appliances open.

What Else Should I Do To Keep My Kitten Safe?

Aside from petproofing, we would strongly recommend keeping your furry friend indoors. It’s best if Fluffy grows up thinking of herself as an indoor pet. Convincing a kitten that she lives indoors is much easier than  trying to corral an adult cat that’s always gone in and out.

While it may be cute to let your kitty roll around in your yard and try her paw at catching mice and birds, it’s just not safe to let her wander. Our feline pals face some very serious risks in the Great Outdoors, including cars, weather, traffic, parasites, predators, loose dogs, stray and roaming cats, and even birds of prey. Ask your vet for more information.

What Else Should I Do To Protect A Kitten?

Proper veterinary care is also crucial to keeping your feline pal healthy and safe. Little Fluffy is vulnerable to many dangerous diseases and parasites. Your feline buddy will need to come in a few times in that first year. In addition to her initial exams and vaccinations, your kitten will need microchipping and spay or neuter surgery. You’ll also need to get your tiny furball started out on parasite control. 

This is also a great time to ask for tips on kitten care. Please feel free to ask about anything and everything from diet to litter boxes to toys and enrichment. We love seeing kittens grow from adorable bundles of fur to happy, healthy adult cats!

Make An Appointment At Our Deer Park, TX Pet Clinic

Do you need to make an appointment for your feline friend? Contact us anytime! As your local Deer Park, TX pet hospital, we are dedicated to offering the best veterinary services around.