When you are going to adopt your first cat, you need to do some preparations to your home prior to bringing the cat home. This is to make sure that there is nothing around that can harm the cat, as well as making sure that there is nothing around that the cat can harm.
When cat-proofing your home, keep in mind that cats will eat just about anything and will play with just about anything. With this in mind, you may notice you have a lot of work to do.
Make sure all of your windows have good screens on them. Cats love to hang out in the window, but are also at risk of falling out, if the screens aren't secure or are ripped. Also try to tie up any cords for blinds, as these are potential hazards as well.
In regards to your bathroom areas, make sure any medications are secure and cannot be opened. Cats are smart, they will knock over bottles to get into them. Also, try to get into the habit of putting the toilet lid down. Cats like to drink out of the toilet and can lose their balance and fall in and potentially drown. You can try simply closing the door, but I know lots of cats that can open doors.
You may wish to think about securing your cabinets with baby-locks. They are relatively inexpensive and cats love to explore cabinets. I remember when I first got my cat, I couldn't find where he was. I finally found him sleeping in the cabinet! Luckily it was not one with cleaning fluids, but I did make sure to put locks on all the cabinets--especially the ones with cleaning supplies in them.
Check the undersides of your furniture for holes. Now, this one might seem odd. But, cats love to hide under furniture. When I first got my cat (the same one who slept in the cabinet), he hid another place where I couldn't find him. Finally, I sat on the recliner and heard a meow. The cat had crawled into a hole on the bottom of the recliner and was inside the seat!
Make sure your garbage bins have lids on them. Cats love to play around in the garbage and will make an awful mess if allowed to! Also, if you throw out anything that smells good to them (think chicken, fish, beef), then they may try to scrounge in the garbage for it.
These are all great things that you can do to begin to make your home cat-proof. Good luck with your new cat!
Sally writes about cat on her website Kitten Advice. To find out more tips about cat adoption, try Adopting a Cat?
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