LITTLE ROCK — We’re going to adopt a cat from the animal shelter and keep the cat strictly indoors. What should we do to “catproof” our house? I’m not sure yet if we’ll get a grown cat or a kitten.
Whether your new cat is an adult or a kitten, catproofing a house is much like child-proofing - you go through the house room by room to identify any possible hazards, such as loose electrical cords.
You need to look high and low when checking out the house, according to Catnip, published by the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.
Things to look for in addition to electrical cords are:
String, yarn and thread. They can cause strangulation and, if they’re eaten, can cause possibly fatal internal injuries. Rubber bands should be kept away from the cat, too.
Plants such as lilies, dieffenbachia, philodendron, Jerusalem cherry, poinsettia, mistletoe and croton. Cats like to chew on plants and don’t distinguish between the safe ones and those that can make them sick or worse. You can find a complete list at the Animal Poison Control Center website, aspca.org/ pet-care/poison-control/ plants.
Keep the lid on the toilet closed so the cat can’t drink from the bowl and possibly ingest parasites or chemicals. This will also ensure the cat doesn’t fall in the toilet. Yes, it happens - and the cat is never happy about it.
Block any small spaces, nooks or holes inside cabinets or behind large appliances like the washer and dryer. Cats love tight spaces and sometimes they squeeze into them and are unable toget out.
The Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine recommends making sure window screens are securely fastened. Cats can and sometimes do fall or leap out of windows. If you don’t have screens, you’ll either want to install screens or make sure the windows are closed when the cat is in the room.
It’s also a good idea to make sure there are no dangling cords from window shades and curtains that a cat can get tangled in.
If you’d like to have a reference handy in case of mishaps or possible illness, the American Red Cross recently revised its book Cat First Aid. The book, which is $16.95, covers symptoms and treatments for common ailments, instructions for recognizing emergencies and first-aid tips.
Cat First Aid comes with a DVD providing demonstrations of many things covered in the book, such as how to take a cat’s temperature, check its pulse and respiratory rate, and even how to determine your cat’s blood circulation by pressing on its gums.
The book, written by emergency care/critical care veterinarian Bobbie Mammato, can be found at redcrossstore. org.
The Red Cross publishes a similar book for dog owners, Dog First Aid, also written by Mammato.
Do you have a question about pets? We’ll get you an answer from an authority. Send your question to Rhonda Owen, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203 or e-mail [email protected]
Family, Pages 38 on 10/27/2010