So there’s a cat-shaped hole in your soul and your house. Getting a kitten or cat is an exciting time in any pet-owners life. After all, the little bundle of fur is going to be your fur baby for many happy years to come.
But before you get a cat, there are a few things you should do to get your home ready for your new resident.
Here are a few things you can do to your home to keep your cat safe and protect your home from being damaged.
Support network
A cat is a big commitment. As a pet owner, you will need to make sure your bases are covered when it comes to pet insurance, a pet sitter or Cat Hotel when you’re on vacation and a vet.
Floors
If you have any loose threads or pile on your rugs or carpets, then you can be guaranteed that your cat will find them. Not only will this cause damage, but could potentially be life-threatening to your cat if they swallow it. Cut any loose thread and tape down carpet areas that are sticking up.
If you have wooden, vinyl or tiled floors, then you might want to put down some mats if you are getting a kitten until they’ve found their balance.
Wires
Some cats don’t give cables and wires a second look, others are completely obsessed with them. For obvious reasons, you don’t want your cat playing with electrical cables. Hide cables where you can and invest in cable trunking to hide more obvious cables.
Plants
Wave bye-bye to your houseplants. Cats love to try and eat or destroy plants. Check that the types of plants you have around your home and garden aren’t poisonous to animals.
High surfaces
Cats love to explore high places. This can include shelves, bookcases and wardrobes. If you have any valuable or sentimental items on high surfaces, then you really should move them to somewhere secure, or risk having them knocked off onto the floor and broken.
Chemicals
The average home has many potentially toxic substances that curious cats might find. Cleaning supplies, cosmetics, medications and laundry detergents can all be poisonous to your cat. Keep them secure and out of sight.
Keeping cats entertained
A good way to keep cats occupied is to have a range of toys and scratching posts for them to concentrate on. These can keep them from getting bored and looking for mischief around your home.
Key takeaways
Cats make amazing pets, and while they’re often considered to be less high-maintenance than dogs, there is still a lot you need to consider before you bring one home.
As you get to know your cat, you’ll begin to get a feel for what they will and won’t do when it comes to your home. But until then, it’s like babyproofing, you can’t be too careful.
Once you’ve made your home cat friendly, you can just sit back and enjoy the new addition to your family.
