Kitten Proofing Your Home

The following Maine Coon kitten safety checklist was shared with us by a Maine Coon cat breeder in my area. It covers so many potential dangers!

If you have a kitten, regardless of breed, you'll find this checklist so valuable!

• If you must permit smoking in your home, do so AWAY FROM THE CAT--outdoors, preferably or in a room apart. Ventilate afterwards. Studies show secondary smoke significantly shortens the cat's lifespan; when your cat is with you in a a closed car, DO NOT SMOKE.

• Electrical cords and phone cords should not be left dangling and should, as far as possible, be tucked neatly out of sight.

• Electrical outlets that are not in use should be covered with baby-proof plastic covers.

• Never walk away and leave an electrical appliance plugged in and on; chewing through the wires of a hot iron, for example, can be fatal.

• Never leave the kitten/cat in the kitchen with the gas turned on; Maine Coon kittens, like babies, do not know that the stove is hot or the flame is dangerous.

• Be careful to store sharp knives and kitchen implements after use.

• Always close the toilet seat and toilet lid; a kitten can drown.

• Never use toilet bowl deodorizers; should the kitten/cat drink the water, he/she will be poisoned.

• Always make certain firescreens are firmly shut.Never leave windows without screens open and make sure the screens you do have are tightly closed and of a secure weight.

• Be very careful of reclining chairs and sofa beds; always check that the kitten or cat has not crawled up in a pillow or underneath, as he/she can be crushed as you open or close the mechanism.

• Always check the refrigerator, dishwasher, washer, clothes dryer, washing machine and oven before turning on; Maine Coon kittens especially may crawl into to these enclosed spaces.

• Check closets to make sure kitten/cat has not gotten locked in without food or water.

• Be careful when closing doors so as not to catch your cat's tail or paws and cause him permanent harm.

• Keep the garbage cans off limits so the kitten/cat does not forage for a forbidden item.

• Be careful of dangling drapery and venetian blind cords, as children and cats can strangle.

• Always store cleaning supplies, chemicals, toilet cleaners, insect repellent, and medicines in non-openable, out-of-reach containers and cabinets.

• Be very careful about any pills or medications you take; one aspirin, for example, can kill a cat!

• Keep the following out of kitten’s reach: needles, thread and sewing supplies; rubber bands; plastic wrap; styrofoam; cellophane; cigarettes, yarn toys; toys with easily removable parts; paint and paint removers; ant poison; anti-freeze, ice melt; automotive supplies and fluids. Store plastic bags out of reach of your kitten. 

• Be very careful what cleaning solutions you use on your floors, carpets, and upholstery; for the environment as well as for your cat's safety, it is best to use natural, non-toxic products only.

• Keep out of reach all poisonous substances and hazardous chemicals.

• Keep out of reach all poisonous plants; be careful that the kitten/cat does not drink any spilled water from these plants.

• Be attentive to temperature at home: avoid heatstroke by using air-conditioning, fans, or screened windows ajar; Maine Coons like it colder rather than warmer, and this is better for their coats, but needless, to say, the extremes of cold are as dangerous as the extremes of heat, both at home and in the car.

• Never leave a cat in a closed automobile with the windows shut; heatstroke is swift and fatal; in fact, do not leave the cat alone in a car at all!

• For auto travel use a hard-sided carrier and, if possible, secure it to the back seat with the seat belt through the handle.

• If the need arises to use an exterminator for insect or rodent pests, be certain that you discuss the chemicals to be used and when it will be safe for your cat to return to the treated areas; if using pest prevention on your own try for the natural products; be very careful of mouse traps as they can seriously injure your cat as well.

• Be attentive to your cats interaction with dangerous insects; bee stings can be fatal; poisonous spiders and other insects are a hazard, as are insects or rodents which have ingested chemicals to kill them; mosquitoes carry heartworm, so, again, screens are essential for the home and avoidance of the outdoors in mosquito season

• Fleas and Ticks are becoming a hazard even in urban areas, so please use protection from April to October. Consult your vet; we like topicals like Advantage, Frontline or Bio Spot.