Because cats are such clean creatures, they can ingest wax, bleach, detergents, and other toxic chemicals stored inside your home. All an unsuspecting cat need do is simply brush against a dirty storage container, or walk through a spill, then lick the offending substance off its paws and fur as it self-grooms. With this in mind, take an inventory of all household chemicals and other potential hazards in your home that a climbing, exploring cat might have access to.

While it's hard to think of everything, be creative when you are scanning your home for potential hazards. To make your home cat-safe, do the same things you would do to make it child-safe.

 

Here are some suggestions for cat-proofing your home:

 

 Electric cords: Chewing on electrical cords can result in burns and electric shock. To prevent this, tuck electrical and telephone cords out of reach under mats or carpets, tack or tape them down, or cover them with PVC piping. Coating cords with bitter apple, bitter lime (available at pet stores), raw onion juice, or Tabasco sauce also helps discourage chewing.

 

Drapery cords: Keep window and drapery cords tied up and well out of reach, as a frolicking feline can become entangled in dangling cords and accidentally hang or strangle itself. 

 

Flimsy screening: Make sure all window and door screens are strong, sturdy, and secure enough to prevent a cat from pushing them out or falling through them.

 

Fireplaces: Securely screen fireplaces so that, when in use, cats cannot get near the flames.

 

Household chemicals: Store cleaners, laundry detergents, fabric softeners, solvents, mothballs, insect sprays, and all other household chemicals out of reach in securely closed cabinets.

 

Cosmetics and medicines: Keep perfumes, cosmetics, nail polish removers, and all vitamins and medicines, including aspirin and acetaminophen (highly toxic to cats), tightly capped and put away.

 

String and hobby supplies: Put away pins, needles, yarns, spools of thread, artists' paints, and other hobby and crafts supplies when not in use to prevent a curious British Shorthair from investigating them and accidentally swallowing something harmful.

 

Hazardous toys: Certain children's toys can pose potential dangers to your cat. For example, an indoor basketball hoop placed over a trash can may trap a curious kitten that climbs or falls into the netting, causing accidental strangulation. 

 

Vermin bait: Avoid using edible rodent and insect baits where your cat might get at them and get poisoned.

 

Breakables: Remove or secure all glass or breakable items on tables, shelves, and bookcases that an exploring cat might knock over.

 

Toilets and sump pumps: Keep toilet lids down and cover sump pumps so that kittens can't fall in and drown.

 

Appliances: Before shutting the door of any major appliance, such as the dryer or refrigerator, look to make sure your cat hasn't jumped in unnoticed. Unplug small appliances when not in use and tuck cords out of the way. A cat playing with a dangling cord can topple a lamp or pull a small appliance off a counter onto itself.

 

Stoves and countertops: Supervise all kitchen activities. With a British shorthair in the house, no countertop is safe from exploring paws. If an inquisitive cat should leap up on the stove top when you're not looking, it can get burned accidentally by stepping on a hot burner or by sniffing a boiling saucepan or tea kettle.

 

Trash cans: Keep tight-fitting lids on all (indoor and outdoor) trash bins so that foraging cats won't get sickened by spoiled foodstuffs or injured by discarded razor blades, broken glass, or jagged tin can edges.

 

Houseplants: Although carnivorous by nature, cats enjoy snacking on greenery, apparently because the added roughage aids in digestion. Unfortunately, cats often indulge this occasional craving by nibbling on decorative houseplants and ornamental shrubs. While many plants are harmless to cats, others are deadly. Ingestion can cause a wide range of symptoms, including mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, hallucinations, convulsions, lethargy, and coma. If your cat displays any unusual behavior after chewing on a plant, consult a veterinarian immediately. Above I posted a comprehensive list of plants toxic to cats.

 

Holiday decorations: Although accidental poisonings can happen any time of the year, they seem to be more prevalent during the year-end holidays. That's because cats like to investigate and sometimes sample the greenery and decorations commonly used for holiday decorations—poinsettia, holly berries, mistletoe, tinsel, angel hair, and artificial snow. Ingesting these items can be potentially dangerous for cats, so either avoid using them, or restrict your cat's access to the decorated rooms.