Dogs and cats, like young children, require their caretakers to take safety precautions in their home. Just as you would want to avoid having your child eat or play with something harmful, you will want to take these basic steps to keep your pets healthy and happy.
Kitchen
The kitchen is loaded with temptation and potential problems for your pet. Make sure all cupboards and cabinets are latched and that all chemicals, cleaners, laundry products and insect products are high and out of reach.
Some pets even like to pry into the refrigerator, so if yours is extra curious, consider a child-proof latch for that too. Garbage cans should be covered or put into a latched cabinet. There are plenty of dangers in that “delicious” smelling trash, such as food wrappers.
Seemingly innocent food items could prove harmful to your pet as well. Make sure that the “treat” you’d like to indulge your cat or dog with does not contain chocolate, bones, high fat or alcohol. Onions, grapes and raisins can all cause digestive problems for furry friends. Even things you wouldn’t imagine a pet would want to taste such as tobacco products, coins and many household plants could all find their way into your dog or cat’s stomach, causing poisoning or choking.
Living areas
Make sure that there are no dangling power cords to lamps, televisions, DVD players, computers or other electrical items that your pet could run across or pull down and that all children’s toys, batteries, craft items and knick knacks are put away and out of reach of a pet that could knock them over or chew on them. Be vigilant about leaving shoes and clothes on the floor as well, especially around teething pets — buttons and drawstrings can spell disaster if ingested.
Bathrooms
Just as you would secure all medications from your child, make sure that no medicines, animal or human, are within your dog or cat’s reach. Also make sure toilets are covered to prevent drowning or drinking of harmful chemicals.
Laundry, storage and other areas
Be cautious about using any kind of chemical or insecticide in areas your pet might access, reading all labels carefully to make sure such products are not harmful to them. As elsewhere in your home, be sure to store all cleaners, soaps and chemicals safely out of reach.
Check your dryer for kittens before using and bang the hood of your car before starting to make certain there aren’t any cats (yours or a neighbors) who’ve taken shelter there for warmth. You’d be amazed at what lengths felines will go to for a snug sleep.
Special gatherings
As wonderful as having guests over can be, get-togethers at your home can also create opportunities for your pet to get into trouble. Be sure to ask guests not to feed your pets from the table and monitor discarded plates to see that the food makes it to a sealed garbage can before your dog or cat can intercept it. Also be aware of who is coming in and out of front or back doors and where your pets are, so that your dog or cat doesn’t take off unattended.
Holiday plants such as mistletoe and holly are bad for your pet if ingested, as is the water from a live Christmas tree. Tinsel, ornaments and practically anything you hang on a Christmas tree can create dangerous temptation for your pet, so if yours is especially curious or drawn to bright and shiny objects, you might want to consider keeping the tree behind a closed door.
Having a pet is a lot like having a child and requires, especially in regard to safety, the same kind of planning and precautions. Don’t assume your dog or cat knows what’s good for them to eat or safe to play with. You’re the parent to your furry family member so make sure to act like one!
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