Fur-Baby Proofing Your Home

This past weekend I decided to trim our blinds because the computer power cords always create gaps that make them hard to close, and my husband's (and my) first concern was whether they could be trimmed so they would not have any sharp edges which could hurt our cat kids. The photo above shows my solution, (and Gracie Belle helping me,) I cut the edges in a rounded fashion, making sure to smooth out any rough bits. This was especially important because as you can see in the image they are now near eye level for Gracie Belle and Merlin. 

I think most of us think about (human) baby and toddler proofing our homes, but we don't always consider that fur babies can also get into things that may harm them. Some of the things we have done include the standard cabinet baby proofing latches for under the sinks where we keep cleaning supplies. A lot of cats are inexplicably drawn to bleach and will try to lick it if they can reach it. For dogs it is important to also keep foods that are toxic to them, like chocolate out of reach. 

Our animal companions are unique and there are so many different types of homes, but a lot of store bought options for human babies & toddlers will work. In our case, we have a tile floor and stairs, so we bought sticky strips with cushion-y material to prevent the kittens from racing into a hard edge. Sometimes when they are playing & chasing each other they don't watch where they are going and run into the stairs. I feel a lot better knowing they won't seriously get hurt if they do. We also looked for the tallest almost-shag rug we could find to create a soft play area in the living room. So when they leap after toys they are not landing on hard tile. It can take a toll on your companions' joints when they are repeatedly jumping unto hard surfaces. Since our kitties also like to be on the kitchen counter, a simple solution for us was to turn one of the dining chairs sideways so they can use it as a "step" down and make two small jumps instead of a big one.

When fur-baby proofing your home, try to consider everything from your animal companion's point of view, sometimes literally. How tall are they? Are there things at eye level that could scratch their eyes? Are any plants in reach? ASPCA has lists online of all the plants that may be toxic to animals. I've had to change my houseplants, and have learned to be creative with macrame hangers. Since plants are so beneficial for clean air in the home I do keep a lot of them, but make sure they are "safe" or otherwise out of reach. Not all animals chew on plants, so it really takes close observation to know what your fur baby will do. On the topic of chewing-consider wrapping/hiding electric cords too, at least during teething phases.

This part should go without saying, but please, please never use any poisons aimed at killing rodents in your home. First of all these are terribly cruel to the creatures they aim to harm, and of course they may kill your companion if they get into it, or someone else's, like your neighbor's dog or cat, if they hunt the mouse or rat that has eaten it. This happened to my first dog when I was a child, and I feel a strong responsibility to warn everyone about this danger. 

When fur-baby proofing also remember to include your yard if you have one. Again, consider eye-level and also what your dog can reach or crawl under. Check for sharp or unfinished parts on your deck and make sure the wood is not splintered so it doesn't hurt their paws. Consider the plants in your garden & make sure they are safe to eat if your dog enjoys an occasional leafy snack. 

Once you have carefully fur-baby proofed, it is a great feeling to know your animal companion is as safe as possible in your shared home. As they age or as new companions join your family it may be necessary to adapt and add new solutions.
It takes a bit of time & creativity to do this, but as I like to say, it's their home too!