Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Check Your Apartment and Change Your Habits
• Part 2 of 3: Eliminate Hazards
• Part 3 of 3: Protect your belongings and your apartment from the cat
• Tips

As charming as they are curious with sharp claws, cats are quite capable of damaging your clothes, bedding and furniture throughout the house. Fortunately, you can prudently secure your own apartment so that your new pet doesn't destroy all of your belongings. It is also necessary to eliminate potential sources of danger for the cat itself so that it does not accidentally injure or die.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Check Your Apartment and Change Your Habits

1. 1 Check the mosquito nets on the windows. If you open your windows frequently, check that the mosquito nets do not fall out from the pressure exerted on them. Some mosquito nets pop out without much difficulty, which can lead to the cat escaping or even injury if it falls from a second or higher floor.
   • If you find out that mosquito nets fall out easily, open windows only for slot ventilation, or ask if you can change the nets for more reliable ones.
2. 2 Be sure to check your washer and dryer before starting. Cats tend to climb into secluded warm places. When you are finished using the above devices, cover them to prevent your cat from getting inside and getting into trouble. In addition, always look inside the washer or dryer before starting it up.
3. 3 Cover trash cans with lids. Some cats like to explore the contents of trash cans, looking for something to eat that may not be entirely edible, or just knocking over the container. This can cause the cat to injure itself on some sharp debris, for example, on the lids of cans. A simple solution to the problem is to use a trash can or container with a lid. If you are concerned that your cat may be injured by the sharp edges of a metal waste container, use a plastic waste container.
4. 4 Always close the toilet lid. Cats, especially kittens, can drown in even a little water, including the toilet bowl. In addition, adult cats can sometimes drink water from this not very clean source. Therefore, be sure to close the lid while you are not using the toilet.
5. 5 Check out folding and adjustable furniture. If you have folding or adjustable furniture, be sure to check it before doing any manipulation. Cats love to squeeze into the most unexpected tight spaces, so it is best to check the furniture so as not to accidentally pinch the pet.
6. 6 Do not leave burning candles unattended. If the cat walks past a burning candle, its fur may catch fire. Therefore, if you lit a candle, in no case move away from it and do not leave it unattended.
7. 7 If you live in a rented apartment, be sure to notify the landlord if you have a cat. Since, in an emergency, the landlord can enter the apartment you are renting in your absence, he must definitely know about the pet. This is to ensure that your pet is not accidentally released from the apartment.

Part 2 of 3: Eliminate Hazards

1. 1 Check for poisonous houseplants. Many plants are poisonous to cats. Some are mildly toxic, while others are deadly. Check all the plants in the house to make sure they are not poisonous to cats. It is best to completely get rid of poisonous plants, but if this is not possible, transfer them to a room that will be permanently locked from the cat.
   • Common plants that are poisonous to cats include aloe vera, any lily, many ferns (but not all), caladium and many species of ivy.
   • African violets, bamboo, and feathery palms are non-toxic to cats.
2. 2 Keep foods that are poisonous to cats out of reach and clean up promptly. Coffee, alcohol, chocolate, grapes, and raisins should not be found where the cat can eat them. In addition, you should not allow your cat to eat yeast baked goods, macadamia nuts, onions, chives, garlic, and xylitol products, as these can also lead to problems. Despite the general belief that cats love milk, it should not be given to a pet as lactose can cause digestive problems. Finally, you shouldn't give your cat salty food as it cannot digest the salt properly.
   • The above list is not complete. Be sure to check the safety of specific cat foods by checking verified websites or consulting your veterinarian.
3. 3 Remove any ropes. Ties and strings, for example on curtains, are very attractive to cats. They seem like perfect toys for them. However, the cat can become entangled in the rope and even suffocate.Electric wires can look just as attractive, and the danger is obvious if the cat decides to chew on them. If possible, hide the wires or tie them higher.
   • Remember to hide your floss and yarn. Although these strings can be used to play with the cat, if left unattended, the cat can swallow them and cause problems with the digestive system.
   • If there is no way to put these things in an unattainable place, give them an unpleasant taste. Use a spray that is safe for cats, such as bitter apple.
4. 4 Hide the chemicals. Cleaning products and other household chemicals are often poisonous to cats, and a curious pet can crack open a bottle of interest if it gets to it. For this reason, place such products in lockers that your cat cannot climb into.
5. 5 Hide the medicines. Like chemicals, medicines can also be toxic to cats. Even when it comes to feline medicine, the pet can use it in a significantly higher dose than it should. Unfortunately, cats often associate the sound of medicine jars with toys, so the cat is able to play with the bottle of pills until it opens. Place medication in a specially designed cabinet or container that the cat cannot open, such as with snaps.
6. 6 Remove other toxic items. Some common household items that you can't even remember right away are also toxic to cats. For example, mothballs and wipes used to soften laundry during washing can be toxic. In addition, cigarettes and batteries can also cause problems for cats. Be sure to keep these items out of your pet's reach.

Part 3 of 3: Protect your belongings and your apartment from the cat

1. 1 Provide scratching posts for your cat. If you live in an apartment, you need to protect it from your pet. For this reason, the cat should be provided with special scratching posts to prevent it from scratching, for example, carpets. Inexpensive scratching posts can be purchased at any pet store. In some cases, scratching posts can even be made of cardboard.
2. 2 Pick up fragile breakable items. If you have valuable breakable items, it is best to move them away, even if you think the cat will not get to them. Cats are curious and able to get into even the most unexpected places, dropping fragile objects from there. This can damage not only your valuables, but the cat itself can be injured by sharp fragments.
3. 3 Trim your cat's nails regularly. If you are not an advocate of mutilating claws, trim your cat's claws regularly. This will protect the furniture and will also be beneficial for the cat itself. Severely grown claws can be painful for your cat.
   • It is not necessary to use special clippers to trim the nails, but they can be purchased if desired. Normal nail clippers can be used (provided the tool is sharp). When trimming your cat's claws, keep cornstarch, styptic powder, or a bar of soap nearby (to treat the bleeding area if necessary), however, if done correctly, the claws will not bleed. Pick up the cat under the armpit and gently take its paw in your hand. Press down on the paw to release the claws, and then trim them without touching the living pink part, which contains nerves and blood vessels. Trim all claws. You may need to take several approaches to complete the clipping procedure.
   • If you decide to remove your cat's claws, discuss this operation with your veterinarian. Different clinics use different methods of nail removal.The best options are surgical excision with a scalpel or laser method, as they usually do not damage the bones and pads, as with the more traditional guillotine method. You should also be aware that such operations are prohibited by law in many countries. In Russia, despite the absence of bans (the establishment of which is still under discussion), some veterinarians refuse to perform these operations for ethical reasons.
4. 4 Protect furniture with covers. Cats molt, and that's a fact. Despite the fact that you are not able to stop the molting of your pet, you can always find covers for your furniture. Perhaps this will not be the most beautiful solution to the problem, but the covers can be easily removed in case of the arrival of guests. Plus, they can be easily washed as needed.

Tips

• In addition to the advice in this article, consult your veterinarian or local pet store consultant for other additional home remedies for unwanted cat activity.