Cat-Proof Your Home

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From pawnation.com, by Rose Martelli:

They say curiosity killed the cat. But a cat's curiosity can also kill your curtains, curios, carpets and more!

The best way to cat-proof your home is to think like a cat. What would a cat want to climb, topple, claw at or play with? Probably all of the following:

- Knickknacks. Anything that is lightweight enough for a cat to push over is a no-no. And don't think you can protect your bric-a-brac by just moving it to a higher shelf. Cats love high shelves! If you can't lock something away in a cabinet, better to move it to a lower shelf where it'll look less tempting and have a shorter fall should the cat get to it.

- Drapes and curtains. Cats love to climb these, and their favorite target is window treatments that hang low to the floor. See if you can tie up the ends so they're out of the cat's reach. Alternately, try spritzing them regularly with a cat-repelling scent like citrus or pine.

- Upholstered furniture. The arms of fabric-covered chairs and couches are particular feline favorites because they're hard enough to offer resistance to the cat's scratching. Consider making or investing in inexpensive cloth or plastic coverings at least for the arms. Also, a scratching post or cat tree can be a godsend in these situations by providing the cat a better outlet for its clawing cravings.

- Wooden furniture. Yes, cats like to dig their claws into wood, too. Treat these surfaces with Pine-Sol, a natural cat repellent.

- Houseplants. This little bit of nature brought indoors can be irresistible to cats. Not only is that bad news for your plants, but some greenery is poisonous to cats. Hang plants from the ceiling with as much distance as possible from climbable things like window frames or high furniture such as bookcases.

- Phone and electrical cords. Cats treat them like mice. There are lots of cord-management products available that will conceal or consolidate cords. At the very least, wrap cords in electrical tape so the cat doesn't scratch or chew all the way through them.