Pet Safety Tips For New Kitten Owners
Do you love cats? Are you thinking about adopting a kitten from your local animal shelter? Kittens are adorable and cute, but they can be a bit of a handful as they explore your home and learn about you. Unfortunately, their curiosity can cause problems when they get into things that they should not be getting into. To avoid needing to take your kitten to the vet, here are some things that you need to watch for:
Refrigerator/freezer: Some cats might be wary of a large box with a door that swings open and closed, otherwise known as a refrigerator or freezer, but a young kitten may not yet be cautious enough. If you're not watching when you open and close the refrigerator or freezer door, your kitten might be tempted by a seemingly irresistible place to hide. If food is not tightly packaged, he or she may also be able to smell a leftover roast or other meats in your fridge and be tempted by his or her stomach to investigate. When opening and closing your refrigerator and freezer, make sure to keep a close watch for your kitten to make sure that he or she isn't trying to sneak inside. Should he or she get shut inside, you may find yourself in the strange situation of having to rush your beloved pet to the animal hospital to be treated for hypothermia in the middle of summer.
Houseplants: Cats are carnivores, meaning that they must eat meat to survive. But that doesn't stop some kitties from nibbling on or even completely devouring houseplants that they have access to. Some common, but potentially dangerous, plants that you may have or want to have in the future include aloe, poinsettia, and gladiolas. They may not kill your kitten, but you will almost certainly have to rush him or her to the animal hospital to be checked out by a vet. If you want houseplants, buy a spider plant, African violet, or other safe houseplant to find out if he or she is a nibbler.
Plastic bags: Some cats absolutely adore licking plastic, especially plastic bags. There are a variety of theories as to why cats love plastic bags so much, but the important thing to remember is that this addiction can be dangerous, especially to a young kitten. Some cats don't stop with licking or even light nibbling but will eat as much plastic as they can. This can result in an obstruction in your kitten's gut that will need to be removed at your local animal hospital. Some cats may be able to indulge safely in their plastic fascination, but you can't know that's true of your kitten. Always put up any empty plastic bags and supervise your kitten if you decide to allow him or her a bit of crinkly fun.