What are the most dangerous objects for our cat? We certainly have many of them at home and in the outdoor area too: be careful!
Usually the cat always manages to get by in the most cramped situations, precisely because of its intelligence and the ability to stay out of trouble. But it can happen that even the most astute of cats finds himself having to deal with objects that are dangerous to his health, which can sometimes turn into real weapons that undermine his safety. Let’s see what are the dangerous objects for the cat and, as far as possible, let’s make sure that the cat is not able to get close to them.
Dangerous items for the cat
Do we think that our home is always the safest place than all the others? Well of course, compared to a busy road with cars going at full speed, the cat is safer. But even in the serenity of our four walls, the cat could find itself having to deal with objects that are very harmful to its health. And they are things that can normally be found in any home, so we take extreme care to keep them out of the reach of our four-legged friend. Since, alas, there are so many dangers, we decided to first divide those inside and outside of our home and divide them into groups.
Dangerous items for the cat in the house
What we never expected could harm our cat, in reality it could possibly be a real damage to his safety.
- Toys: if we have children in the house, there will certainly be toys. Many of them are safe for little humans, but less so for our cats. Let’s think of all those objects that move with the rope, cords and threads: they can be swallowed or the cat could find itself stuck inside them. Toys smaller than the size of a walnut are also added to the list: they can be swallowed and suffocate. We make sure that the cat is not found playing alone with these, without anyone watching him.
- Party decorations: do you know bows, balls or small reproductions of eggs that are used to decorate the house during the holidays? We must be careful of those too because they could swallow them and choke. Not only in pulling them off could drag the whole tree or the composition on him, with the risk of causing physical damage and injuries, but many of them, being made of glass or thin plastic, can break and cause deep cuts.
- Cords and Rubber Bands: Whether it’s hair ties, whether it’s electrical appliance wires, they are all dangerous! The cat could get stuck in it and suffocate. Those that are smaller and easier to detach can also be swallowed and throttled. As in the case of the Christmas tree, the cat could drag the entire appliance around when pulling the wire or gnaw it and get an electric shock.
- Poisons: all the chemicals we use to keep insects and mice away from home can be ingested by the cat and cause it to become intoxicated or poisoned in the cat. The products at risk also include: detergents, fertilizers, antifreeze products and disinfectants.
- Plants: we must be careful not to keep in the house, or in any case place them in places not easily accessible to our cat, plants that are harmful to its health (including poinsettias).
- Plates, pans and microwave ovens: we never underestimate the cunning of a cat who can climb even on the kitchen counter and get burned by boiling oil or fire or hot surfaces. And if we have a microwave that could be activated when the door is closed, be careful that the cat does not remain closed inside, as it could have very serious and irreparable damage not only to the skin but also to the internal organs.
- Balconies and windows: especially for hinged windows, the danger is always that the cat can end up down. It is true that cats, it is said, have seven lives, but why put this reputation to the test? Furthermore, sudden falls from important heights can, if not cause death, certainly cause injuries and fractures to the limbs or even to internal organs. In the absence of gardens or green spaces, it is great for a cat to have a balcony but let’s make it safer with a tightly meshed net, so that the cat does not pass through it.
- Washing machine or dryer: Better not say: ‘This will never happen to me!’. Everyone can have a carelessness and ignore the load before starting a wash or dry. The cat, finding the door open, could slip inside the appliance and stay there until the end of the spin cycle, without anyone noticing anything.
- Medicines: Aspirin, tea tree oil and other essential oils can be poisonous for our cat. They have the same toxic effect as the other products listed above.
- Various products: in addition to foodstuffs such as garlic, onion, coffee, tea and chocolate, the cat must also stay away from cigarettes as tobacco is toxic for them. cause of nicotine.
… And outside
Having an outdoor space for the cat is certainly good for our four-legged friend who can stretch his paws when he feels like it and enjoy a beautiful sun. But be careful because even the most pleasant space can hide dangers, which may escape us at first sight. Here’s what they are.
- Swimming pool: if you have one of the large ones or even a small rubber one, be careful that the cat does not drown in it. Certainly most cats hate water and are careful not to be in contact with it but you never know.
- Wells: worse than swimming pools and water spaces are wells which, if not protected by tight mesh nets, really risk being a death trap for the cat. The worst thing is that the owner may notice his fall into the well when it is too late and the cat, if he survives, will also have stopped meowing for help.
- Electric networks: Electric fences can cause a shock in the cat and the cat could get stuck in them. In short, if they do not die from electric shocks they could be suffocated by the grip of these cables, if not adequately covered and secured.
- Barbed wire: here the risk is that the cat gets really hurt as the spikes can cause serious injuries. Another danger is represented by the nets that are used to keep birds away, and which could instead be a deadly trap for cats.
- Lawnmower: it could happen that, during the lawn mowing operation, the cat may get stuck under the machine that cuts the green. Sometimes felines are so small (and we are so distracted) that we don’t notice they’re right under the device.
