So, your child/spouse/roommate talked you into adopting a pair of adorable tiny kittens. Where’s the harm in that? They don’t eat much (yet), they can’t jump on the counters (yet), they provide hours of free fun and loving (and always will). But suddenly, your computer won’t boot up. Nothing you do will make it work. In desperation, you call your $95/hr computer tech, because you have a report to finish. That’s when the technician finds tiny teeth marks on your cables! Suddenly, those cute little furballs aren’t quite as endearing. A word to the wise, KITTEN-PROOF YOUR HOME!

I was reminded of this as I was at my computer recently, watching my kitten playing with the window shade cord nearby. To my horror, I saw that it had completely wrapped around her little neck and she was dashing around on the window seat. Had I not been there to release her, she could easily have fallen or jumped off and hung herself! Am I not a trained individual? Shouldn’t I have foreseen this? Well yes, but I’m also human.

When I think back over the years, I am reminded of one particular cat which severed the phone cord twice, the vertical blind pulls, the TV cable, several power cords, and many other snakelike objects she found. There are products out there, I discovered later, that help break the power-cord-chewing-habit. My favorite is Bitter Apple, available at most pet stores. Her brother, however, had no interest in those objects. He just collected twigs which he would faithfully bring me every morning and leave on the patio. I used to think he was building a nest.

Babies are babies; every one an individual. All of them, however, go through teething, tasting everything within reach, climbing, and stretching for things above their heads. Many things in the home are dangerous to kittens, and even adult cats. The most common items are certain houseplants, string, power cords, ribbon, rubber bands, thread with needles in tow, open dishwashers and dryers, slamming doors…. Walk around your home and identify anything that might be a potential threat to the kitten or in danger of breaking. Either put it away temporarily (they do grow up) or make it undesirable or unreachable. Oh, and put the toilet seat down! The same kitten referred to earlier, jumped into the bowl before it had been flushed. Luckily I grabbed her before she ran through the house. Bathing a kitten is not something you schedule on a busy morning.

For a list of harmful houseplants, try this website: http://www.cfainc.org/articles/plants.html

Catalyst for Cats is a Santa Barbara County nonprofit organization dedicated to the welfare of feral cats. Through its trap, neuter and return (TNR) and feeding programs, scores of ferals have a regular food source, find relief from the endless breeding urges and homes are found for those who are able to be socialized.