Last Updated: 2 months ago
Cat safety is something that should remain at the forefront of any cat owner’s mind.
Although the day-to-day grind of life can make it easy to become complacent when it comes to cat safety, the reality is that anything can happen at any time. It doesn’t stop until you no longer own a pet.
We’re addressing this topic today due to a recent inquiry from a concerned cat owner online regarding the possibility of legal action against a neighbor.
The neighbor’s 2-year-old son accidentally caused the cat’s demise. While we aren’t legal experts, our research indicates that pursuing legal action may not be advisable.
However, our primary focus is on understanding the circumstances that led to the unfortunate incident involving the child and the cat.
6 Cat Safety Tips You Should Know
We’re not here to preach to anyone. Having spent 7 years working at a veterinary clinic, we’ve witnessed firsthand how neglecting cat safety can result in tragic outcomes.
Despite this experience, we must admit to occasional lapses in vigilance. Fortunately, nothing untoward has occurred thus far, for which we are grateful.
However, recalling the distressing incidents we encountered at the clinic serves as a constant reminder of the critical importance of pet safety, prompting us to emphasize its significance here.
1. Stay Vigilant
Let’s use the cat’s death as a perfect example of why vigilance is so important when it comes to pet safety.
First and foremost, for a child to be able to accidentally kill an animal, it most likely means that the child had access to the cat while being unattended.
The other possibility is that the parents were in the room but weren’t being attentive. This is where vigilance comes in.
When you have a pet, it’s important to see all the possibilities for injury in every situation. This may sound like a bit of overkill, but you never truly know what can happen.
This is especially true if you are in a room with possible hazards or if a child is interacting with your pet.
In the case of cats, vigilance is even more important. Cats are extremely mobile. They’re able to reach high spaces, low spaces, and small spaces; they can pretty much get everywhere.
And the more dangerous or toxic something is, the more those stinkers seem to want it. So it’s vital to be extra vigilant about pet safety with them in order to keep them as safe as possible.
2. Baby-Proofing on Steroids
When cat-proofing an area, it’s important to remember that cats can get into everything. As I said, cats can get into everything.
Never leave any sort of toxic substance out, even if it’s only for a minute. Always put the cap back on if you must leave the room or turn your back for any length of time.
Never leave breakables out. Cats love to knock things off of counters, which includes breakables like glass or pottery. Another important note is that many household plants and flowers are toxic to cats.
Cats love to nibble at plants, so be sure that any houseplants or flowers that you have or that you receive are non-toxic.
3. Your Cat is Your Baby
The best way to exercise pet safety when it comes to cats is to think of them like toddlers.
Just like toddlers, cats get into everything, and the worse it is for them, the more interested they are.
So the key is to simply assume that if there is something iffy in their general orbit, they can and will get into it.
It may sound like paranoia, but trust me, bad things can happen.
4. Avoid Certain Foods And Medications
Cats are susceptible to various foods that are toxic to them, such as chocolate, onions, garlic, grapes, and raisins.
These foods can cause severe health issues like gastrointestinal upset, kidney failure, or even death.
It’s crucial to educate cat owners about these hazards and ensure they keep harmful foods out of reach.
Cats are sensitive to certain human medications, including NSAIDs, acetaminophen, and antidepressants, which can be lethal even in small doses.
Owners should securely store medications out of reach and never administer human drugs without veterinary guidance.
5. Preventing Getting Lost
You should use microchips and ID tags.
Microchipping provides a permanent form of identification, while ID tags with contact information are essential for quick reunification if a cat gets lost. Regularly updating this information is crucial.
Cats should be kept indoors or provided with a secure outdoor enclosure to prevent them from wandering into unfamiliar territory and potentially getting lost.
6. Preventing Injuries and Illnesses
You must supervise outdoor time and make regular veterinary check-ups.
If allowing outdoor access, ensure it’s supervised and within a safe, enclosed space to prevent encounters with other animals, traffic, or toxic substances.
Routine veterinary check-ups, vaccinations, and preventive measures like flea and tick control are vital for maintaining a cat’s health and well-being.
Remove potential hazards within the home, such as small objects that could be swallowed, electrical cords, toxic chemicals, and accessible high places that pose a risk of falling.
Final Word
Cats are stinkers. We love them, but they are such trouble makers.
The combination of their mobility and their seemingly insatiable appetite to get into anything and everything that could potentially harm them makes it incredibly important to always have cat safety in mind.
The truth is that the original poster for the question of suing probably doesn’t have a case because the child is incapable of intent.
The even more unfortunate truth is that being very cognizant of cat safety could probably have prevented the entire horrific incident.
So always remember to keep cat safety at the forefront of your mind, especially when dealing with cats.
Do you have any more cat safety tips for cat owners? Share in the comments!
Olfa knows how to get things done and has a keen business sense that others admire. She’s always on the go, coming up with new ideas! Her ability to anticipate the needs of her readers and deliver information that they want is what makes CatVills such a success. She loves cuddling her cat Picaciu. He is her inspiration.
