| * Lock things up that could cause harm | | | | make sure the plants in and around your home |
| * Keep the washer/dryer door closed at all times | | | | won't pose a health risk. The following are some |
| * Honk the car horn before starting it up | | | | common house and landscape plants that are |
| * Use fire carefully | | | | toxic to cats: |
| * Keep all upstairs windows closed or screened | | | | * Philodendron English ivy |
| * Store string away tidily | | | | * caladium dieffenbachia "elephant ear" |
| * Keep floors free of small things | | | | * poinsettia |
| * Be constantly aware of what your cat is doing | | | | * mistletoe |
| Curiosity gets most cats in trouble at some point | | | | * azaleas |
| in their lives. As your cat's caregiver, keeping her | | | | * holly |
| safe sometimes seems like a "mission impossible." | | | | * berries |
| With a little foresight and action, however, you | | | | * boxwood |
| can create a "home, safe home." | | | | * wisteria |
| When you're trying to provide the best home | | | | * hydrangea |
| possible for your cat, it pays to think like her. Put | | | | * oleander |
| on some old clothes and get down on hands and | | | | * chinaberry tree |
| knees and take a look around. Is that shiny | | | | If you live in an area prone to natural disasters, |
| crystal vase on the shelf a tempting target? | | | | keep an emergency pet supply kit with your own. |
| Remember that cats will jump onto shelves and | | | | Include a week's worth of food as well as any |
| tables. | | | | medication your cat takes on a regular basis. A |
| That dangling drapery cord would be fun to leap | | | | photo of your pet is also good to keep with your |
| and grab. What's in this big pot? In case you need | | | | emergency supplies, in case you are separated |
| help identifying what might catch a cat's eye, | | | | from your cat during the event, you'll have a way |
| here's a list of common household items that are | | | | to get the word out to locate her. |
| often the cause of cat injuries: | | | | A collar with an identification tag is one of those |
| * Roach and ant traps | | | | things that you might never need, but will wish |
| * electric and phone cords | | | | you had if you need it and don't. Even if your cat |
| * cigarettes in ashtrays | | | | is strictly and indoor pet, the unexpected could |
| * open doors and windows | | | | happen. A door or window is left ajar, or a natural |
| * rubber bands | | | | disaster creates an opening in your home through |
| * housecleaning chemicals | | | | which your frightened feline escapes. |
| * lit candles | | | | Your cat's identity tag should include the following |
| * Christmas trees | | | | information |
| * ornaments | | | | * Pet's name |
| * paperclips | | | | * Owner's name and address |
| * rocking chairs | | | | * Telephone numbers (day and evening) |
| * uncovered toilets | | | | * Medical problem requiring medication |
| * trash cans | | | | * Veterinarian's name and number |
| * human medications | | | | * Current Rabies vaccination information |
| * chocolate | | | | * Reward offer should pet become lost |
| * anti-freeze | | | | Many people have their cats micro-chipped for |
| * unattended boiling pots | | | | identification. A small silicone chip containing the |
| * electric stove burners | | | | owner's contact information is painlessly inserted |
| * plastic bags. | | | | under the cat's skin. Most animal shelters |
| Cats find plants irresistible as playthings. They love | | | | automatically scan lost pets to read the owner |
| to pounce on them and shred them with both | | | | contact information. However, if your cat is found |
| their claws and teeth. Although they are | | | | by an average citizen an identification tag will |
| carnivores -meat eaters-they sometimes eat | | | | speed up your reunion. |
| plant material. For these reasons, it's important to | | | | |