Cat-proofing your house

Overview

Lots of things you can do here, first use common sense, don't try to change the basic nature of your cat, i.e. for kitty to do the things he wants to do naturally, hunt, scratch, investigate.

So, give him the opportunity to do this things without destroying "your stuff".

Second, protect kitty from danger to himself, keep dangerous stuff locked up or inaccessable.

Stopping scratching

Usually this is the first complaint an owner has.

First make a number of scratching posts available, especially near the furniture they would scratch. Give your cat a more desirable alternative to your couch. We have one in every major room. There are really nice looking ones available, in a variety of colors and fabrics: See the section on Scratching Posts & Trees

Stairs

Cats will scratch on stairs if they are carpeted, so put plastic on 2 stairs to stop them, Sticky Paws usually works, a double-sided sticky tape.

You can't put it on every stair, but alternate stairs, at least the first stair "up".

Furniture

 You can use sticky tape, usually on the corners of furniture. If it's on the cushions use the ScatMat.

Chewing

Normally, chewing is a behavior that is indicative of other problems

Most cords should be protected. You can get a plastic tubing to encase wires, called "split loom" You can find it at car parts or electronics stores.  comes in all sizes and colors. You can put it on, take it off, add or remove wires without unplugging anything.  http://www.cableorganizer.com/wire-loom/colored.html

Be smart, don't leave long cords and "attractive" rat's nests of wires.

Controlling climbing on furniture, counters

There are battery-operating plastic sheets that emit a light shock. I will try ScatMat, comes in various sizes, is battery operated, and has 3 different intensity levels.

Comes in various sizes: 12x60, 48 x 20, 46 x 3, 30 x 16,

• Strip / Extra small 46 x 3 inches $40  SKM-C441                                       63657
• Medium / Small 30 x 16 inches $45 SKM-C411   ** extension available   63658
• Large / Medium: 48 x 20 inches $50 SKM-C411  ** extension available   63659
• Sofa / Large: 60 x 12 inches $50 SKM-C472                                            63660
• Curved / medium curved 12 x 50 $80 - PDT00-13638

there are extensions also:

•  Medium: 30 x 16 inches -                                                                     $30  63663
• Large:48 x 20 inches -                                                                          $30  63664

Keeping out of mischief / limiting access

Leaving doors open for ventilation

I recently found a great product that allows you to keep a door open for ventilation, but kitty cannot get it. (We were closing rooms before this)

Latch 'n Vent  http://latchnvent.com

It screws into the existing location for the latchplate and you have different holders that space the door open and hold it in place.

Cabinets / doors:

Cats can open cabinet doors, and they will get into small places. Block those places off. Use the typical child locks:

If it gets to be a problem, get the "child locks" they can open cabinet doors

Deterrents

Sticky tape - cats hate sticky stuff on their paws, this is double-sided removeable tape, name brand Sticky Paws, by Pioneer Pets.

There's the tape below, thinner, longer strips for the front edges of couches, and large squares, a coupler will do a whole stair tread.

Air spray

Ssscat - a motion sensing air spray,

We bought two of these from RadioFence, and great prices on the refills if you buy 4: 

https://www.radiofence.com/refill-ssscat-pet-deterrent/

https://www.radiofence.com/ssscat-pet-deterrent/

The "head" has the air nozzle, and you see the slot above and below it, it can be in one of 3 positions. Also the motion sensor, the little D shaped window below can be in one of 5 positions in respect to the nozzle, although that does not seem to be very useful.

It blasts a jet of air, and the plume is visible so it should have good effect.

When putting the top on the can, there are a bunch of little fingers that clip around the can's rim. Sometimes it clips in place and then you slide the locking collar down, this is how the instructions read.

But I have found that many times you hold the head down on the can, and then WHILE HOLDING, you slide the locking collar.

Natural Repellents

Citrus cleaners, lemongrass, lavender and coleus. Need to check these out.