How to Keep a Cat Safe

Last Updated: May 6, 2021 References

Cats are great pets. They are wonderful companions for many people. However, they need to be kept safe from a number of potential dangers. Keep your cat safe in your house, outdoors, and from predators, plants, and poisons. Guarantee your cat will life a long and happy life with you.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Staying Safe at Home

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Secure anything that could harm your cat. Make sure nothing can fall on your cat and injure it.
- Fasten any heavy objects that are placed up high. You don’t want anything heavy to fall on your cat when it’s exploring.
- Place cords out of reach of your cat. Cats will play with anything dangling and could harm themselves. Spray cords with pepper in order to keep cats away from them. ^{[1]
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- Close your toilet seat or any other open water sources. Cats can easily drown in open water.
- Keep your cat away from anything particularly hot. They can harm themselves on irons that are left out or on a warm oven. ^{[2]
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- Block off any areas that cats may explore and get stuck. Behind refrigerators and cabinets may be especially dangerous. ^{[3]
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2
Keep cats away from things they could ingest. Your cat could choke on objects, eat foods that can harm it, or swallow dangerous chemicals. ^{[4]
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- Secure anything that cats could choke on. Don’t leave any small objects out where cats can reach them.
- Put away any food. Cats may eat anything that’s left out. Make sure to especially put away any foods that are dangerous to cats, such as chocolate, onions, or medicine.
- Keep away dangerous chemicals. Fasten all cabinets that have chemicals that cats may be drawn to. Antifreeze is especially tempting to cats. ^{[5]
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3
Make sure your cat stays indoors. The outdoors presents another set of dangers for your cat. Secure your cat indoors so it won’t encounter these dangers or potentially run away.
- Keep all doors closed and locked. Cats can easily slip out of a partially open door.
- Make sure all windows have screens and are closed when you’re not around. Cats can easily fall out of windows. They don't always land on their feet. ^{[6]
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- If you decide to have your cat outdoors, make sure you are around when they go outside. It’s harder to control the outdoor environment.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Keeping Your Cat Safe Outside

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Get them a collar. A good collar can help your cat be safer outdoors, stay away from accidents, and make them easier to find if they get lost.
- Make sure their collar breaks away so they can’t choke themselves. Collars can get caught on something, so make sure the collar will not strangle the cat.
- Have a bell on the collar. This will help you keep track of the cat and know where they are at all times.
- Keep your contact information on the cat’s collar. Have your phone number on the cat’s collar so if it runs away, someone will be able to call you.
- If you don’t want to use a collar, consider microchipping your cat. It’s no more painful than a vaccination and can make sure anyone who finds your cat can contact you. ^{[7]
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2
Keep cats away from outdoor dangers, such as cars or other hazards. Cats are curious and can run into danger when being outside. Make sure they are in a secure area so they don’t run into the street.
- Have your cats secure when they are outside. Wire mesh fences with a high angle can keep them penned in. Make sure your cat cannot get out to the roadway or out of your yard. ^{[8]
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- Keep your cat away from the road. They may be attracted to the sound of cars, but can be severely injured or killed by vehicles. ^{[9]
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- Have a cat door. Cats can easily run back inside and escape from predators or other dangers by using a cat door.
- Use a leash. Cats don’t like leashes, but a leash can guarantee your cat won’t get into any dangerous situations.
3
Protect your cat from the weather. If your cat is mostly an outdoors cat, you need to protect it from severe weather. Make sure your cat stays cool during a heatwave and is sheltered during bad weather.
- Let your cat have places to cool off if it’s hot. Find shady areas outdoors for your cat to sit and rest.
- Give your cat ice cubes or cool water. They can help to cool the cat down.
- Notice the signs of heatstroke, including panting, vomiting, and fever. Make sure your cat is safe even if it’s hot outside. ^{[10]
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- Cats usually don’t like rain or thunderstorms. If possible, bring your cat indoors. If not, make sure it is under a dry shelter. ^{[11]
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4
Travel safely with your cat. Traveling with a cat can be difficult. Make sure you have a good carrier to keep your cat safe and secure.
- Secure your carrier in the car. In the case of sudden stoppage or an accident, your cat will continue to be safe.
- Unlike dogs, cats do not like car rides. Stay calm and stress free during car rides to make you’re your cat does not have any undue stress. ^{[12]
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- Stop every two hours if you’re driving. Cats need to get out and stretch as well as use the restroom.
5
Bring your cat inside when you’re away. Cats can get into dangerous situations without you around. Keep them safe by keeping them inside.
- Find a nice area for your cat to look outside. Cats like to sit by windows to observe the outdoors, even if they cannot be outdoors.
- Make sure your cat cannot get outside when you’re away. Lock any cat doors if you have them.
- Give your cat plenty of space to play indoors. Cats need to expend energy, so giving them a cat jungle may be a good way for them to burn off energy indoors.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Avoiding Predators, Plants & Poison

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Keep your cat safe from predators. Cats can encounter a number of predators, especially when they’re outdoors. Make sure they are safe and protected from any predators.
- Keep safe from coyotes. Your cat may encounter coyotes outdoors, since they live nearly everywhere in North America. Stay away from secluded areas with lots of brush. ^{[13]
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- Stay away from strange dogs. Dogs may want to chase cats. If you encounter any dogs outside, bring your cat indoors immediately. ^{[14]
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- Introduce your dog to your cat. Keep your cat and dog separate or in carriers at first. Slowly introduce them to each other to avoid any problems. ^{[15]
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Stay away from plants. Many plants are poisonous to cats. Keep your cats away from any plants that may harm them. ^{[16]
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- Cats may chew on indoor and outdoor plants. Put indoor plants out of a cat’s reach and watch cats when they are around indoor plants. ^{[17]
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- Lilies are especially poisonous to cats. Even one lick can cause severe kidney damage. ^{[18]
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- Know the outdoor plants. Some plants are more poisonous than others to cats. If possible, get rid of any plants that are especially dangerous to cats.
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Avoid indoor and outdoor poisons. Cats will eat almost anything. While some things may just make a cat sick, others will kill it.
- Secure perfumes and aftershaves. Drinking ethanol and the oils in these chemicals can kill cats.
- Know that anything poisonous to humans is also poisonous to cats. Keep cleaning supplies put away as well as any other household chemicals.
- Chocolate, coffee, and tea are all especially toxic to cats. They are also attracted to its sweet scent and taste. Don’t leave out any of these so your cat won’t eat them.