My friend Barbara has four cats sharing her two-bedroom apartment, but you would never know she runs a multicat household. Her place is immaculate and smells like fresh-cut flowers on a spring day. She confirms what I’ve known for a long time: Cat owners have some of the neatest, cleanest homes. That’s because responsible owners have learned long ago how to clear the air, so to speak, so that visitors don’t smell a cat before they see one. Cat owners also have learned (probably the hard way) how to keep valuables out of paw’s reach.


The Cat’s Meow
A friend’s home in San Diego is the ultimate cat’s meow. Each room outdoes the previous one in terms of feline appeal. There are rugs with smiling cat faces on wooden floors. Toys everywhere. Floor-to-ceiling scratching posts. Cat-sized holes in the upper walls near the ceiling, with brightly colored catwalks cascading and weaving down to the floor. This three-bedroom ranch house belongs to Bob and Francis Walker — at least that’s what the deed reads. But in truth, the real rulers of this domain are the nearly dozen cats (the numbers vary) and one dog.
Calafia, Beauregard, Frank-the-Friendly-Kitten, and the rest of the gang regard this almost-bay view home as their lofty feline playhouse. There are high perches for catnapping, hiding places from which to pounce, and more than 100 feet of catwalks. The home even boasts a cats-only clubhouse, a room built into the top of the bedroom closet, with an opening big enough only for felines. Couches are covered with plastic, and absent are flowers in vases just waiting to be knocked over. Window perches are everywhere for afternoon siestas.
My friend Bob tries to explain this cat makeover: “If possession is nine-tenths of the law, then our place is truly the cats house,” he says. “They spend more time there than we do. We believe our cats are safer living indoors and need a place that perks their curiosity and makes them feel safe.”
Once a year, the Walkers sponsor an open house for curious visitors, most of them cat lovers. The Walkers donate the price of admission to the National Cat Protection Society in the hope that other cat owners will pick up some pointers on how to make their homes more feline-friendly.
When it comes down to it, cats don’t know the price difference between your antique crystal flower vase and a paper wad. Nor do they really care. It’s up to us to cat-proof our homes. So, think like a cat when you decorate. Take a room-by-room inventory and try to second-guess what might entice your curious, adventurous cat.
Recognize that your cat likes high places and will insist on walking on shelves. Realize that food left on the kitchen counter is too much of a temptation for even the best-behaved feline to ignore. Practice the same parenting skills you’ve used raising toddlers or babysitting grandchildren:
 Place childproof latches on doors housing cat food or no-cats-allowed items.
 Tuck safety cords out of sight.
 Place fragile valuables beyond harm’s reach.
 Keep the dryer door shut.
 Don’t place stacks of books or magazines where they can easily topple.

Stop Trouble Before It Starts
Got a cat who likes to terrorize the toilet paper roll? Got a sweater eater or coin licker? Follow these hints for keeping your feline friend safe and out of trouble.
 Secure the toilet paper. Do you come home and find streamers of tissue paper down the hallway? Curb this behavior by securing the roll with a rubber band. And shift your cat’s attention to a more acceptable attraction, like a toy mouse dangling on a cord from a doorknob.
 Know your cat’s hiding places. Cats are drawn to tiny, cozy, enclosed places. Make sure that your cat isn’t harboring inside a dresser drawer, cupboard, closet, or washer/dryer when you close the door. (When first-time visitors come to my home, I always know where to find Little Guy. He ducks into the bottom shelf of my antique dresser given to me by my grandmother. All I see on top of my folded shorts and T-shirts is a pair of nervous, wide green eyes staring back at me.)
 Keep woolens out of reach. Stow wool and knit blankets in a trunk or nearby closet when they’re not in use. Cats who eat these fabrics and other nonfood objects are suffering from pica syndrome. Eating such items can cause obstruction of the intestinal tract and is potentially toxic.
 Learn to compromise about snoozing spots. Drape cotton sheets or throw blankets over recliners and sofas so that your cat can snooze without depositing a mountain of hair on your furniture. Just wash these coverings once a week and you’ll save on vacuuming time and dry-cleaning bills.
 Test the tension of your window screens regularly. Cats love to lounge on windowsills when the windows are open. Cats can accidentally fall out the window if the screen is not secure and taut.
 Store coins in jars with lids. Pennies contain zinc, a metal that is toxic to cats. Also stash sewing needles, thumbtacks, earrings, rubber bands, buttons, and other small items in containers or drawers.
 Keep a fitted sheet on the underside of your bed. This will prevent your cat from eating the synthetic materials on the bottom of the box spring.
 Store bath items out of reach. Elevate your shampoo, conditioner, soap, and razor in your shower area out of paw’s reach. Never leave dental floss dangling in an open wastebasket. Your curious cat could ingest it and possibly choke to death. Deposit used floss into trash cans with lids.
 Don’t let your cat roam inside your garage. Most types of antifreeze contain ethylene glycol (EG), a sweet temptation that is deadly to cats. It only takes a couple ounces of antifreeze to kill a cat. EG crystallizes and attacks the kidneys.
 Outwit your counter-climbing feline. Break your cat of the habit of leaping on the dining room table or kitchen counters with double-sided tape. Cats rely on their feet to mark their territories, so they like to keep their paws impeccably clean. When a cat jumps on a counter and lands on the sticky tape, she hates the sensation and immediately jumps down to search for a friendlier high spot. For kitchen counters, you can also fill a cookie sheet with water as a booby trap. This strategy is especially effective because it works 24 hours a day, even when you’re gone. And the best news: Your cat won’t connect you with the tape, so you can be blame-free!
Avoid Poisonous Houseplants
If you think your cat is safe indoors, think again. Is your home adorned with plants? Many popular indoor plants are downright deadly to cats who munch on their leaves. Plants add a feel of coziness and serenity to any home, but shop smart.

Stop Dangerous Chewing
Many cats enjoy chewing electric cords, a habit that is nasty, expensive, and potentially dangerous. You can place conduit devices over the cords to stop the chewing. Or coat the cords with smells cats abhor: hair spray, cayenne pepper spray, or citrus-smelling agents.
That takes care of step 1. Step 2 is to figure out why your cat is chewing. Often, it is a symptom of separation anxiety. Your cat loves and needs you too much. So, don’t make a big deal out of your arrivals or departures. Leave behind a piece of your clothing and a tape recording playing your voice to give your cat some comfort while you’re not at home.
Steer clear of the following lineup of plants. All of them are poisonous to cats:
For a complete list of poisonous plants, click on the Humane Society of the United States’s Web site at . In the meantime, if you catch your cat munching on a houseplant, divert her attention by shaking a can of pennies. The loud noise will stop her in midchew. Then bring her to a patch of kitty wad. Nor do they really care. It’s up to us to cat-proof our homes. So, think like a cat when you decorate. Take a room-by-room inventory and try to second-guess what might entice your curious, adventurous cat.
Recognize that your cat likes high places and will insist on walking on shelves. Realize that food left on the kitchen counter is too much of a temptation for even the best-behaved feline to ignore. Practice the same parenting skills you’ve used raising toddlers or babysitting grandchildren:
Place childproof latches on doors housing cat food or no-cats-allowed items.
Tuck safety cords out of sight.
Place fragile valuables beyond harm’s reach.
Keep the dryer door shut.
Don’t place stacks of books or magazines where they can easily topple.
Stop Trouble Before It Starts
Got a cat who likes to terrorize the toilet paper roll? Got a sweater eater or coin licker? Follow these hints for keeping your feline friend safe and out of trouble.
Secure the toilet paper. Do you come home and find streamers of tissue paper down the hallway? Curb this behavior by securing the roll with a rubber band. And shift your cat’s attention to a more acceptable attraction, like a toy mouse dangling on a cord from a doorknob.
Know your cat’s hiding places. Cats are drawn to tiny, cozy, enclosed places. Make sure that your cat isn’t harboring inside a dresser drawer, cupboard, closet, or washer/dryer when you close the door. (When first-time visitors come to my home, I always know where to find Little Guy. He ducks into the bottom shelf of my antique dresser given to me by my grandmother. All I see on top f my folded shorts and T-shirts is a pair of nervous, wide green eyes staring back at me.)
 Keep woolens out of reach. Stow wool and knit blankets in a trunk or nearby closet when they’re not in use. Cats who eat these fabrics and other nonfood objects are suffering from pica syndrome. Eating such items can cause obstruction of the intestinal tract and is potentially toxic.
Learn to compromise about snoozing spots. Drape cotton sheets or throw blankets over recliners and sofas so that your cat can snooze without depositing a mountain of hair on your furniture. Just wash these coverings once a week and you’ll save on vacuuming time and dry-cleaning bills.
Test the tension of your window screens regularly. Cats love to lounge on windowsills when the windows are open. Cats can accidentally fall out the window if the screen is not secure and taut.
Store coins in jars with lids. Pennies contain zinc, a metal that is toxic to cats. Also stash sewing needles, thumbtacks, earrings, rubber bands, buttons, and other small items in containers or drawers.
Keep a fitted sheet on the underside of your bed. This will prevent your cat from eating the synthetic materials on the bottom of the box spring.
Store bath items out of reach. Elevate your shampoo, conditioner, soap, and razor in your shower area out of paw’s reach. Never leave dental floss dangling in an open wastebasket. Your curious cat could ingest it and possibly choke to death. Deposit used floss into trash cans with lids.
Don’t let your cat roam inside your garage. Most types of antifreeze contain ethylene glycol (EG), a sweet temptation that is deadly to cats. It only takes a couple ounces of antifreeze to kill a cat. EG crystallizes and attacks the kidneys.
Outwit your counter-climbing feline. Break your cat of the habit of leaping on the dining room table or kitchen counters with double-sided tape. Cats rely on their feet to mark their territories, so they like to keep their paws impeccably clean. When a cat jumps on a counter and lands on the sticky tape, she hates the sensation and immediately jumps down to search for a friendlier high spot. For kitchen counters, you can also fill a cookie sheet with water as a booby trap. This strategy is especially effective because it works 24 hours a day, even when you’re gone. And the best news: Your cat won’t connect you with the tape, so you can be blame-free!
Avoid Poisonous Houseplants
If you think your cat is safe indoors, think again. Is your home adorned with plants? Many popular indoor plants are downright deadly to cats who munch on their leaves. Plants add a feel of coziness and serenity to any home, but shop smart.

Stop Dangerous Chewing
Many cats enjoy chewing electric cords, a habit that is nasty, expensive, and potentially dangerous. You can place conduit devices over the cords to stop the chewing. Or coat the cords with smells cats abhor: hair spray, cayenne pepper spray, or citrus-smelling agents.
That takes care of step 1. Step 2 is to figure out why your cat is chewing. Often, it is a symptom of separation anxiety. Your cat loves and needs you too much. So, don’t make a big deal out of your arrivals or departures. Leave behind a piece of your clothing and a tape recording playing your voice to give your cat some comfort while you’re not at home.