How do you cat proof the house?

[Anonymous]

I have 2 active cats which have to be left on their own in the house for 2 weeks. I know it's a little long but the situation is unavoidable.
Pet sitter will be coming twice a day to feed and play with them. I have scratching posts at several places in the house that they regularly use. Additionally they try to use couch, dining table chairs and many other vertical surfaces to scratch. I discourage them when they do that by clapping or making a loud "No" sound. Since I will not be there, the cats are going to have fun by being able to scratch anywhere they want. They also put the paws in to the blinds and try to pull the blinds down. One of them is a wire-chewer too. Here's what I am going to do but I am looking for additional tips.
1. Remove wires that the cat chews. She targets thin wires in general.
2. Pull up the blinds. Outsiders will have a free view. Do I have other options? I am worried that their paws may get cut with the sharp edges of the blinds.
3. Spray cat repellent on chairs and couch but that will fade away in 2 days or they will get used to it. Any other option?
What else do I do?

[Anonymous]

OP here. Also, what temperature should I set in the house?

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't worry about their paws and the blinds (unless your blinds are something other than normal regular blinds).

Can't the pet sitter spray the repellent ever two days?

If you can, I would confine the cats to one room and leave out an extra litter box. The biggest issue with leaving cats for any length of time is that they get stressed and it affects their litter box habits, and once those habits are changed, it's hard to get them back.

Confining them to a smaller space will help ensure they use the litter box. But still give them enough space to hide and run around and look out a window.

All cats are different, thought.

[Anonymous]

Thanks

[Anonymous]

We always leave the blinds up about four inches or so so the cat can look out the window. Definitely have at least 3 litter boxes out. We put our extras next to the regular one. We've left out cat for a week without anybody looking after her and she was fine. She was free to roam the house and no problems. My only concern with confining the cats to one area is that they might get upset and start scratching at the carpet under the door(s) to get out. Unless you usually lock them up in a separate room at night, you probably won't want to do that while you're gone.

[Anonymous]

~ Make sure all toilet lids are closed.

~ Make sure anything heavy cannot fall down easily. (For ex: A large T.V. on a light dresser, etc.)

~ Keep all houseplants out of cat's reach.

~ Keep all medicines inside medicine cabinets.

~ Leave cat food in a plastic & sealed container, not left in a bag sitting where cat has full access to it.

~ Check the floor for small items that kitty may want to play with that he may end up inadvertently putting in his mouth which could be dangerous for him. I.e., small thumb tacks, pen caps, coins, small pieces of aluminum foil, plastic wrap, dental floss, etc.

Hope this is helpful.

[Anonymous]

If you don't want to confine them, then just close the doors to rooms they don't need to be in (like bedrooms). Not sure there is really much you can do about the scratching, if that is a habit of theirs. On flat surfaces you can put down mats to prevent scratching. Those plastic carpet runners with spikes on the bottom can be handy if you place them spikey side up. For vertical surfaces, you can try wrapping in aluminum foil or blocking access to it(like putting something in front of it).

Once when I went on weekend trip, I came back to find my cat with a paper bag around her waist. It was one of those department store type paper bags with rope handles. The handles were wrapped around her mid-section but she had tore the rest of the bag off. It was quite startling until I realized what it was and then I had to cut it off. Poor dear. With a sitter coming 2x a day -- he/she will be able to catch things like that.

[Anonymous]

Hide all cables. Put away lamps.

[Anonymous]

Get one of those plug in pheromone things. I can't remember the name, but I'm sure amazon has them. Just looked it up. It's called Feliway. Put sheets over the furniture they claw.

[Anonymous]

I don't know if plastic shopping bags are banned where you live at, but if not + you have some in your home, it is best to put them up where kitty cannot have access to them.

My kitties get bored sometimes and like to step on them and try to fit in them. Or even try to wrestle them out to the wastebaskets, etc.

They could get dangerous if they get their heads stuck in them and/or if the handles get wrapped around them as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have 2 active cats which have to be left on their own in the house for 2 weeks. I know it's a little long but the situation is unavoidable.
Pet sitter will be coming twice a day to feed and play with them. I have scratching posts at several places in the house that they regularly use. Additionally they try to use couch, dining table chairs and many other vertical surfaces to scratch. I discourage them when they do that by clapping or making a loud "No" sound. Since I will not be there, the cats are going to have fun by being able to scratch anywhere they want. They also put the paws in to the blinds and try to pull the blinds down. One of them is a wire-chewer too. Here's what I am going to do but I am looking for additional tips.
1. Remove wires that the cat chews. She targets thin wires in general.
2. Pull up the blinds. Outsiders will have a free view. Do I have other options? I am worried that their paws may get cut with the sharp edges of the blinds.
3. Spray cat repellent on chairs and couch but that will fade away in 2 days or they will get used to it. Any other option?
What else do I do?

I put strips of double-stick (sticky on both sides) tape on the scratch-prone areas of the couches. It truly works to keep our cats from scratching. I suppose you can put the tape on your dining chairs also; or put the chairs in another room and close the door.

I always cover the furniture with sheets so our couch isn't coated in fur when we return.

One of our cats vomits a lot, so I always make sure my laptop is in another room.

Maybe ask the pet sitter to close the blinds in the evenings, and open them when she returns in the morning.

Like PPs above, we put out an extra litter box, even if we have somebody coming to scoop it while we're gone. I also agree with PP that if you confine your cats to one room, they might go nuts scratching at the door to get out (mine would).

Leave toys out for them to play with. My vet tech friend always warns against leaving hair ties out (my cat's favorite toys!) because they can ingest them (also any other tiny cat toys). But little balls to bat around, and paper grocery bags and a cardboard box to jump in and out of are fun.

But don't worry too much, having a sitter come twice a day is great.

[Anonymous]

thank you all!!

[Anonymous]

this sounds dangerous - can you board them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:this sounds dangerous - can you board them?

I think most cats would be far happier in their own homes. OP has a sitter coming twice a day, so long as basic precautions are taken, I don't think it sounds dangerous.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Yes, pet sitter will be coming in twice a day. Based on the way they are, I think they will be happy in the house. Boarding will freak them out.

OK, another question. Should I keep the heater on when I am gone at 70?