Cat Curiosity Can Cause Trouble

My husband Marty and I are owned by Dr. Hush Puppy and Sir Hubble Pinkerton, two extremely curious Oriental Shorthair kitties. There is no box or bag that isn't jumped into or thoroughly sniffed by these cats in order to check them out the moment they are opened.  And what makes these investigations even more extreme is recently both of them have learned a new trick of opening all the cabinet doors under the extensive wrap-around countertops in the kitchen.

We are frequently awakened in the middle of the night by the sound of the doors banging loudly, as they work in tandem to keep them open so they can explore what possible treasures may be stored away. After all, with their incredible intelligence and powers of observation, nothing gets by them; they always notice me storing any cat toys or treats which are kept for easy access for use during playtime. Sir Hubble Pinkerton once got himself into the cabinet, but somehow forgot how to push the door open, resulting in a solo aria of loud mewsic, to which thankfully Marty was home and could respond to release him.

Cats seem to be inordinately attracted to cave- like structures that are not well lit. Closets and open dresser drawers are totally magnetic to them. Years ago we had a kitty that took delight in crawling into them, totally unobserved, and flattening her body sufficiently to be able to weave her way through the folded sweaters and underwear just to find that purrfect place in which to catch a nap. And many were the times that Marty and I were summoned into the bedroom to rescue her if she couldn’t easily find her way out.

And while their antics can be delightful and amusing, at the same time, the expression “curiosity killed the cat” can regretfully be frighteningly prophetic, since cats can get into real trouble when on an exploratory mission.

For instance; leaving the clothes dryer open is asking for trouble. An open door can present a huge attraction to a bored kitty eager to play, and who may just find a cozy spot way in the back of the machine, hidden from view, resulting in a tragic accident if wet laundry is loaded and the dryer turned on.  And if the dishwasher door is left open and left unsupervised for just a few minutes . . . well, I don’t think I have to go into detail about that potential disaster.

So it is definitely worth the ounce of caution to prevent a pound of trouble when it comes to feline safety around the home.  Do make sure that those potentially dangerous “caves” in which kitty may hide are securely closed when not in use. 

What precautions do you take to keep your cats safe?  Leave a comment and share them.