Being a pet owner, you must have already been familiar with the term “curiosity killed the cat” which is indeed true because once a cat finds something too fancy they will be scratching their paws onto it for eternity.
Often times their curiosity gets the best of things they are digging into. However, sometimes, those things such as a recliner might not be something they should be playing around with due to a whole host of potential hazards it might pose to its dear life.
In much more profound words, a recliner might serve its purpose for us human beings as an oasis of comfort. But for cats, it is a whole different story. In this article, we are going to find out Why are recliners dangerous for cats and what you should do to keep your beloved pet safe.
How are recliners dangerous for cats?
You might be surprised to know that something so innocent, comfortable, and soft can pose itself as a nemesis towards your beloved pets in ways that you wouldn’t thought were possible. Here are a couple of examples of how recliners are dangerous for cats and other cute animals in your home.
- Human’s Negligence or Oversight
The first and the most obvious instances of recliners posing as a potential hazard are through complex mechanisms with moving parts and spaces underneath. Nowadays, recliners tend to have fancy designs, which attract such curious animals to explore every nook and cranny that is in their nature and they cannot be blamed for being so irresistible towards it.
Nevertheless, if you are an individual who wants to unwind after a long day’s work in your office, you might not notice your cat might be inside or beneath the recliner seat, and simply reclining could be devastating for it.
It is understandable that not everyone has the time to check every spot of a recliner whenever they are sitting on it because not everyone has built up enough muscle memory to go through such an endeavor whenever they are tired, however, if you have pets at home, especially a cat, it should be your duty to be vigilant no matter the circumstances because one way or another accident like these will eventually happen.
- Threat Of Suffocation
Modern recliners with larger crevices to accommodate padding and another inner mechanism can act as a potential hotspot for cats and other similar pets to hide especially if it’s winter because they usually find those spaces cozy. However, keep in mind that the chances of being stuck in such sections of a recliner are way too high because they are usually confined and incredibly complex, making the passage of fresh air almost impossible for the cat causing suffocation due to respiratory distress and claustrophobia if the cat is unable to escape.
On the other hand, even if they could breathe easily, once entrapped, the recliner mechanism could cause stress and strain on their body as cats tend to panic a lot when they are trapped in tight spots, and to make matters worse, they become even more desperate which may cause injuries and trauma to their body.
While this hazard might not be as high as being crushed, nevertheless, if you have a smaller breed, or are living in colder regions, your pet will eventually find its way inside the recliner and in some instances reclining all the way through might not be feasible for its health.
- Potential Electrical Hazards
Modern recliners, often the ones that have fancy gimmicks and other electrical components installed into them such as USB ports, heating mechanism, vibrational nodes, and motors to control the backrest and other parts of the recliner, tend to be powered by electricity, in other words, the whole infrastructure is webbed with tons of cables which are barely visible to eyes.
Cats have a habit of scratching the padding, especially if it irritates them which could expose these wries and even cause electrocution. If not, these wires can also be dangerous to unsuspecting individuals that are sitting on them.
But that’s not even the tip of the iceberg because in some scenarios there have been reports where cats are caught chewing wires of electrical wires causing burns to themselves and even recliners. So god forbid, you are outside and return to your hour completely on fire due to your cat causing your recliner to go haywire.
Nevertheless, in any case, electrical hazards are something you should always be wary of, even if you are confident that your cat will never misbehave.
- General Injuries
Swiveling recliners or adjusting the backrest may scare these cats and cause them to panic and move erratically all over the place, if you are living in an apartment where there are plenty of other things that may harm the cat can pose a threat if it in distress or panic mode.
While this aspect of the recliner is often overlooked, it certainly is undoubtedly one of the biggest major concerns that is dangerous to the health of your beloved pet.
But that is not all, the vibrational effect and the noise of sudden movement of the recliner might trigger traumatic effects which might cause anxiety in your cat causing it to inhibit negative behavior such as excessive grooming, aggression, or litter box issues.
Help your cat feel secure by providing a peaceful atmosphere and plenty of comfy hiding spots like plush cat beds or snuggly blankets. These offer a safe haven when the recliner is in action. If your cat seems extra anxious, consider calming aids like pheromone diffusers or herbal supplements to ease their worries.
Possible Countermeasures To Keep Your Cat Safe
Here are a couple of things you could do to prevent accidental injury to your beloved cat.
1. Inspect Every Spot
There is no bigger danger than showing negligence or showing oversight especially when you have such a delicate pet at home. Before you sit down, Make a habit of checking before you kick back, a few seconds of attention could save your kitty from a scary situation.
Simply make a little noise, like tapping the chair, to alert any snoozing kitties, this will allow them to get out of the chair or even show signs of movement so you can get an idea of whether or not they are hiding inside your chair.
2. Cat-Proofing Your Recliner
If the above-mentioned countermeasure doesn’t seem like your cup of tea or you are simply feeling too lazy to check every now and then, then it is best that you stuff every possible crevice or hole that might provide access for your beloved cat. This might sound a bit too harsh but in a long-term perspective, it could potentially save your cat from being injured. Storage bins or even a strategically placed blanket can deter them from adventuring under there when you’re not around.
3. Training and Alternatives
Cats love cozy and warm spots, At least you could also provide other instances where they could lay or relax which is way safer than your recliner. If you train them enough, they will develop enough instinct to only visit their own personal space because cats love to mark their personal territories and if you assign them, they virtually get accustomed to it.
4. Modern Safety Features
While this might not seem like the best countermeasure in the book, in some instances you could get hands-on recliners that are safe for pets and don’t have exposed mechanisms, cables, or fabric that might attract pets and even have sensors or designs that mitigate the risk to pets. However, the catch here is that these recliners might come with a hefty price tag but then again in the long run, it’s totally worth it if you really want to keep your cat safe at all costs.
5. Wall Huggers
If you cannot find a recliner with safety features that correspond to your pet, it is in your best interest that you invest in wall huggers which is the perfect solution and an alternative to keep your feline safe in situations where you aren’t present in home since it has little to no back clearance since the backrest is usually in close proximity of the wall, so there is no possibility of your cat squeezing behind.
If a wall hugger isn’t feasible for whatever reason that is, use a recliner with opened bases because it allows plenty of airflow and doesn’t have a chance of suffocating your cat even if you lay on it suddenly. On the other hand, they are also pretty slower in movement and don’t make much sound, giving your cat plenty of time to react even if it’s caught in a rough spot.
In other words, anything that provides plenty of line sight and doesn’t have a hotspot or crevice that will give your feline clearance would be more than sufficient.
6. Recliner Separation
Lastly, the biggest surefire method to keep your cat safe is to keep your recliner in a room that is locked or at least isn’t accessible by your cat. Make sure whenever you are leaving the room, you lock the door or at least shut it, so your curious feline cannot tamper with it.
Prevention is better than cure and it completely eliminates the need to check every nook and cranny of your recliner whenever you are sitting on it, moreover, it also provides enough peace of mind that your recliner fabric won’t get damaged if you are away.
What if an Accident Happens?
Even if any sort of accident happens, panicking in this situation wouldn’t do you any good, it is best that you remain calm and take your kitty to the nearest vet so they can assess the situation professionally. Don’t worry not all injuries that correspond to recliners are fatal so hope for the best as they will eventually recover.
Wrap Up
These felines are indeed cute creatures, however, due to their erratic movement, they often pounce around especially whenever they aren’t monitored. A recliner is deemed one of the most dangerous furniture in your home based on a survey because of its moving parts and bulky body which could either hurt your cat severely or put its life in danger altogether.
Nevertheless, if you are planning to keep your recliner in your home, don’t panic, just make sure you follow the tips I have mentioned above and your beloved pet will be safe and secure.
I am a furniture expert with a passion for recliners. With years of experience in the industry, I offer invaluable insights and creative ideas for selecting the perfect recliner to suit any space and your needs.