These are some of the hazards your furry friends can run into when it comes to electricity. A cat’s curiosity leads it to chew on wires, and a dog’s playfulness leads it to play with electric appliances. And just like humans, electricity is dangerous, sometimes lethal, to animals, so other than the injuries that can be caused, you want to avoid affecting the connected appliances in the line.

In this article, you’ll learn the best ways to keep your pets away from electric hazards and what items you should never leave within your pet’s reach.

Training Goes a Long Way

Pets are smart; they can pick up on cues and follow commands. The perfect move would be to warn them and ensure they understand the danger they stand to get if they tamper with the electricity system.

For example, if you notice your cat likes chewing on a power cable, you can hiss at it to get it to stop. In time, the cat will learn it’s unacceptable to chew on cables. Pet owners can also use pet deterrents like dog repellants to keep pets off electric components.

If you find that your pet had damaged an electrical component or appliance, you should call a licensed electrician for repairs. Do not leave exposed wires around your pets.

Physical Barriers

A fence or type of enclosure is one of the most effective ways of protecting pets from dangerous electric components. You can lock up electric panels and heavy-duty appliances behind locked doors. If you have any electric components outside that might cause harm to your pets, consider building a fence that pets can’t penetrate. You can also get in touch with electrical contractors near you to find out the best way to encase electrical components.

Tuck Away Cords and Cables

Pets chewing on electric cords can result in electric shock. And since you won’t always be around to hiss at your cat when they’re chewing on cords, the best thing you can do is keep cords away. You can tuck away dangling cables behind your TV, speakers, or any other entertainment consoles.

If you find it hard to hide all your cords and cables, consider fastening them to the wall. You can use many cable products to clip cords to walls and other surfaces. For example, you can use cable clips, ties, tie mounts, or cord reels to secure cables. The goal is to keep them from tempting your furry friends to play or chew them off. Arvada professional electricians can help you pick out the best cable clips for your electric system.

You can also apply pet deterrents to cables that repel pets when they get near them.

Cover Electrical Outlets

Pets can get quite curious around electric outlets. This presents another risk of electric shock when they stick their tongues in a partially exposed prong. Therefore, you should always make sure electric outlets within reach of your pets are covered.

Electric outlet covers do a great job of keeping pets away from outlets. These devices are designed to encase electrical outlets and thus prevent pets from accidentally coming into contact with live electrical components. You should also make sure that all cord plugs are completely inserted into the wall outlets.

You can consult a licensed electrician to find out which electrical outlet covers to use in your home.

Install GFCI Breaker

Ground-fault circuit Interrupter outlets can detect excess electricity in your system. When the GFCI outlet detects that the electrical current to ground value exceeds a certain point, it cuts off power to prevent electrical shocks.

You want to watch your pets moves and have GFCIs installed in areas where the pets are fond of spending much of their time. Denver electricians can help you install the right GFCI breaker for your electrical system.

Don’t Leave Plugged-In Appliances Unattended

Pet owners are well aware of how destructive pets can be sometimes. They can knock down things, run into appliances, or jump onto lamps. These play sessions are all good when you’re around, but what about when you’re not in the house?

You also don’t want to leave the pets playing in rooms with sensitive appliances alone. If you must be out of the room, ensure, your pets too are not locked in there. Additionally, if you’ll be away for a while, ensure, any sensitive appliances are unplugged and the power cut off.  

Electrical Items You Should Never Leave Within Your Pets Reach

It is important that you lock away, switch off, or unplug the following electric items when not use to protect your pets.

• Lamps
• Heaters
• TVs
• Radios
• Pumps
• Fans 
• Computers

Protect your Pets by Investing in a Good Electrical System | ElectriCall

At ElectriCall, we treat your home and family with respect and care, including your pets. Our team of professional electricians near Denver can help you repair and install electrical features that protect your pets. You can count on us to prevent stray voltages, repair exposed wires, and install surge protectors. 

Reach out to our electricians today and we’ll have your pets a purrfect play space.