b' nding bones or other hazards, so keep rubbish out of claw-reach. Also, be aware that cats are particularly likely to do themselves a mischief by swallowingshhooks that taste or smell ofsh, so these need to be washed thoroughly and packed away.If your pet preference is for feathered friends, safety considerations are quite different. Therst thing to consider may be danger from other pets. Cats have to learn to tolerate and accept a bird, and dogs, too, says Pam Howlett of SPCA Birdwing. Before letting your bird loose in a room, Pam advises considering which things a bird might accidentally knock over. If youre going to have your bird out loose, you need to keep it and your possessions safe, she says. Birds also need shelter from the hot sun, and they should never be kept in a draft, as they can catch a chill.Like dogs, birds may swallow dangerous objects, such as staples, pins or hair clips. Another ingestible danger for birds includes pot plants, some of which can be poisonous. This also applies to cats and dogs, so check with your garden centre or search online for a list of plants that are dangerous to pets at www.vetservice.co.nz.For a bird on the wing, mirrors and windows can spell trouble. You can help them see these as obstacles, not opportunities, by putting up decals, closing the blinds, or removing mirrors. Its also important to check that windows and doors are closed, before you set your bird loose in the house. So often, people lose a pet if someone has inadvertently left a door or window open, Pam says.Owners themselves can be a serious threat to a birds safety. Birds can come up behind you very quietly. Be aware of where they are, because you could turn around and stand on them. Pam says many owners have lost their pets in this way. A birds stealth can also be trouble around closing or sliding doors; be sure you dont accidentally close a door on your unsuspecting pet.Bearing all that in mind, keeping your pet safe seems complex enough, but possible. However, just like a person, your pet could be perfectly safe and totally miserable. Providing for its comfort and stimulation at home is a basic kindness.Lets begin with sleeping quarters. For cats, it really doesnt matter what you do. Cats are very self-reliant, Tracy Dunn says. You can buy all the beds in world, but your cat will still curl up in paper bag. Its a good idea, though, to make sure they can easily come and go, and this is as simple as installing a cat door. Dogs, however, need the security of a well-de ned place of their own. Especially for puppies, we recommend a speci c bed for the dog, in a speci c place in the house. You should teach your dog to go there when told, and that space should be off limits to children, Tracy says. This helps a dog to understand its place in the family, and also gives it room to retreat from noisy kids or other stresses.'