How to protect your cat from harmful household cleaning products

For many years I worried about the cleaning products I was using in my home and how they might affect my cats and other pets – both through inhalation and accidental ingestion. In this article you will discover an easy way to product your cat from these harmful household cleaning products.

We cat lovers know that cats lick their paws and fur as part of their own cleaning regime so I felt very conscious that whatever substance they walked over or leant on would subsequently be ingested!

As a result, I used to spend ages rinsing household surfaces and floors to remove any traces of harsh disinfectant products after I’d finished cleaning, meaning it took twice as long! But that was then…

Protect your cat from harm in the home

Safe4 Professional Cleaning Solution (for domestic use too!)

Whilst working in the cattery, I discovered a range of cleaning products that are widely used across animal care centres and in professional veterinary settings. The products have a lovely fresh smell are non-toxic for pets, and are highly effective at killing viruses and bacteria (including E-Coli, Listeria, MRSA and Salmonella).

“Safe4 disinfectant has been specifically formulated to replace harsh and hazardous cleaning products, commonly used in the professional and domestic environment.

Our range has been extensively tested by independent laboratories and meets all regulatory and accreditation standards. Safe4 concentrate disinfectant is DEFRA approved.”

I then made the obvious choice to start using Safe4 products in my home – which I’ve now been doing for years!   

Cruelty free & environmentally friendly

When I researched further into the benefits of using Safe4 for domestic purposes I was delighted to find that their products had even more benefits!

Manufactured in Britain, they contain no animal ingredients (Vegan Friendly), products are not tested on animals (Cruelty Free) and they minimise environmental damage as products do harm plants, wildlife or sea life.

A range of products

The Safe4 product ranges includes disinfectant sprays, odour killer, hand sanitizer, hand scrub, laundry liquid, surface wipes, alcohol wipes, shampoo and disinfectant (as concentrate).

All of these can be used in a domestic setting, giving you the peace of mind that your pet is safe and you and both protected from harmful viruses, bacteria and fungi.

The Safe4 website provides details of their extensive testing and product efficacies including dilution ratios for concentrated products.

Protect your home, your family & your cat

As most people reading this will be cat owners interested in domestic use, the remainder of this article will look at products likely to be of most interest – the ready to use Disinfectant Spray Cleaner, Odour Killer, Disinfectant Wipes and Alcohol Wipes.

Disinfectant Spray 500ml

This product is ready to use and can be sprayed directly onto hard surfaces without needing to be washed away and fabrics (although a patch test is recommended first!)

Choose from Blue Freshmint, Green Apple (my favourite), Lavender or Odourless.  Fifty pence from the sale of each odourless disinfectant spray goes directly to the Blue Cross Charity, who care for sick, injured and abandoned pets – this gets a big thumbs up from More Purrs!

Safe4 Disinfectant Spray is;

• Non-toxic
• Non-staining
• Non-tainting
• Non-corrosive
• Non-irritant
• Biodegradable
• Doesn’t contain Phenols or Aldehydes
• Neutral PH

and is effective against the following;

VIRUSES including Avian Flu, Canine Parvovirus, Feline Leukaemia Virus, Feline Immunodefiency Virus, Bovine Enterovirus.

BACTERIA including Kennel Cough (Bordetella Bronchiseptica), Campylobacter, Clostridium, Escherericha Coli, Listeria, MRSA, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Salmonella, Typhimurium, Staphylococcus Aureus

FUNGI including Candida Albicans, Ring Worm (Trichophyton spp, Microsporum spp)

Odour Killer Spray 500ml

This product eliminates ALL offensive smells including urine, cigarettes and strong pet odours (including male cat odour).  It works by breaking down the molecules that cause the odour (rather than just replacing one odour with another).

This is really important as pets can often still detect urine odour (even when we can’t) and therefore may still associate the area as a place to urinate.  Removing the scent altogether is more likely to prevent this from happening.

Safe4 Odour Killer Spray is:

• Non-toxic
• Non-staining
• Non-irritant
• Biodegradable
• Do NOT contain Phenols or Aldehydes

You can spray this directly onto worktops, sinks, drains, sewers, kennels, litter trays and, after doing a recommended patch test: bedding, carpets and other fabrics.

Disinfectant Wipes (tub of 200 wipes)

These apple fragranced wipes are a really quick and easy way to wipe down surfaces and protect against all of the viruses, bacteria and germs listed above.

Wipes are even safe to use on your pets’ skin if they are suffering from skin diseases such as Ringworm and Alabama Rot (dogs).

Safe4 Disinfectant Wipes;

• Do NOT contain Phenols or Aldehydes or Alcohol
• Are flushable
• Dispense from a recyclable container (made from second use plastic)
• Biodegradable (wipes and fluid)

70% Alcohol Wipes (pack of 70)

These new alcohol wipes are effective against 99.99% of germs, including Coronavirus, MRSA, Salmonella, E-Coli and Listeria

Ideal for carrying with you, these disinfectant wipes require no water and are residue free.

Are Safe4 products expensive?

No, you can buy a 500ml spray disinfectant online for as little as £3.90 – I usually buy a few bottles in one go to save on postage (and so that I never run out!)

Of course, you can buy much cheaper domestic cleaning products however, many are extremely toxic to pets and hugely detrimental to the environment, including sea life.

The 500ml Odour Killer Spray is available online from £4.68

Again, I feel this is reasonably priced.  As a cat owner I know only too well how distressing and frustrating it can be when unpleasant smells are present in your home.  This product really is effective and a little goes a long way – I’ve had the same bottle now for over a year and still have loads left!

Both of these products (and more!) can be purchased as Concentrate which may be a cheaper option in the long run.  The dilution ratios are all available on the Safe4 website.

Diluted at a ratio of 1:50 Safe4 Disinfectant also kills Coronavirus.

200 Disinfectant Wipes are available online from £11.40 and, having used A LOT of these in the cattery, I can assure you again that a little goes a long way.  These wipes cover large surfaces and do not dry out quickly.

70 Alcohol Wipes can be purchased online for £3.54

Check out the full range of on the Safe4 website

Why More Purrs loves Safe4 products

Feline welfare and wellbeing is at the top of More Purr’s agenda, along with a passion for protecting the environment and living kindly.

Safe4 products provide peace of mind that my home is germ free and my 3 most important assets (2Sox, Buster and Spooks) can safely walk across all surfaces in every room without being at risk from toxic substances (even while I am cleaning!)

Thank you Safe4 – here at More Purrs we salute you!