You already know to keep the doors of the washing machine and dryer closed unless you are putting in or taking out clothes. Cats have gone in and died when people, unaware, have turned on those appliances while their pets were snuggling inside. (For the same reason, litter boxes should not be kept in the laundry room. It’s better to keep your cat away from temptation.) But there are other household items that pose dangers for cats, too. Here’s a rundown.
1. Paper shredders. Cats like nothing better than a warm surface, like the top of a paper shredder always left in the “on” or “auto” position. The result: there have been reports of the tails, ears, feet, and even the tongues of cats getting caught in a shredder’s teeth. A long-haired cat is at particular risk; it’s all too easy for his hair to get pulled into the machine.
Keep your shredder under your desk, where your cat is less likely to come upon it. Better still, keep it unplugged when you’re not using it. Cats can turn a paper shredder from off to on when they walk across it — it’s not a heavy push.
2. Ironing boards. There’s often something rickety about an ironing board; it can be prone to tipping over. Combine that with a wire connected to a hot iron on top of the board, and you can imagine the harm that can ensue if a cat decides to find the wire interesting. A cat can even bypass the wire and jump up onto the ironing board. Feline house pets can easily clear a 5-foot hurdle.
For these reasons, don’t walk away from an ironing board that you have opened, even if you’re waiting for the water in the iron to heat up — or cool down. There’s just too much opportunity for your cat to burn herself or suffer blunt trauma from the iron or the board itself toppling down on her.
3. Needle and thread. Needles that can pierce the skin might be all too interesting to a 
cat. So might any version of string, like thread. Cats who swallow thread and other stringy objects (such as rubber bands) sometimes end up with intestinal obstructions that require surgical removal.
4. Liquid potpourri. Liquid potpourri, also known as home fragrance oil, emits its scent via heat as the liquid evaporates. But if a cat finds it interesting to lick while it’s hot, it can burn her tongue, and perhaps even her esophagus. High heat and cats don’t go together in general. Candles, stove tops that are still hot several minutes after you’ve cooked something, portable heaters — they are all burn hazards for your pet.
5. Recliners. Recliners sure are comfy — but not for your cat if she’s under one that is about to be stretched open or rocked. She could be crushed under it. Make sure your cat is not under the back of the chair before you — literally — kick back.
6. Dry cleaning bags and other plastic bags. A cat’s face can become stuck in a plastic bag, making it difficult to breathe with the material plastered to her nose and mouth. Make sure to keep any plastic bags, including those you use to gather fruits and vegetables in the supermarket, out of your pet’s reach.
