Kitten-Proofing Your Home: A Guide to Keeping Your Feline Friend Safe

Introduction
Bringing a new kitten into your home is an exciting and joyful experience. These tiny furballs bring warmth and companionship into our lives, but they also come with a mischievous streak that can lead them into trouble. To ensure your new family member is safe and happy, it's essential to kitten-proof your home. In this blog, we'll guide you through the process of making your home a safe and welcoming environment for your curious kitten.

When you first bring your kitten home, consider gradually introducing them to your space by allowing them access to your space over time.  If they are a bit fearful, use a room that is less traveled so they can get used to the sounds and smells of your home.  Go in to visit often, even if it is just to sit in the room while they hide.  Once your kitten is done hiding, you can allow them into a room that you spend a great deal of time in, this will help them bond with you as they will learn that you are a safe human.  Once they have learned to trust you, you can let them into the rest of your home, though you might want to start with supervised exploration if they are extremely curious or you haven’t finished the kitten proofing listed below.  

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1. Remove Hazardous Items
Kittens are natural explorers and may chew on or swallow things they shouldn't. Begin by identifying and removing any potential hazards, especially those they may swallow or that are toxic. Small objects, like rubber bands, hair ties, and string should be removed to prevent your kitten from ingesting them, potentially leading to dangerous blockages. Toxic plants are another concern.  Kittens will often chew on plants and eat the pieces they bite off.  Some common houseplants are incredibly toxic to our fur friends and should be removed.  Others will cause our pet discomfort or pain, and unlike humans, most won’t figure out that the plant they ate is what led to the tummy ache.  Learn more about the most common and dangerous plants in our toxic plant blog here.  Chemicals are another concern, kittens and cats will lick many things, even if we don’t think they would taste good, so take a moment and ensure that no chemicals are available for them to eat (the most common issues are with bug or rodent killers and cleaners).

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2. Cord Management
Kittens love to play with strings and cords, but they can pose serious dangers. Ensure electrical cords are out of reach or encased in protective covers. This prevents your kitten from chewing or accidentally pulling on them, avoiding electrical shocks and hazards as well as damage to your electronics.
3. Secure Cabinets and Drawers
Kittens are known for their knack for finding hidden treasures in cabinets and drawers. Be prepared to invest in childproof locks to keep curious paws out of places they shouldn't be if you end up with a kitten who opens cabinets. This also helps avoid accidents or getting them stuck.  While these are not necessary for all cats, there are a few who will need the additional deterrence.

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4. Cover Trash Bins
Kittens are experts in rummaging through trash. To avoid messes and potential ingestion of harmful substances, keep your trash cans securely covered or behind a closed door.
5. Anchor Heavy Furniture
Kittens love to climb and jump on furniture. To prevent accidents, anchor heavy items like bookshelves and TVs to the wall. This also keeps your kitten from knocking over expensive electronics.  Most furniture comes with wall anchors for toddler protection, these devices work for kitten proofing as well.
6. Provide Safe Toys and Scratching Posts
Kittens need mental and physical stimulation. Offer a variety of safe toys, scratching posts, and interactive playtime to keep your furry friend entertained and prevent them from seeking entertainment in potentially hazardous ways.  Consider rotating toys every couple weeks, this will help your cat remain mentally stimulated with the removal and reintroduction of different toys.

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4. Cover Trash Bins
Kittens are experts in rummaging through trash. To avoid messes and potential ingestion of harmful substances, keep your trash cans securely covered or behind a closed door.
5. Anchor Heavy Furniture
Kittens love to climb and jump on furniture. To prevent accidents, anchor heavy items like bookshelves and TVs to the wall. This also keeps your kitten from knocking over expensive electronics.  Most furniture comes with wall anchors for toddler protection, these devices work for kitten proofing as well.
6. Provide Safe Toys and Scratching Posts
Kittens need mental and physical stimulation. Offer a variety of safe toys, scratching posts, and interactive playtime to keep your furry friend entertained and prevent them from seeking entertainment in potentially hazardous ways.  Consider rotating toys every couple weeks, this will help your cat remain mentally stimulated with the removal and reintroduction of different toys.

Written by: Ashley Neutgens
Edited by: Heather Mains