How to Safety-Proof My Home for a Kitten

Deciding to bring a new kitten home with you for the first time is an exciting decision. With a new pet comes brand new responsibilities, though. Your first step, before your kitten even steps foot in your house, is to make sure your home is a safe haven for your cat. While you may be excited, your kitten may be scared at the change and new location. Pet-proof your home to ensure there won't be any accidents or mishaps.

Instructions

    • 1

      Close off any potential "escape" routes to make sure your kitten stays indoors. Kittens are extremely curious and will find a path outside if one exists. If you're afraid that your family will forget to close off all exits as they pass through, put signs at the exits as reminders. This includes spaces behind washers and dryers where kittens could potentially crawl into the wall.

    • 2

      Keep the lid on your toilet bowl down. Small kittens tend to be attracted to water, but if they lean over too far into the toilet bowl, they could fall in and possibly drown. Any appliance that the kitten could crawl into and get stuck, like your washing machine or dryer, should remain shut at all times as well.

    • 3

      Cover up outlets with plastic stoppers. Kitten like to gnaw on furnishings, and you wouldn't want your new addition to your home to get shocked or hurt by the outlet. Also make sure that wires are out of reach or covered so that your kitten doesn't chew through them.

    • 4

      Relocate medications, chemicals and cleaners to shelves that are high up. Also, latch cabinet doors shut with childproof latches. Close any cabinets that have packaged food inside them too. While the food won't necessarily harm your kitten, the wrapping can.

    • 5

      Store breakable knickknacks and other delicate decorations in a safe place until your kitten is a little bit older. At first, your kitten lack coordination and may knock over items like this.