The day you get your kitten can be incredibly exciting and a little overwhelming. Kittens are incredibly curious and explorative little creatures. Kitten-proofing your home can help ensure that your pet stays safe. Doing so before they come home is vital.
Benefits of Making a Home Kitten-Proof
You don’t want to have to confine your kitten to a small area. You want to be able to give them free rein in your home. By kitten-proofing every room in your house, you are providing your pet with a safe space to play and live.
Kitten-proofing your home can also help give you peace of mind when it comes to the safety of your pet. You can even help avoid unnecessary and expensive trips to the veterinarian.
A kitten needs mental stimulation to thrive. By giving them a large area to explore, you are helping them develop normally and grow into a healthy and happy cat.
Top 12 Ways to Kitten-Proof a Room
Much like baby-proofing a home, kitten-proofing your home will require you to think like a kitten and get down on their level. Kittens have a completely different viewpoint from you down on the ground. Don’t just consider the ground, though! Kittens are excellent jumpers and climbers and will quickly explore your home vertically. Here are some great steps to take to make each room in your home kitten-proof.
1. Remove obvious hazards
Begin by looking around each room from down on the floor and from standing up. Does anything hazardous stand out to you? Are there items that may become broken if a curious kitten were to knock them over? Secure breakable items away from the reach of your kitten.
2. Dispose of small items that can be swallowed
Kittens love to put things in their mouth and will swallow items if able to. Keep your floors clean of small items such as rubber bands, hair ties, string, or ribbon.
3. Consider the plants
Do you have plants in your home? Research each type to see if they are poisonous to cats, and remove any poisonous ones from your home. To be safe, keep all other plants away from your kitten’s reach. Kittens love to chew on leaves and can become sick from the plant and can also cause damage to your plants.
4. Store all human food
Keep all food secured, and be sure to cover any food that is left out. Chocolate can be toxic to cats, so be sure to keep this in mind when storing your treats.
5. Kitty-proof the bathroom
Keep your toilet lid closed so that the kitten does not fall in or drink the water. Be sure to remind guests to your house to also close the lid.
6. Mind the trash
Kittens can knock over and get into trash cans. Invest in a trash can with a lid to prevent your kitten from spreading trash across your home and to keep them away from any hazardous items.
7. Secure your windows
Fold and secure any window blind cords. Your kitten will be attracted to the strings if left unsecured and can become tangled in them and strangle themselves. Likewise, ensure that the windows are closed and that they have no access to a balcony or any area where they might fall off.
8. Check your appliances
Always keep the doors to your washer and dryer closed. Kittens like small enclosed spaces, especially if they are warm. Double-check your washer and dryer before each use to ensure your kitten has not taken residence up inside them.
9. Keep cleaning supplies in a safe place
Keep all cleaning supplies safely put away in a cabinet. Many cleaning supplies can be toxic to cats if ingested or inhaled. To be extra safe, consider purchasing child-proof locks to secure the cabinet doors. A small paw can easily slip behind a cabinet door and open it.
10. Declutter your computer cables
Secure all computer or other electrical cords with a cord cover so that the kitten does not chew on or become tangled in them.
11. Eliminate fire hazards
Keep candles and other fire hazards out of reach. A kitten can easily knock over a candle and cause a fire.
12. Keep medications and cosmetics safely out of reach
Put away all medications and cosmetics. Kittens can find a prescription bottle, a fun item to knock around, and can ingest the medication if the bottle opens. Cosmetics can also become dangerous to kittens if ingested.
How to Make Your Home Kitten-Friendly
Kitten-proofing your home should also include making your home kitten-friendly. You want your kitten to have adequate mental stimulation and to play with and focus on appropriate objects.
If you want to avoid having your kitten scratch up your rugs and furniture, you need to provide cat scratchers in your home and reward your kitten with treats and praise for using them.
You should also provide cat trees and shelves for your kitten to climb on. This will help them be able to explore your home vertically without needing to climb your shelves or countertops.
Be sure to purchase toys for your kitten to play with. Balls and fake mice will allow the kittens to play appropriately and entertain themselves. This will help keep them out of trouble around your home.
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Conclusion
While kitten-proofing each room in your home, keep in mind that kittens love to play and explore. They will bat around anything within reach. Climbing and pouncing are also their favorite pastimes. If you are patient with your kitten-proofing, you will be happier in the long run, and you will help keep your kitten safe and happy.
- Related Read: Best Cat-Proof Trash Cans Reviews & Top Picks
Featured Image Credit: OlenaPalaguta, Shutterstock
