How to Kitten-Proof Your House

By: Kelli Rascoe

Once your new kitten is home, there’s so much for them to explore! Whether they’re roaming their new space or finding new ways to entertain themselves, a kitten’s curiosity may get the best of them. Because of this, you want to make sure your environment is safe. If you’ve never owned a kitten, you might not know the benefits of keeping your home cat-friendly. For this reason, we sat down with Trupanion veterinarian Caroline Wilde to learn more about how to kitten-proof your house and tips to help keep your kitten accident-free.

A small grey kitten plays with a ball of yarn

What is kitten-proofing?

You have a new kitten, so now what? You want your kitten to get to know their new home, but also want to make sure they are safe. You might want to consider kitten-proofing for the ultimate cat-friendly oasis. “Kitten-proofing is getting all items that a kitten might want to scratch, eat, or destroy out of reach,” says Wilde.

Consider going room by room and collecting items, or putting items away in cabinets. After all, kittens can climb and may to jump on an open shelf or bookcase. Don’t forget items like wires and cables, which might be easily missed.

Also, map out where you want your cat to play freely and move items as needed. Further, if you create a check-list you’re more likely not to miss something. After all, you don’t want anything hazardous around when you bring them home. For more on household pet hazards, read here.

The benefits of kitten-proofing your house

You want to be able to give your kitten the freedom to enjoy their new home. For this reason, kitten-proofing gives you the ability to let your kitten play in a safe space. “Kittens are very curious. They will play, chew, or swallow almost anything that can fit in their mouth. You want to make sure that everything is contained and put away,” states Wilde.

Further, kitten-proofing is beneficial for your kitten and the entire family. It gives you peace of mind and may help you avoid any unplanned trips to the veterinarian.

Kittens grow and develop so quickly. You can give them the opportunity to play and interact in a safe and inviting space, which provides your kitten emotional, physical, and mental stimulation.

A grey kitten walks while sticking his tongue out

Tips for successful kitten-proofing

Kitten-proofing may take time, so start small. If you’re ready to start kitten-proofing, consider these essential tips from Wilde below:

Keep all plants out of reach.
Check with your veterinarian to make sure the plants in your home are not toxic.
The potential toxicity of plants can range from stomach upset, ulcers, irritation of the mouth, and kidney failure.
If your plant has leaves, your kitten may want to chew it.
If there are any loose items in the home, like a button or coins, your kitten may want to play with it and potentially swallow it.
Be mindful if you drop things on the floor, and try to pick up before your kitten discovers it.
Many cats have been treated for ingesting items like hair ties and earrings.

Common small items are important to be mindful of, as they might easily disappear. Also, decide which rooms you want your kitten to be able to roam freely. Naturally, you want your cat to be able to go wherever they like, so consider adding a space just for them. For example, a cat tree, cat ladder, scratching post, and ‘catio’ are just a few items to add to your home.