How To Kitten-Proof Your House

When we first brought home our cat Carson, he was about 10 weeks old, a fluffy little white Cornish Rex kitten. His curly fur made him look like a little lamb. He was so little he couldn’t even navigate his way up the stairs to the second story of our house.

His clumsy yet valiant attempts to climb up those stairs reminded me of the efforts of a baby —and in a way, that’s what he was. A baby cat. And just like a parent would “baby-proof” a house to make sure a toddler would be safe in their house, my kids and I “cat-proofed” our house to make sure Carson — and his feline companion, Evita — would be safe.

We were careful to look for things a kitten (classified as a cat from birth to 6 months old) might want to chew on or swallow, and we carried him up and down the stairs those first few weeks until he could navigate them on his own.

A kitten’s tendency to chew on new objects — and possibly swallow them — makes cat-proofing a priority. I spoke with a few breeders about the topic, and they said a key aspect of cat-proofing your house is to properly stow away (or get rid of) items that could harm your kitten if ingested.

“Treat your kitten like a human infant,” says Trish Perkins, a Savannah breeder from Las Vegas. “Anything they can swallow, they possibly will.”

That means paying particular attention to toys.

“Ensure kitten toys are safe!” Perkins says. “If the toys have strings or feathers attached, play with the kitten and then put the toys away!”

Matt Martin, a Persian breeder in New Mexico, recommends purchasing non-clumping clay cat litter that does not contain any chemicals, because “kittens tend to eat litter.”

And don’t leave out household items that can poison your kitten if ingested.

“Make sure you put away poisonous things like cleansers,” Martin says. “Also, get rid of any poisonous plants, like orchids.”

Here are some other things to look for around your house:

Kitchen Cupboards

Though a young kitten might not be strong enough to pull open a cupboard door, he might sneak inside one that is left open. And an older kitten may figure out how to prop open the doors just enough to climb inside. You can deter this behavior by installing childproof latches on the doors. This becomes especially important if you store cleaning chemicals inside your kitchen cabinets.

Loose String

There’s a reason so many illustrations of cats show them with balls of yarn — cats love dangling string! Make sure your kitten can’t ingest string-like items such as dental floss, fishing wire and sewing thread, and keep your crafting yarn out of reach. If your kitten ingests these items, the string can become impacted in his stomach or intestines, causing blockages and requiring veterinary attention.

The Pulls for Drapes and Window Blinds

These strings hold a similar appeal for kittens — they love to bat at them! Doing so will tangle them, creating a mess for you, but your kitten might also become tangled in the strings, harming or even strangling himself. I keep mine tied up out of reach to prevent problems with my cat, Phillip.

Window Screens

If your kitten likes to sit in the window to view the world outside, it is important that the window screens fit securely. You don’t want your kitten to push against the screen and have it pop out! Not only could your kitten get lost outside, but if the window is upstairs, he could take a serious fall.

Clothes Dryers and Washing Machines

A warm dryer or cozy washing machine is a tempting place for a kitten to curl up for a snug nap. A serious accident could occur if you run the washer or dryer with the kitten inside! Keep the doors to these appliances shut to avoid mishaps.

Burning Candles

When he was a young cat, my Cornish Rex Jordan got too close to a burning candle. He already had short whiskers so he didn’t singe them, but the flame scared him, and he almost knocked the candle onto the floor. To avoid an accident in your home, always carefully supervise burning candles when your kitten is near.

Household Items

Some common household items can be toxic to cats, and kittens may be even more susceptible to poisoning from them because of their smaller size. These items include batteries, mothballs, cigarettes and fabric softener sheets, as well as almost all household cleaners. If it is something you would keep away from a baby or toddler, you should probably make sure your kitten can’t access it either.

Houseplants

As Martin pointed out, some common houseplants are poisonous, including the orchids he mentioned as well as azaleas, Dieffenbachia, lilies and others. If your kitten seems to like chewing on plants, offer her some safe cat grass, and remove the toxic plants from your home.

Table Food

In general, your kitten should be eating a food formulated especially for her growing needs, and not snacks from your dinner table. Human foods that can prove especially harmful to kittens include tomato leaves (and stems), coffee grounds, onions, yeast dough, macadamia nuts and salt. Alcoholic drinks of all types can also cause harm, so make sure you don’t leave your adult beverage where your kitten can sneak a sip.

Medications

Make sure your kitten cannot access any of your medications, or those of any other person in your home. The little pills are so tempting to bat around and maybe swallow! If your kitten does happen to get ahold of one and ingests it, contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control center immediately.

Holiday Hazards

The holiday season presents a new set of cat-proofing challenges. All the festive décor and tasty food may prove irresistible to your kitten! Keep in mind these tips as you prepare to celebrate with your friends and family:

Christmas Tree and Decorations

Those shiny, glittery ornaments look like the best types of cat toys to your kitten. And the sparkly tinsel looks just perfect for nibbling! To prevent mishaps, keep your fragile ornaments near the top of the tree, and wind the garland only on the top branches. Keep in mind that the water in the tree stand can make your kitten ill, so cover the stand or consider using a fake tree.

Holiday Candy

I had to switch from an open candy dish to a glass jar with a twist-on lid when I discovered my cat Phillip sneaking M&Ms; from the dish. Make sure your kitten can’t help himself to your candy treats.

As Martin and Perkins both pointed out, a kitten is like a baby and needs its pet parents — meaning you and me — to keep him safe from harm. Just a few small changes in your household will make your home a safe and inviting place for your new kitten. Enjoy!