Once you’ve decided which kitten is the one for you, you ought to prepare your home in the best way possible to welcome the newest family member. A new kitten is about to grace your home with their mischievous charm and infectious purrs, and you need to be prepared for the whirlwind adventure that awaits you, your house, and (possibly) your other family members (humans or not).
From identifying and eliminating potential hazards to getting all the essentials your kitty needs to live life to the fullest, embark on this journey and make this transition as smooth as your kitten’s ability to push things to the floor.
Removing Potential Hazards
Cats are curious animals and love to explore their surroundings by playing with anything that moves, climbing to places you never thought were possible climbing spots, and putting things in their mouths as if they’re a world-known food critic.
But we bet that you have already heard the saying, “Curiosity killed the cat.” As some potentially dangerous objects may be lying around your house and can pose a risk to your kitty’s safety and health, identifying and eliminating them before your kitten even notices them is the best way to ensure they stay safe and sound.
Here are ten of the most dangerous objects in a household for a new kitten:
Electrical Cords and Cables
Kittens may see dangling cords as enticing toys and can chew on them and scratch them, leading to electric shocks and other injuries. You can protect them by keeping cords out of reach or using cord protectors to avert their curiosity.
Toxic Plants
Some plants are poisonous to cats if ingested or chewed on. As a cat parent, you need to know which plants to avoid if you are taking a new kitten home.
Here are some examples of common plants that are toxic to cats and that should be removed from your household as soon as possible:
- Lilies
- Autumn Crocus
- Sago Palm
- Asparagus Fern
- Tulip and Hyacinth
- Philodendron
- Dieffenbachia
- Azalea and Rhododendron
- Kalanchoe
- Daffodils
Besides these, there is an exhaustive never-ending list of other toxic plants that can pose a threat to your kitten. As such, it’s easier if you go the other way around and opt for pet-friendly alternatives such as:
- Spider plants
- Succulents
- Money Tree
- Sunflowers
- Petunias
Cleaning Products
Think of your baby cat as a baby human. Despite not having opposable thumbs, you have to get rid of anything they may think it’s fun to ingest, like chemical cleaners, detergents, and disinfectants. These are not only toxic to humans but also to kittens. As such, store these products securely in closed cabinets or areas inaccessible to your curious feline friend.
Medications
Just like chemical products, prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, and supplements should be safely stored in cabinets or drawers out of your kitten's reach. Even a small amount of these medications can have serious consequences for them.
And do the same with veterinarian-prescribed medications. Your kitten doesn’t know the appropriate dosage and may consume them like a yummy meal.
Human Food
Don’t be fooled by those “Puss in Boots” eyes when it’s human meal time. Your kitten may adorably ask you for some food, but you have to keep in mind that some human foods can be toxic to cats. Among these can be:
- Chocolate
- Caffeine
- Onions
- Grapes
- Alcohol
Again, ensure you securely keep all human food away from your kitten. Out of sight, out of mind!
Plastic Bags and Wrappers
Plastic bags and wrappers make crinkling sounds, which are known to be enticing to cats of all ages, including your kitten. However, as they pose a suffocation risk if chewed or played with, keep them stored away or dispose of them properly.
Open Windows and Balconies
As mentioned earlier, kittens love to climb (as in, if there were Olympic games for pets, they would win all the gold medals for climbing). As such, if they spot an open window or balcony, they’ll try to do what they do best and may fall.
Always keep your windows and balconies closed when your kitten is unsupervised, or get yourself some safety screens/nets to block their way out of your house.
Small Objects
Small objects such as buttons, coins, rubber bands, or children's toys lying around pose a choking hazard for kittens or can keep them all tangled up, possibly causing injuries.
Keep these small items stored away or regularly scan your home to ensure nothing is left within your kitten's reach. Do this thoroughly, as cats are experts in finding objects you thought you had lost ten years ago.
Sharp Objects
If you’re into needlework or if your kitten has access to the kitchen, ensure you keep sharp objects such as knives, scissors, and needles out of reach, as they can be extremely dangerous and cause serious harm.
Unstable Furniture
Windows and balconies are not the only targets of dangerous climbing from kittens. Unstable furniture like wobbly shelves or unsecured appliances can also pose a risk of falling or toppling over. Avoid injuries by securely assembling and anchoring your furniture.
Toilet Bowls
Human toilets are not suitable and can be dangerous for cats, especially when they’re as little as kittens. They can fall in and struggle to get out due to their tiny size and lack of dexterity, risking drowning or injury. If you don’t do that already, toilet lids are to be kept down at all times to avoid a toilet disaster. In addition, if your kitten is way too clever for their own good, you can also use childproof locks to prevent access.
Securing Prized Items
Kittens are adorable but can also be quite the tricksters. Leaving your most prized belongings unsupervised is asking for them to disappear into the wormhole only kittens know about or to be destroyed to pieces. These items include:
Small Valuable Objects
Besides being a choking hazard, small valuable items like rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, coins, and keys can be lost forever - or at least until you move your furniture around to deep-clean your house and find them under the wardrobe or the fridge. Therefore, keep these valuable objects in a kitten-free zone by remembering to store them in appropriate places when they aren’t being used.
Breakables and Fragile Trinkets
If you don’t want to find your grandmother’s prized vase in shattered pieces or your collection of tiny snow globes in shards around the floor, you must keep them out of your kitten’s reach. Either you decide to store them in a glass cabinet, where you can still admire them, or in a box in the storage room until you train your kitten to respect your possessions.
Curtains and Sofas
We all know cats love a good curtain-climbing and sofa-scratching, no matter the age. But when they are kittens and have energy through the roof, you find your curtains and sofa in the poorest shape.
Thus, you can try a few things to avoid this mischievous behavior, such as pulling your curtains up to a height your kitten won’t reach, avoiding curtains altogether (the most drastic measure), using a cover for your sofa, or choosing a scratch-free fabric for your couch (they exist and are a lifesaver).
Additionally, to divert your kitten’s attention away from your curtains and sofa, always include a scratching post where they can sharpen their claws without judgment (but more on that later).
Shopping the Essentials
Kitten-proofing your home doesn’t only mean hiding things or securing your valuables. It also means finding the perfect and safest space for your tiny purring machine inside your home. And as we don’t live in a house without furniture, television or other entertainment devices, or cutlery, your feline friend also needs the feline equivalent of those things to thrive and prosper in their new forever home.
Go on a shopping spree and get all the essentials for your kitten. Here is our suggestion for a shopping list to help you remember everything your little one requires in their early days:
- Bed
- Toys
- Scratchers
- Food and water bowls
- Kitten food and treats
- Litter tray and litter
- Travel carrier
Conclusion
Now that you have discovered how to transform your home into a safe and stimulating haven for your kitten's exploration and growth, it’s time to let them enter those doors and start their new happy life.
With everything in place - and others out of sight - now it’s time for your kitten to find their way around their surroundings and housemates. It’s a whole new world for them and it’s up to you to ease their magic carpet ride when introducing your kitten to their new home.
Moreover, take a sneak peek at all the information you’ll need to know when raising a kitten in our article “Raising A Kitten: A Comprehensive Guide To New Cat Parents.”