how to cat-proof your house

Help keep your cat or kitten safe from household hazards.

Before you bring a cat home, take a good look at your house and try to imagine it from a cat’s-eye point of view. Dangling cords? Pretty house plants? Family heirlooms up on a shelf? All of these can create a potential hazard for your cat. Here’s a quick checklist on how to prep your home so you can help your kittyBAE — and you and your stuff —be just a little bit more safe and sound.

white cat scratching tan couch illustration

Cats often land on their feet — but not always! Don’t assume that all heights in (or on, or around) your home are OK for your cat. Kitties do sometimes fall, and they can hurt themselves even at short distances.

What things are dangerous for my cat or kitten?

Kittens and cats are active and curious little beasts. Your best approach is to know the dangers, try to make your home safer for your cat, and to have your vet information and emergency vet hospital numbers close by (just in case).

Here are a few easy lists of common hazards to help you prep in advance.

Common household dangers for cats

Electrical cords, chargers, and curtain cords. Cats can get a shock from chewing on electric cord coverings, or get tangled in curtain cord loops when they play. Make sure to tie cords down, use cord protectors, or simply keep cords tucked away out of reach.
Open windows or doors. Even cats that have been inside their entire lives may find an open window or door a tempting escape. Keep doors closed. Make sure your windows have secure, undamaged screens to keep your cat inside.
Windows with shallow sills. Cats like to perch on windowsills and watch the action. If your sill isn’t deep enough for a kitty butt, try adding a wider shelf to help keep them from falling.
Tippy objects like TVs, video equipment, lamps, vases, artwork, and so on. Make sure these items are securely fastened onto walls, inside cabinets, or out of reach. You don’t want anything to come crashing down on your jumping cat — or you!
Washing machines or clothes dryers. Keep both washer and dryer lids firmly closed to keep your cat from taking a nap inside. And check every time before you start a load. Even a few moments in a washer or dryer cycle can seriously injure or even kill your cat.
Cabinet doors, trash cans, wastebaskets, and recycling and compost bins. Use very tight lids or childproof locks if you can. Your kitty can easily get trapped inside a bin, eat something dangerous, or encounter hazardous materials.
Toilets with the lid or seat up. Yes, cats can slip and fall in, and little kittens might even drown. Plus, avoid leaving toilet cleaners or cakes in the water. You don’t want your cat to accidentally drink cleaner or try to lick it off their fur if they take an unexpected bath.
Stovetops and open flames. Teach your cat to stay off countertops. It’s not unknown for kitties to walk across a hot burner (ouch!) or get singed hair or whiskers from an unprotected candle.
Paper shredders and other office equipment. Keep office items turned off when not in use. Cats can easily flick tails or stick a curious paw into a shredder with tragic results.

Watch out for small household items that may hurt your cat

Sewing and knitting materials like thread, wool, and needles. Cats like to play and chew on dangling or swinging threads, and may accidentally eat fibers or needles that can cause internal damage.
Rubber bands, paper clips, thumbtacks, screws, and so on. Cats get a lot of fun out of batting small bits around. Unfortunately, swallowing them can cause choking or internal damage.
Glass, porcelain, and other delicate objects. Anything that shatters can hurt your cat. Even if the object doesn’t actually fall on them, they may accidentally eat or step on tiny shards.

Know some common poison hazards for cats

Human and animal medications. Keep all prescription, over-the-counter, or recreational medications and natural supplements strictly out of reach. Even a tiny taste of some of these substances can kill your cat.
Essential oils and mothballs. Mothballs can be lethal. Keep them stored safely away from your pet.
Household cleaners, garage and car chemicals, pesticides, and de-icers. Common household chemicals can hurt or kill your kittyBAE. Keep them out of reach.
Poisonous plants. The list of plants toxic for cats includes many common potted household varieties like lilies, philodendrons, rhododendrons, and more. Evaluate your household plants and remove the ones that may be toxic, or place them strictly out of reach.

See more about poison risks for cats

Special safety precautions for kittens

Kittens sleep and play — a lot. Instead of opening up your entire house, or letting them outside, give them a safe room to start. Make sure there’s nothing they can get into or knock over as they get used to their new home. Kitty toys shouldn’t have small parts that they might detach and swallow. And, as always, make sure they have kitten food, clean water, a soft place to sleep, and clean kitty litter nearby.

See more about what you need for kittens

How can you manage cat allergies?

Part of cat-proofing your house includes making sure that humans feel comfortable and safe too. If you’re allergic to cat dander, or you have house guests who are, there are a few ways to help.

First, it’s important to know that your allergies aren’t caused by flaky cat dandruff or the hair itself. Instead, they’re a reaction to microscopic proteins in cat saliva. When a cat licks these proteins onto their fur, it dries and fluffs off into the air. This means that to battle dander you must be vigilant about cleaning up cat hair.

Your first step is to tackle furniture and surfaces. Vacuum, dust (with a damp cloth), and mop any surface where fur may gather. If you can, clean non-furniture items like coats, sweaters, and blankets, or run them through the drier on a non-heated setting to beat out and catch the hair.

You can also try removing dander from the air. Use special fine-particle filters in your HVAC system, and make sure to replace them regularly. Have the air vents in your home professionally cleaned, or place portable HEPA air filters in strategic locations throughout your home.

How Banfield can help

Your veterinary team is always here to advise you on helping your kittyBAE to stay healthy and happy. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Make an appointment