New pet owner's guide: How to kitten-proof a house

If you’re adopting a kitten, it’s wise to kitten-proof your house beforehand. Kittens are very active and curious, and can easily get into trouble where they’re not supposed to. To prevent messes, protect your furniture and ensure the safety of your new furry friend, take the following steps to prepare your living space.

Kitten-proof your furniture

Kittens love to climb anything they can, which means every piece of furniture in your home is a potential plaything. They also love to scratch to stretch their muscles and strengthen their claws, which can definitely pose problems for more delicate surfaces.

Some things you can do to protect your furniture from kitten damage include:

• Providing plenty of alternative structures to climb and claw, such as a cat tree or scratching post.
• Block off potential jumping surfaces with heavy objects like books.
• Trim your kitten’s claws regularly to keep them blunt.

Clean floors & surfaces

To a kitten, practically everything is a potential toy or potential snack. This means it’s crucial to deep clean your home before bringing home a feline friend. Pay special attention to keeping floors clear of tiny objects, pieces of trash, food scraps and environmental debris that could make your kitten sick if ingested.

Check small spaces

As much as kittens love to jump, run and climb, they also like to wiggle into small spaces. Unfortunately, this can often result in them getting stuck in places where they shouldn’t be. Block off any nooks and crannies you notice, especially those with loose electrical cords. 

Create a kitten safe room

When introducing a new kitten into your home, it’s important to establish a safe, quiet space for them to become acclimated to the new environment. Typically, this means keeping the kitty confined to a single room where they have all the necessary amenities: food, water, litter box and things to play with.

Continue to socialize with your kitten in the safe room before gradually allowing them access to the rest of the home. If you have other pets, this step will help them become familiar with the new kitten at a slow pace.

Are you ready to start kitten-proofing your home? These basic tips will help your new pet have a smooth transition into your new home, while also preventing common mishaps.