How Do I Kitten-Proof My Home?

How to kitten-proof your home, according to the ASPCA: view each room from a kitten's height, on your hands and knees. Pick up hair ties, rubber bands and plastic bags, bind cords, close cabinets and move medicines, cleaners and lilies out of reach.

Cornell's Feline Health Center adds high places to the list, and veterinary research adds open windows. Doing the rounds before your kitten arrives means the first weeks can be about settling in.

Where do I start?

The ASPCA's first tip is to get down low and look at the room from the perspective of a tiny four-legged explorer. It names game pieces, hair ties, rubber bands, coins and plastic bags as small things a young pet might swallow.

Kittens also love warm, hidden spots. The ASPCA names cabinets, dryers, laundry baskets and dresser drawers as favorites, so it is worth checking the dryer and drawers before you close or start them.

Plan to do this more than once. The ASPCA points out that as a young pet grows and can reach countertops and tables, hazards need to move higher. Our new kitten checklist covers the supplies to have ready on day one.

Why are string, thread and hair ties such a big deal?

Merck's veterinary manual explains that cats are more likely than dogs to develop an intestinal blockage from a "linear" foreign body. They usually swallow string, yarn or dental floss while playing with it.

The detail that makes it dangerous: Merck says the string can become anchored at the base of the tongue. Cornell's Feline Health Center describes tinsel caught this way acting "like a piano wire" as the cat digests, until it perforates the intestines.

That is also why Merck is firm that a string in a cat's mouth must never be pulled. It may be embedded in tissue, and pulling could perforate the gut. Leave it, and call your vet.

Around the house, that means:

• putting away sewing thread, yarn, ribbon and craft supplies
• keeping dental floss and cotton balls in a closed bin, which the ASPCA says can cause blockages
• choosing toys without small pieces or strand-like parts, as Cornell advises, since feathers and string can separate when chewed
• skipping long ribbon ties under the tree, as Cornell suggests

The holidays add tinsel and ornaments. Our guide on how to cat-proof a Christmas tree covers them.

What about cords, blinds and the laundry room?

The ASPCA calls electrical cords the most dangerous cords for pets, because chewing them can cause electrocution. It adds blind cords, curtain tie-backs and long strings to the list, and suggests trimming or binding them.

Cornell recommends tying cords up or running them through a heavy plastic cord protector, sold at hardware stores.

The ASPCA notes that pets often grab dryer sheets and run, and that laundry detergent pods are "a quick gulp away" from vomiting and possible aspiration (breathing liquid into the lungs). Keep both in a closed cabinet.

Which plants and household products are toxic to kittens?

Lilies come first. The ASPCA warns they can cause life-threatening kidney injury in cats, and that every part of the plant is dangerous, pollen included. That covers true lilies (Easter, Oriental and Japanese) and daylilies.

Cornell says lilies can cause life-threatening kidney failure if eaten even in tiny amounts. The simplest choice is to keep them out of a home with a cat. Cornell's list of other plants to avoid includes poinsettias, mistletoe, holly, tulips, foxglove, philodendron, amaryllis and hydrangeas.

Our article on holiday plants toxic to cats goes through the seasonal ones.

For household chemicals, Cornell's advice is to keep them where cats can't reach and to clean up spills promptly. Its list includes insecticides, rodenticides, fertilizers, snail bait, antifreeze, paint thinner, pool chemicals, bleach, detergents and disinfectants.

If your kitten can open a cabinet, the ASPCA suggests child-proof locks. Cabinets often hold medications, cleaners, trash and mouse poison all in one place.

Which medicines are dangerous for cats?

Ordinary pain relievers are among the worst. The ASPCA says ibuprofen and naproxen can be quite toxic to cats, and that acetaminophen damages red blood cells so they can't carry oxygen normally. The FDA puts it bluntly: acetaminophen is fatal to cats.

The ASPCA notes that nightstands and low tables are not safe places to store medication. A pill dropped on the floor is within reach of a kitten.

Flea products need care in a home with dogs. The FDA warns that flea and tick products for dogs can be dangerous, or possibly life-threatening, if used on cats. Cornell adds that cats must not be allowed to touch a treated dog for 24 hours.

The ASPCA also flags toothpaste and mouthwash, which can contain xylitol, as bathroom items to put away.

Do I need to worry about windows and high places?

Yes. Falls from windows and balconies, called high-rise syndrome, are one of the most common causes of injury in cats, according to a 2025 study in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery.

The researchers reviewed 1,125 cases at a Berlin veterinary clinic. The average cat was just 2.3 years old, 77% of falls happened in summer, and 62.1% happened at night. The authors point to window and balcony barriers to reduce these accidents.

Indoors, Cornell's advice for play areas is to make sure there is nowhere a cat can fall and be injured, and to keep heavy objects that could tip over away from where your kitten plays.

Call your vet promptly if your kitten:

• has eaten, chewed or licked any part of a lily, or has lily pollen on their fur
• has string, thread or tinsel hanging from the mouth. Don't pull it
• may have swallowed a hair tie, ribbon, floss or a small toy part
• has chewed an electrical cord
• has got into medication, a dog flea product or a cleaning product
• has fallen from a height, even if they seem fine
• shows any of the poisoning signs Cornell lists, such as vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, lethargy, loss of appetite or difficulty breathing

Cornell warns that by the time an owner recognizes a problem, a cat may already be at significant risk, and advises against inducing vomiting unless you are told to. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is at (888) 426-4435.

Questions new kitten parents ask

Should I kitten-proof before bringing my kitten home?

Yes. The ASPCA advises having everything you need before your pet comes home, and Cornell says the same about basic supplies such as a litter box and food.

Is it safe for my kitten to play with string?

Only with you watching, and put it away afterward. Merck notes that cats usually swallow string, yarn or floss while playing with it, and Cornell advises against toys with strand-like parts.

Are baby gates useful for kittens?

The ASPCA suggests baby gates to keep young pets out of trouble zones, such as the laundry room or a room you haven't checked yet.

Should a new kitten be kept apart from my other cats?

Cornell advises that any new cat should see a vet as soon as possible. If its health history is unknown, keep it separate from your other cats until your vet has examined it.

Sources

• ASPCA: Top 5 Ways to Prep Your Home for a Puppy or Kitten
• ASPCA: Dangers Lurking in Every Room of Your Home: An In-Depth Look
• ASPCA: These Harmful Feline Hazards Could Be in Your Home, 2025
• Cornell Feline Health Center: Common Cat Hazards
• Cornell Feline Health Center: Safe Toys and Gifts
• Cornell Feline Health Center: Beware Holiday Hazards
• Cornell Feline Health Center: Choosing and Caring for Your New Cat
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Gastrointestinal Obstruction in Small Animals
• FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine: Potentially Dangerous Items for Your Pet
• Candela Andrade M, Slunsky P, Nerlich A, et al. High-rise syndrome in cats (part 1): epidemiology and risk factors. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 2025

This article is for general information and is not veterinary advice. Talk to your vet about your own cat — they know the animal in front of them.

Choolip products are food supplements, not medicine. They are not intended to diagnose or manage any medical condition. If your cat has been diagnosed with a condition, their diet should be set by your vet.