✓ Veterinarian Reviewed
Reviewed by Dr Gloria Ebeyer (BAVBS, DVM, Grad Cert SAECC, MANZCVS [Veterinary Practice])
Last reviewed: June 2026
There’s a reason people say cats are liquid.
They're infamous for their ability to fit into small spaces and get into areas you wouldn't expect them to! (Don’t be surprised if you spend 20 minutes searching high and low, only to find them happily tucked inside the tiniest cupboard imaginable.)
Bringing a new kitten or cat home is an incredibly exciting time in the life of a pet parent, but for anyone who hasn’t previously had a cat in their life, it’s important to ensure your home is prepared to cater to your newest four-legged friend.
Whether you’re bringing in a young kitten or an older cat, here's how to identify common items and areas that are a risk to them.
Keep your floors clean
While you might get away with a more relaxed vacuuming routine without a cat, bringing home a kitten means it’s important to stay on top of keeping your floors clean and free from hazards.
Think about how the world looks from the perspective of your kitten.
What seem like small and negligible things to you can be the very things a kitten will be drawn to – these include cables, wires, or any small object your kitten could chew and/or choke on. Also be mindful that they’ll be drawn to different fabrics or things that hang down – tablecloths, window-blind cords, and clothes or scarves hanging in a cupboard.
Rubber bands, ribbons, bits of string, hair ties, small toys, and coins are all serious choking or digestive risks. When you have a kitten (and this also applies to older cats), you should ensure your floor is free of these items.
We also strongly recommend removing cat toys when not in use, as even small parts on these can be hazardous if left unattended.
Close or lock dangerous spots
When you have a kitten, it’s important to understand that they can get into so many nooks and crannies.
Any kitchen cupboards that are close to the ground tend to be fair game for them, as they can often get a claw or two on the edge of a door and swing it open.
For cupboards, we recommend investing in some child-proof locks, while closets and wardrobes should be securely closed if there’s anything in there that could be a risk to them. Be mindful that kittens can be more likely to tear at and even swallow bits of fabric from clothes, especially if it’s something dangling above them that they see as a toy to pull at.
We also recommend keeping your garage off limits, as well as your laundry area (particularly make sure that your washing machines and dryers are sealed closed when not in use) and your bathroom – or, at the very least, keep your toilet lid closed as kittens can slip in. Keep your dishwasher closed too, as a precuation. Any bins should be properly sealed or entirely out of reach.
As your kitten gets older, be mindful that they’ll be able to reach more vertical spots, such as higher shelves!
Learn about toxic products
Many foods, plants, medications and household chemicals are toxic to kittens, so keep them securely out of reach at all times.
Houseplants
Sometimes, being a plant parent and a pet parent don't go hand in hand. There are various houseplants that can be hazardous to kittens, so you should keep these out of reach or remove them entirely, if necessary. Remember that kittens are deeply curious and will chew on a variety of things – after all, they don't know what's safe for them!
Some toxic houseplants for cats include:
- Aloe plants
- Azaleas
- Many types of succulent plants
- Chrysanthemum
- Philodendrons
- Ivy
- Daffodils and other bulb plants
This is not an exhaustive list, so always check whether a plant in your home is safe for cats.
Foods
Generally speaking, you shouldn’t feed your cat any types of food that humans typically eat, but certain ones are known to be higher-risk than others. So, be sure to keep the following away from your kitten or cat:
- Garlic
- Onion
- Grapes
- Sultanas
- Chocolate
- Coffee
- Tea
While there are some safe human foods for cats, it's best to generally keep human food away from them and only feed them appropriate cat food.
Medication
This is a catch-all rule for all types of human and animal medications – even those aimed at cat healthcare. Lock all of them up or keep them well out of reach at all times. Ingesting an excessive amount of any medication, human or otherwise, presents health risks for cats of all ages.
Chemicals and other poisonous substances
A lot of everyday household cleaning products contain chemicals and substances that are poisonous to cats. Do a bit of research before buying, and always store them away from your cat.
Some products to look out for include:
- Personal care products
- Most household cleaning supplies
- Arts and craft supplies (e.g. glues and paints - including house paints)
- Rat poisons, insecticides (instant-kills and surface sprays), and other bug or rodent-focused poisons
- Automotive fluids and oils
Where possible, make sure you’re using pet-friendly cleaning products – especially if you’re needing to clean up a spot due to your kitten throwing up, peeing, or tracking around the home.
Protecting your property
Cat-proofing isn’t just good for the health of your cat, but it can also help protect your property from unwanted damage.
Kittens and cats can be drawn to the seams of carpet or a rug in the same way they can be drawn to scratch at the side of a couch or bed.
It’s important to deter your kitten or cat from causing unwanted damage, and often this comes down to providing them with scratch posts, play, and plenty of space to run around. Cats appreciate vertical space, especially as they get older – and more vertical space can be particularly beneficial if you live in a smaller place (such as a one-person unit or small apartment.)
While there are cat sprays formulated to deter cats from scratching or settling in certain areas of your home, their effectiveness can vary depending on your cat and how sensitive they are to certain scents. So, it’s always best to focus on enrichment.
If your cat is scratching furniture or attacking other items around your home, try to engage them in more play, give them attention and affection when they’re seeking it, and provide spots where they can hold vantage points over their domain. Or, find scratch surfaces that can be placed on sections of furniture your cat is targeting so that they can get out their energy without causing further damage to your belongings.
Want to ensure your kittens can scratch, sprawl and play to their heart's content? Shop cat towers and cat toys today.