Cat-Proofing Your Home: A Room-by-Room Checklist

Cats are natural-born escape artists with a talent for finding trouble in the one place you didn't think of. A quick room-by-room sweep removes the big risks - and leaves plenty of room for fun.

Kitchen (the danger zone)

• Secure cabinets with child-proof latches (cleaning supplies live here)
• Keep knives and breakables in closed drawers
• Never leave stove tops unsupervised while cooking
• Store human food out of reach - grapes, onions and chocolate are toxic
• Cover or secure garbage bins

Living room

• Anchor tall furniture - cats climb and knock things over
• Hide or cover electrical cords (cords are tempting chew toys)
• Remove toxic houseplants: lilies, pothos, philodendron, sago palm
• Watch candles and open flames - tail singes happen fast
• Tie up curtain cords; they're a strangulation hazard

Bedrooms & bathrooms

• Close toilet lids - small kittens can fall in
• Keep medications in drawers, never on counters
• Secure laundry baskets; cats love to sleep in warm clothes piles
• Window screens must be secure (cats push on them)
• Keep bathroom products and essential oils away

The vertical solution

Safe doesn't mean boring. Give cats approved climbing: cat trees, window perches and shelving routes. A cat with high places to explore is a happy cat - and far less likely to explore your dangerous spots.

Walk through your home at cat eye level, fix the obvious dangers, and replace hazards with fun. A cat-proofed home is a calmer cat and a more relaxed you.