How To Cat-Proof Your Home

Cats are notoriously curious animals that love to explore. They’re also nimble, strong-willed, and sneaky, so there’s a lot they can get into—plenty of which may not be obvious dangers to pet parents.

Whether you’re bringing home your first kitten or want to ensure a safe and happy environment for your current cat, it’s important that you learn how to cat-proof your home.

“[Cat-proofing] helps prevent disasters from happening,” says Joey Lusvardi, CCBC, owner of Class Act Cats in Minneapolis.

Below, experts share their best advice for maintaining a cat-safe home so you and your feline can live comfortably and stress-free.

1. Move Breakables off of Shelves

Cats love to explore new surfaces and climb onto furniture. And while they’re there, they might be tempted to knock things over—particularly if they’re bored.

Rita Reimers, certified cat behavior expert, CEO and co-founder of Cat Behavior Alliance in Charlotte, North Carolina, suggests cat parents avoid purchasing breakable lamps and keep any fragile items off of shelves.

2. Keep Your Washer and Dryer Closed

While on the hunt for a small and cozy space to hide in, a cat might end up exploring the inside of a washer or dryer. This can be a dangerous place for a cat, since a pet parent might not notice their cat sneak inside these appliances during laundry day.

To avoid the risk of accidentally shutting your cat in the washer or dryer, make a habit of keeping each appliance closed whenever you’re not actively loading or unloading them.

3. Keep the Toilet Seat Lid Down

To a curious kitten, a toilet bowl can look like a reasonable source of water or a place to splash and play. But for smaller cats in particular, this can be a dangerous place.

“Kittens can very easily get into that and drown,” says Lusvardi. To play it safe, make it a house rule to keep all toilet seat lids down.

4. Put Toys Away

Many toys can present a hazard to cats when left out unsupervised. For example, wand toys with strings can wrap around a cat’s neck, and torn toys or toys with small parts can become a choking hazard.

Plus, when you leave toys out all the time, your cat will lose interest in them, says Ingrid Johnson, CCBC, owner of Fundamentally Feline in Atlanta. This makes the toys themselves less beneficial for your cat overall.

“You can't use them as redirection tools or as a way to get your cat tired and worn out when they don't even have a desire to chase it,” Johnson says.

When playtime is over for your kitty, make it a habit to put all their toys away in a secured bin.

5. Secure Tall Furniture

Because cats love high places, they’ll try their best to explore tall furniture in your home. Lusvardi recommends securing bookshelves and other tall pieces to the wall. “That way you prevent it from tipping over,” he says.

You can also encourage your cat to stay off of high-up bookshelves and the top of your cabinets by giving them cat trees and condos they can climb instead. These should be secured to the wall, too, to avoid tip-overs.

6. Lock Your Cabinets

A lot of cat-proofing your home is similar to baby-proofing. Anything close to the floor is vulnerable—including whatever you have stowed away in kitchen cabinets. Protect your kittens from cleaning supplies and other toxic items by using cabinet locks.

7. Get a Lid for Your Trash Can

Lots of things in your trash cans could get your cat into trouble, such as toxic food scraps. Johnson says cat parents should opt for lidded trash cans to keep their cats safe from health hazards and messes.  

8. Clean Up After Yourself

As with young children, it’s safe to assume that anything small enough can end up in a cat’s mouth.

“I think cleaning up after yourself and looking at what can be a choking hazard or toxic is number one,” says Linda Hall, certified cat behaviorist and co-founder of Cat Behavior Alliance.

Think LEGO® pieces, Barbie™ shoes, craft supplies, hair ties—anything small and unexpected can pique a cat’s interest. 

“If your cat eats part of a piece of yarn, that can become very dangerous very quickly,” Lusvardi says. “And it's very tempting for cats to go after little pieces of string or yarn.”

If you suspect your cat has eaten something they shouldn’t have, contact your vet as soon as possible for advice on what to do.

9. Sweep Often

It’s hard to spot every potential choking hazard on the floor. Things like small threads and plastic tags are easy to miss—but not for a curious cat, who might also see a lost pill as a potential treat.

“You really have to be careful with medication,” says Reimers, who notes that common pills like ibuprofen are toxic to cats.

Vacuuming and sweeping often will help keep your home clear of tiny dangers.

10. Secure Your Window and Door Screens

Before bringing home a cat, make sure all screen windows and doors are properly installed and secure. Cats love to sit in windows and observe the outside world. But if a screen is loose or damaged, Lusvardi says, a cat could fall out or escape and become lost without you knowing.

11. Do a House Plant Audit

Some of the most popular house plants are extremely toxic to cats, so pet parents need to be aware of what’s safe and what should be avoided.

Lusvardi recommends looking at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center’s list of toxic plants for reference. “I usually try and screen things against that, or I ask my veterinarian,” he says. 

And just because a cat has never messed with a plant before, don’t assume they’re not interested. If you’re in a period of life where you can’t interact with your cat much and they become bored, they may suddenly see a pothos vine as a new toy.

“If it's something that they're curious about, they may decide to nibble on it, and that could be a disaster,” Lusvardi says.

Johnson also advises pet parents to be vigilant about fresh-cut flowers. Lilies are often used in bouquets, but the entire plant is extremely toxic and potentially fatal for cats. Be certain that all flowers are safe for your feline before you bring some home.

12. Invest in Cord Covers

Some cats like to chew on electrical cables, which can be extremely dangerous and lead to electrocution. In order to cat-proof your home, tuck cables away or tape cords down with electrical tape. 

For cords that you need to move around often, like laptop or phone chargers, Lusvardi suggests using a cord cover. 

13. Put Away Your Shoes

You might think of a dog as the pet most likely to run off with a shoe, but cats can get curious about them too.

Lusvardi recommends being particularly careful about pairs made of soft foam, like some sandals or clogs. These can be fun to chew on for a cat. And with enough chewing, your cat may break off small pieces that become a choking hazard. 

14. Be Attentive When Using Stoves or Burning Candles

Pet parents should never leave stoves or open flames unattended. Many cats have been known to jump onto kitchen counters, and they could walk across a hot burner without supervision. 

If your cat seems especially keen to jump on the kitchen counters, Reimers suggests giving them high spaces that are just for them—again, like a cat tree.

“If you give your cat alternate places, maybe they're a little higher than stove level, they'll choose those,” she says.

15. Provide Safe Environmental Enrichment

One of the key steps in cat-proofing your home should be providing things your cat can safely chew, explore, or play with. 

“I think the most important thing is giving your cat things to do that are cat-centric,” says Reimers.

Both Reimers and Johnson suggest providing silvervine sticks and cat grass for kitties that like chewing on things.

“It's important to replace what we deter with something acceptable,” Johnson says.

Overall, it’s important to create a home where your cat will have plenty of places to explore high up, lots of appropriate toys and things to scratch, and small spaces to hide—all while staying safe.