1300 489 873
Kittens investigate the world mouth-first and can squeeze into gaps you’d never think to check. A short kitten-proofing pass before they come home prevents most of the early emergency vet visits new owners face.
Secure loose and dangling items
Blind cords, phone chargers, tinsel and ribbon are magnets for kittens and a genuine choking or intestinal blockage risk if swallowed. Tie cords up out of reach and keep small elastic or string-like items off floors and tables entirely.
Check for toxic plants
Lilies are highly toxic to cats and even pollen brushed onto fur can cause serious kidney damage if licked off. Other common problem plants in Australian homes and gardens include oleander, sago palm and some succulents — it’s worth checking your indoor and outdoor plants against an up-to-date toxic plant list before the kitten arrives.
Block off small gaps and high spaces
Kittens can wriggle behind appliances, up chimneys, and into gaps behind cupboards. A temporary barrier across the back of appliances during the first few weeks saves a lot of stress until the kitten is a little more predictable.
Store chemicals and medications properly
Cleaning products, essential oil diffusers and human medication should go on high shelves or behind closed doors — cats are particularly sensitive to certain essential oils and some common painkillers that are perfectly safe for humans.
Set up the essentials before day one
Have a litter tray (one per cat, plus one extra, tucked away from food and water), a scratching post, a cosy bed, and food and water bowls set up before the kitten arrives, so the introduction to the home isn’t also an introduction to unfamiliar new objects all at once.
Give them one small space first
Rather than free run of the whole house, start a new kitten in one quiet room with all their essentials. Expanding their territory gradually, once they’re confident, tends to produce a calmer, more settled cat than an overwhelming first day.
A little preparation goes a long way toward a smooth, safe start — and it means you can spend those first days enjoying your new kitten instead of chasing them out of the sock drawer.
