Want to learn how to kitten-proof your home?  Use these tips and you'll keep your home and your new furry friend safe.

A kitten can add fun and adventure into your home, but a kitten’s curiosity can also bring some chaos and trouble. Kittens will try to explore every nook and cranny they can, so you need to be sure to take the proper measures to guard every part of your home against those little paws. For first-time homeowners especially, who make up about 35% of all home buyers, learning how to handle your many rooms in the face of a destructive kitten is important. Use these tips and you’ll keep your home and your new furry friend safe.

1. Close Off Rooms

In a big home with many rooms, it is all too easy for a small kitten to get lost and into trouble without your supervision. When you first bring your kitten home, close off any rooms they don’t need to be in. Not only will this significantly reduce the amount of space you need to kitten-proof, but it will make it easier for your cat to adjust to their new environment.

With watery dangers like the tub and toilet, the bathroom is typically one place to which your cat doesn’t need access. Block off the attic as well. While proper insulation in your attic can save you 10% to 50% on heating and cooling bills, you don’t want your kitten getting into the toxic insulation material or any other dangerous goodies up there.

Want to learn how to kitten-proof your home?  Use these tips and you'll keep your home and your new furry friend safe.

2. Clear The Floor

Anything on the floor is fair game for a curious kitten. When you’re kitten-proofing, move objects on the floor to a high surface that they can’t reach. Even a basket of sewing supplies or yarn, which seem like perfect kitten toys, can pose a danger to the small creatures if they play with them unsupervised. Wires, kids’ toys, shoes, decorations, and much more will be of interest to your kitten as well.

Be sure to look out for things that you wouldn’t think of moving, like assistive devices that over 6.8 million Americans use to help them with mobility. While a cane or the cord to a stairlift may seem like part of the furniture to you, your new kitten will be able to knock it over or chew on it.

3. Secure Drawers And Doors

Cats of any age love finding small spaces to sneak into, but a kitten’s tiny stature makes it even easier to wedge into the most difficult hiding spots. Cabinet drawers and doors are especially enticing for kittens, and they can sometimes even open them when they’re fully closed.

Install childproof latches on any cabinets and drawers you don’t want your kitten exploring. Focus on storage spaces with breakable valuables and cleaning supplies or other toxic chemicals. If you can’t secure cabinets containing these items, you may want to move them to higher ground.

4. Lock Your Window Screens

While your kitten may not necessarily want to escape, they might inadvertently break through window screens when exploring. Your kitten will likely try to snuggle up to the windowpanes to soak in their natural warmth and then discover the interesting screen behind it. Invest in cat-proof window screens to prevent your kitten from tearing into them. Try to do this even if it is winter, as you will likely forget to once the spring and summer come around.

The overarching guideline for proper kitten-proofing is to do it as if you were child-proofing. Kittens and toddlers are similarly curious and prone to get into anything they can. View everything in your home from the eyes of a little one, and you will be better able to catch sight of potential dangers.

Did you get a new kitten recently? How did you kitten-proof your home?