Kittenproofing - What Last Minute Things Might I Have Forgotten?

[epona]

I am not a new cat person, but for quite some time now all my cats have been elderly.
The last one of them has now sadly passed away, but I am hoping to get new kittens soon (like 1 week from now)

I am used to having cats and before that other pets so I know about general stuff like toxins and plants and medications and batteries and string and stuff like that, it's just things specific to playful and curious kittens that I might have forgotten that they get into and are at risk from due to only having elderly and quite sedentary cats for a while.

Also what do I need to consider in terms of new supplies? I already know what food they are eating and will get that, we were using the same type of litter which we have half a big bag of and will get new litter trays, we have a pretty much unused scratching post, cardboard boxes, blankets, tall bookcases that can act as a vertical space cat environment, the person we are getting them from (assuming this all goes ahead) will give us the toys they like to play with and we can get more once we see what they like and what they destroy.

They are already vaccinated, chipped, and neutered, but I'll book a vet appointment to get them registered at our vet. And we'll sort out insurance asap.

They will be indoor only, both neutered males under a year old.

Anything I've forgotten? Not had kittens for ages.

 

[maggie101]

This will sound weird. Door knobs covers! All my trash cans have lids since they love dental floss. Get toys they can chase on the ground,no wand toys, my cats don't like sisal. Only corrugated cardboard

 

[amethyst]

I know you mentioned string, but also power cords can be a danger, especially when they are teething (until about 6 months). On the topic of teething getting things your kitten can chew on is a good idea if they are still pretty young, it can help direct them to chew on things they should instead.

Another thing is the toilet, my adult cats are rarely an issue, but one of my kittens just jumped in the toilet the other morning. As well as make sure garbage cans have lids, even if you make sure there isn't anything unsafe in it kittens like to jump into them, which can spill all the contents on the floor.

I also suggest getting (or make) interactive and puzzle toys, it can really help with brain development as well as help with boredom. For example ball track toys can work great for independent play. As well as boxes sealed up with holes cut into it and filled with treats and/or toys for them to have to fish out can be fun for them.

 

[maggie101]

My cars loved the ripple rug and petfusion lounger
Go cat catcher wand toy and purrfect leather bouncer
Miss having kittens but still love my cats

 

[Meowmee]

Each kitten is different as I’m sure you know so you have to just observe them and see if there are things that you need to be on the lookout for. For instance, none of my kittens or cats have ever showed any interest chewing anything except for Quinn. So when I got him I had to cover all the electrical wires etc. with cord covers and things like that.

Another thing he used to do was he tried to climb into the oven when I was broiling things! Eventually, I stopped him from trying to do that. I still have to keep an eye on him because there are some things that he will chew like rubber bands and dessicant for some reason so those get thrown out in the trash right away.

another thing I was lucky with with my past cats was I could have lots of plants and none of them ever tried to eat them. whereas Quinn will chomp on everything so I only have the ones that I have now which are safe and I don’t get any indoor plants anymore which is something I miss but on the other hand and I’m not really that great at taking care of even the ones that I still have.

I think you said you’re getting another oriental shorthair kitten and I think they, like Siamese cats, tend to have this thing with chewing things so you probably know about that already.

I have used wand toys with all of my kittens and they absolutely loved them. Either ones with the cord that they can chase or something on the end of a wire. Quinn absolutely loves them and so did Angie years ago….they will spin around in circles chasing them until they’re out of breath, which is a good way to tire out a rambunctious kitten however, since I think you are getting two kittens, they’re probably gonna play with each other a lot so that will help.

If they will be left alone, some type of cat TV and maybe some cat video games, they actually have those now, I tried to get my cats to play with them on the iPad, but they were scared of it

I am looking forward to seeing pictures of your babies soon.

 

[epona]

I think you said you’re getting another oriental shorthair kitten and I think they, like Siamese cats, tend to have this thing with chewing things so you probably know about that already.

It's not certain yet, but I hope it works out - if it all works out OK I will be getting a 6 month old blue tabby point Oriental colourpoint bicolour (also can be called Siamese and white, or Seychellois depending upon registry I think) and a 7 month old chocolate point Siamese, both neutered boys.
I hope this all works out, I feel so hopeful and at the same time so nervous.

If it happens, they will be really really active and into everything I think

 

[epona]

Each kitten is different as I’m sure you know so you have to just observe them and see if there are things that you need to be on the lookout for. For instance, none of my kittens or cats have ever showed any interest chewing anything except for Quinn. So when I got him I had to cover all the electrical wires etc. with cord covers and things like that.

Another thing he used to do was he tried to climb into the oven when I was broiling things! Eventually, I stopped him from trying to do that. I still have to keep an eye on him because there are some things that he will chew like rubber bands and dessicant for some reason so those get thrown out in the trash right away.

another thing I was lucky with with my past cats was I could have lots of plants and none of them ever tried to eat them. whereas Quinn will chomp on everything so I only have the ones that I have now which are safe and I don’t get any indoor plants anymore which is something I miss but on the other hand and I’m not really that great at taking care of even the ones that I still have.

I think you said you’re getting another oriental shorthair kitten and I think they, like Siamese cats, tend to have this thing with chewing things so you probably know about that already.

I have used wand toys with all of my kittens and they absolutely loved them. Either ones with the cord that they can chase or something on the end of a wire. Quinn absolutely loves them and so did Angie years ago….they will spin around in circles chasing them until they’re out of breath, which is a good way to tire out a rambunctious kitten however, since I think you are getting two kittens, they’re probably gonna play with each other a lot so that will help.

If they will be left alone, some type of cat TV and maybe some cat video games, they actually have those now, I tried to get my cats to play with them on the iPad, but they were scared of it

I am looking forward to seeing pictures of your babies soon.

Radar our moggie (may he rest in peace) used to chew absolutely everything, he was a complete menace with a particular appetite for power cables and low tension cables/speaker cables etc. - he was our first cat and a real horror (a sweet and precious horror of course!)

I will certainly post photos of the new little ones if/when it happens (1 is 99.9% certain, the other is a return to the breeder situation and he's not been returned yet, hopefully that will happen too if his home isn't working out for him - getting 2 around similar age when they are young is best IMO. I'm in a bit of anticipatory anxiety at the moment, hoping it all works out).

 

[Meowmee]

It's not certain yet, but I hope it works out - if it all works out OK I will be getting a 6 month old blue tabby point Oriental colourpoint bicolour (also can be called Siamese and white, or Seychellois depending upon registry I think) and a 7 month old chocolate point Siamese, both neutered boys.
I hope this all works out, I feel so hopeful and at the same time so nervous.

If it happens, they will be really really active and into everything I think

Sounds wonderful I hope it works out. You will certainly have your hands full! Quinn was my first purebred Siamese cat, and my only pb cat. And it was quite a shock. The energy level is the craziest, just out of this world for meezers, especially kittens.
I had Angie before that who was part Siamese, a domestic shorthair tortoiseshell, and she was crazy, but Quinn was like Angie on steroids times 1 trillion

His breeder said I should probably get two of them, but I only wanted one kitten at the time because we had Sybil, who was older, but it would’ve been better probably because then he would’ve played with the kitten and left Sybil alone more. He wouldn’t stop jumping on her, and I had to separate them at the end of her life.

 

[Meowmee]

Radar our moggie (may he rest in peace) used to chew absolutely everything, he was a complete menace with a particular appetite for power cables and low tension cables/speaker cables etc. - he was our first cat and a real horror (a sweet and precious horror of course!)

I will certainly post photos of the new little ones if/when it happens (1 is 99.9% certain, the other is a return to the breeder situation and he's not been returned yet, hopefully that will happen too - getting 2 around similar age when they are young is best IMO. I'm in a bit of anticipatory anxiety at the moment, hoping it all works out).

Radar sounds a bit like Quinn I call all my cats hooligans who I love very much I think I was lucky with all my past cats that none of them had any of these issues. But a lot of them were indoor outdoor so that might’ve helped. I don’t do that anymore. They’re strictly indoor now.

 

[SueLinda]

Expect the unexpected.
Penguin likes to "decorate" a lampshade with his teeth and "help" by removing the cord from my laptop over and over....so glad I have the cord protectors.

 

[neely]

Early congrats on your new kittens. TCS has 3 articles about kitten proofing, etc. that may have some helpful tips and advice for you:
13 Practical Ways to Kitten-Proof Your Home - TheCatSite
When Can A Kitten Safely Explore The House? [Answered] - TheCatSite
9 Tips That Will Help Your Kitten Adapt To A New Apartment or House - TheCatSite

Best of luck and you know we will be expecting pictures.

 

[epona]

Early congrats on your new kittens. TCS has 3 articles about kitten proofing, etc. that may have some helpful tips and advice for you:
13 Practical Ways to Kitten-Proof Your Home - TheCatSite
When Can A Kitten Safely Explore The House? [Answered] - TheCatSite
9 Tips That Will Help Your Kitten Adapt To A New Apartment or House - TheCatSite

Best of luck and you know we will be expecting pictures.

Fantastic, I knew there would be some articles about it here, such a great resource - ta for the links

 

[epona]

As well as make sure garbage cans have lids, even if you make sure there isn't anything unsafe in it kittens like to jump into them, which can spill all the contents on the floor.

This has reminded me that my darling Radar (may he rest in peace) used to LOVE hiding in our swing-top rubbish bin in the kitchen.
There was never anything dangerous in there, but he'd get in it, then wait til someone walked past it - at which point he would launch himself vertically out of it at speed like a rocket taking off, smack you on the shoulder or head, then land and dash off down the hall leaving a trail of used teabags and potato peelings behind him

You'd just be left there a bit surprised because a cat had suddenly launched itself from nowhere and smacked you on the head

We got a pedal bin instead, he worked out how to stand on the pedal to lift the lid, but couldn't get in it any more. Poor love (he had plenty of other trouble to make mind you).

 

[Kflowers]

Look under the edge of your kitchen and bath cabinets, the ones that are set in frames. In several houses, I've found holes in the frame which lead into the wall or between the outer walls of the cabinets. The holes are big enough for a kitten to get into. We suppose that builders feel since you can't see the holes unless you are lying on the floor and a baby can't get into them they don't matter. They matter, kittens can't always find their way back out.

Also take a flashlight and look all around inside each cabinet and closet. Consider the connections where your pipes come through the walls. Again builders are a bit careless about snugging the wall right up to the pipes.

If you are in a hurry, duck tape will close these holes. But you need to check it every six months or so to be sure it's still stuck in place.

 

[epona]

Look under the edge of your kitchen and bath cabinets, the ones that are set in frames. In several houses, I've found holes in the frame which lead into the wall or between the outer walls of the cabinets. The holes are big enough for a kitten to get into. We suppose that builders feel since you can't see the holes unless you are lying on the floor and a baby can't get into them they don't matter. They matter, kittens can't always find their way back out.

Also take a flashlight and look all around inside each cabinet and closet. Consider the connections where your pipes come through the walls. Again builders are a bit careless about snugging the wall right up to the pipes.

If you are in a hurry, duck tape will close these holes. But you need to check it every six months or so to be sure it's still stuck in place.

We don't have anything like that as we're in an older flat and have mostly freestanding units rather than built in cabinets that might have pipes running through the unit, but that is excellent advice nonetheless. I'll make sure to double-check that, although I think we blocked everything off in the last "why are mice still getting in?" incident

 

[fionasmom]

This is all very exciting that you might shortly have two new little boys. I am just adding that for me, with almost all kittens, shoe laces and Q tips were a huge problem.

 

[Meowmee]

Expect the unexpected.
Penguin likes to "decorate" a lampshade with his teeth and "help" by removing the cord from my laptop over and over....so glad I have the cord protectors.
View attachment 490957View attachment 490958

You should post the lampshade in the cat art thread

 

[maggie101]

This is all very exciting that you might shortly have two new little boys. I am just adding that for me, with almost all kittens, shoe laces and Q tips were a huge problem.

And still are. My senior cat chewed them off.

 

[epona]

As already mentioned upthread, one of my previous cats had a weird obsession with chewing cables and another had pica, so I don't think anything would surprise me.
I managed to keep both of them safe so it should be OK with new babies.
I'm going to follow them around at first regardless, you never know what they might find interesting.

 

[Kflowers]

We coated the wires with tabasco sauce - the red pepper sauce so I could see where I'd covered the wires and where I hadn't. small artist brush or q-tip works well. We only had one cat who liked to eat hot sauce. Nothing is proof against everything.