Kitten proofing

As my first cat was a stray and my second was a senior, kitten proofing was new to me when I got Opal and Mica. During the wait for them to travel I had plenty of time to research (and make myself anxious reading horror stories about things that can go wrong). Here's a guide of things to think about when preparing your home for a new kitten, the majority of which apply to adult cats too!

• Ensure all furniture is stable and won't fall down if your cat jumps on top of it. You can get anti tip anchors to secure anything you're concerned about. 
• Identify any nooks and crannies a kitten could get stuck in, as well as possible escape routes. Seal them up!
• Keep breakable items, cat food, human food that is toxic to cats and dangerous chemicals stored away. If your cats are the sort to open cupboards like Opal is, I recommend baby proof locks. We have multiple types and they're all easily opened by adult humans.
• Put blind cords out of reach. You can get baby proof items that allow you to wind up the string. I have sticky hooks by all my blinds that I've wrapped the cords around.
• Keep the toilet seat down. I have a sign up in my bathroom to remind guests, and even now the cats are adults, I still keep the seat down to stop them splashing around in the toilet (or drinking from it)!
• Check any existing houseplants are non-toxic to cats. If your cats are going to be allowed outside, check the garden as well and remove any plants that pose a danger to cats.
• Keep your floors clean and immediately put any rubbish in a covered bin. My first cat Jasper ate a Peperami wrapper once that was only there for a split second!
• Use pet friendly cleaning products. I always keep some pet wipes in the house so I can clean the cats' paws if they've walked across a freshly mopped floor or similar. 
• Put plastic bags and packaging away. A paper bag or box is a good alternative. 
• Always double and triple check appliances before turning them on. I've gotten into a routine now where I always check where both cats are before using my dishwasher and washing machine.
• Tidy up wires and put them out of sight as much as possible. If you have a chewer, you can get citrus scented plastic covers to put them off. These are usually marketed at pet rabbits.
• Regardless of whether your cat is to be allowed out or not, they will have to stay indoors until they are either old enough or have got used to their new environment. Keep windows closed and consider dog gates around external doors if you don't have a porch or another door to create an 'air lock'. You can get window screens but I would only recommend using these when you are supervising your cat.
• Don't use wool as a toy as it can get ingested. Remove and dispose of any small bits from toys that risk coming off- for example, eyes and ears- before they can get swallowed.
• Supervise play sessions and put away any potentially dangerous toys afterwards where your cat can't get to them. Toys with string and toys with batteries come to mind. 
• Never leave a burning hob or a candle unattended. Also make sure your cats can't get near a hot running tap or hot bath.
• Keep human medication stored away- I have mine in a plastic caddy they can't open.
• Get into the habit of checking for cats! It's second nature for me now to check for a cat before sitting down or closing drawers. Furniture with a mechanism can be particularly dangerous.