Congratulations, you are getting a new best friend.
You have bought the food, prepared the bed and perhaps even found a little Springbok jersey. Before your puppy or kitten arrives, though, you need to pet-proof your home.
Puppies, kittens and curious adult rescue animals explore with their mouths and paws. A comfortable home might contain chewable electrical cords, toxic foods, dangerous plants and easy escape routes.
Complete these five checks before those paws hit the floor.
1. View Your Home From Their Level
Get down to your pet’s level and look around each room.
Check what a small animal would reach, chew, swallow or knock over.
Repeat this check under beds, behind couches and around low cupboards. These spaces often contain small objects owners overlook while standing.
2. Remove Toxic Foods From the Kitchen
Several human foods are toxic to dogs and cats.
Keep these items out of reach:
- Chocolate
- Products containing xylitol, including some sugar-free gum, peanut butter and sweets
- Grapes
- Cooked bones
Secure your rubbish bins and make sure your pet cannot reach discarded food or packaging.
3. Check Plants, Medicines and Household Products
Lilies are highly toxic to cats. Pollen and water from a vase containing lilies also pose a serious risk and might cause fatal kidney failure.
Other dangerous plants include:
- Aloe
- Monstera
- Poinsettia
- Oleander
- Sago palm
Check the ASPCA Toxic Plant list and remove any questionable plants before bringing your pet home.
Medicines, antifreeze, laundry pods and essential oils should also remain out of reach. Tea tree, pine and pennyroyal oils are particularly risky.
4. Secure Cords, Strings and Small Objects
Puppies and kittens often chew or play with anything hanging within reach.
Cover exposed electrical cords, tape them down or move them away from the floor. Chewing through an electrical cable places a pet at risk of electrocution.
String-like objects also pose a danger. These include:
- Tinsel
- Hair ties
- Dental floss
- Shoelaces
- String from toys
Swallowing these items might cause a linear foreign body obstruction requiring emergency surgery.
Keep sewing kits closed and do not leave hair ties on tables or floors.
Check every room for choking hazards such as LEGO pieces, socks, remote-control batteries and squeakers removed from damaged toys.
Follow a simple rule: if an item is smaller than a tennis ball and chewable, do not leave your pet alone with it.
5. Secure Your Property Boundaries
Dogs and cats often search for ways to escape, especially while adjusting to a new home.
Check fences and gates for gaps. A small dog might fit through a 10cm opening, while a motivated larger dog might jump over a 1.2m wall.
People living in high-rise buildings also need to protect cats from open balconies and windows. Cats do not always land safely after a fall.
Install cat netting or catio mesh where needed.
Every pet should also be microchipped and wear a collar with an identification tag showing your current cellphone number.
These precautions help someone contact you quickly if your new pet escapes during its first few weeks at home.
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