There are a few preventative steps you should take to ensure that your new cat will be greeted by a safe home environment upon it’s arrival. Kitty-proofing is much like childproofing. -Keep potentially dangerous objects out of sight. Remember, something as small as a rubber band can be deadly. -Close off any tempting hiding places where cats could get stuck. -Use bitter apple spray on anything it shouldn't chew. -Secure all cabinets. -Hide garbage and trash cans out of reach or cover securely. -Shut closet doors. -Eliminate dangerous holes such as an open washing machine. -Keep toilet lids shut. Kittens can fall in and drown. -Stash small objects that could accidentally be swallowed, such as jewelry, rubber bands or paper clips. -Secure shade pulls. Cats are attracted to these when playing and can accidentally strangle themselves. -Remove house plants from reach. Cats nibble at them, and some plants can be poisonous. -Put all medicines and house cleaners out of reach. -Keep all food stored where kitty cannot access it. Many common foods are toxic to cats. -Make sure all windows and window screens are shut and secure. Cats can easily fall out windows, and contrary to popular myth, do not always land on their feet. -Protect all power cords and outlets. Cats and kittens both will chew on electrical wires, even speaker wire. -Keep antifreeze, fertilizer and any other toxic chemicals where the cat cannot get to them. Make sure there is no antifreeze that has dripped onto your garage floor or driveway. It takes just a little bit to be fatal. -Keep sewing supplies locked up tight. They will instinctively play with the string which can cause potentially fatal intestinal problems if swallowed. If they swallow the needle by accident the risk is even higher. -Provide plenty of toys and entertainment to keep them busy. -Don’t leave out plastic bags. They like to crawl inside them and they could suffocate. -Don’t store collectables or breakables on shelves that can be accessed by the cat.