Before getting a pet
Pet-Proofing and Preparing Your Home
A room-by-room checklist for making your home safe before the animal arrives, rather than after the first accident.
Kitchen and utility
Most poisonings begin in a kitchen. Secure the bin, move cleaning products to a latched cupboard and check every food container for xylitol.
- Lockable bin or bin inside a cupboard
- Cleaning chemicals above reach and behind a latch
- No chocolate, grapes, onions or sugar-free products within reach
- Hob guards for cats that jump on counters
Living areas
Cover or reroute electrical cables, especially for rabbits and parrots, which chew through them in seconds. Secure heavy items an excited dog could knock over, and remove toxic houseplants.
Windows, balconies and gardens
Fit secure screens to any window a cat can reach; falls from height are common and often serious. Check fences for gaps at ground level and, for climbing or digging escapers, at the top and bottom.
Set up before arrival
Have the sleeping area, feeding station, litter tray or enclosure fully assembled and running before the animal comes home. Reptile and fish setups must be stable at the correct temperature and, for aquariums, fully cycled for weeks beforehand.