Getting ready for a kitten

[HMSSophie]

I'm getting very very nervous about picking up a kitten in three weeks time. I have a four year old laid back cat-friendly rescue who I hope will find her a good addition to his life gulp.

But I'm used to him knowing the house and being sensible - he's not a kitten ...

So what do I need to do to make the house kitten proof? I live alone. Open doors throughout the house. Have fireplaces. sometimes the stove is lit. Do ceramics in my house (clay, glaze). Some house plants.

Any advice?

Never ever put the windows on tilt. Cats, especially daft and agile ones, will jump up and get their neck stuck on them. English windows don’t open like this but continental ones do.
Washing machine, dishwasher, check each door and crevice before you close it. Never switch anything on before checking.
Careful when you open doors - they will shoot out.
The Cooker is a danger Fireplaces too.
Many houseplants are toxic to cats. Garden plants too. Especially lilies and naked ladies (autumn crocus).
Will keep thinking about this.

Exactly the kind of stuff I need to hear thank you. I'll put signs up on the utility units as a reminder. Windows aren't a problem as all open outwards. Garden is ok as previous owners had three cats.

Any more ideas welcome!

Pop an old pillowcase up the chimney to block it. No need for a fancy 'chimney balloon".

Ergh. I mean pillow. Fat lot of good a pillowcase would do.

@ghislaine that is a good idea. I need to do this for potential new cats. How do you get the pillow to stay up the chimney?

Be careful when you put the roller blinds down as daft cats will stick their heads in.

Check car doors before you close them in case cats shot in and are perched in the doorframe.

It is so painful, I still do these things every day, even though my cats died (one in 2018 and one in 2020) but it is so ingrained. It is homage and memory, after all these years 😢 ❤️ 🐈

[quote stella1know]@ghislaine that is a good idea. I need to do this for potential new cats. How do you get the pillow to stay up the chimney?[/quote]
I didn't use any special technique, just took an old fat pillow and stuffed it up the chimney. I put one up there a year ago and it hasn't moved.