Bringing an animal into your house means seeing your home through new eyes — usually eyes about twelve inches off the floor. Before your new companion arrives (or before your current one discovers something they shouldn’t), walk through each room with this checklist.

Kitchen

  • Secure the trash can with a locking lid or keep it inside a cabinet. Trash is the number one temptation for dogs and a hazard for cats.
  • Move toxic foods out of reach: chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, xylitol-sweetened products, and alcohol are all dangerous to pets.
  • Add childproof latches to low cabinets that hold cleaning supplies.
  • Keep countertop appliances unplugged when not in use — dangling cords invite chewing.

Living room

  • Check your houseplants. Lilies are extremely dangerous to cats; pothos, philodendron, and sago palm are toxic to many animals. Swap risky plants for pet-safe ones like spider plants or Boston ferns.
  • Bundle and cover electrical cords, especially with puppies, rabbits, and kittens in the house.
  • Secure or remove small chewable items: remote controls, charging cables, kids’ toys, hair ties, and rubber bands.
  • Anchor unstable shelves and TVs — cats climb, dogs bump.

Bathroom

  • Keep the toilet lid down, especially with small dogs and cats.
  • Store medications in a high cabinet. Even a single dropped pill can be an emergency.
  • Move razors, cotton swabs, and dental floss into drawers — string-like items are a serious swallowing hazard for cats.

Bedroom

  • Check under the bed for stray items — pets treat that space as their personal discovery zone.
  • Keep jewelry, coins, and batteries in closed containers.
  • If your pet sleeps with you, consider a washable blanket over the duvet.

Laundry and garage

  • Always check the washer and dryer before running them — cats love warm, dark spaces.
  • Store detergent pods, antifreeze, fertilizer, and pest control products on high shelves or in locked cabinets. Antifreeze tastes sweet and is lethal in tiny amounts.

A final walkthrough trick

Get down on your hands and knees and look around at your pet’s eye level. You’ll spot dangling cords, forgotten items, and tempting gaps you’d never notice standing up. Repeat this walkthrough every few months — homes change, and so do pets’ abilities to reach things.

This article is general guidance, not veterinary advice. If your pet ingests something questionable, call your vet or an animal poison control hotline immediately.