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Home safety Safety & preparedness

Home Safety for Pets

In short

Most household pet hazards are preventable with a few habits: store medications and toxic foods securely, keep dangerous plants out of reach, manage cords and small objects, and secure windows and balconies. This page is a prevention checklist. If you think your pet has already been exposed to something dangerous, contact a veterinarian or animal poison-control line immediately.

Common household hazards to manage

  • Toxic foods — including chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions and garlic, and xylitol-sweetened products — stored well out of reach.
  • Medications and supplements (human and pet) secured in closed cabinets, never left on counters or bedside tables.
  • Plants — many common houseplants are toxic to pets; check before bringing them home and keep risky ones away.
  • Cleaning products, antifreeze, pesticides, and other chemicals stored securely and used away from pets.
  • Small objects, string, hair ties, batteries, and breakable items kept out of reach to reduce choking and swallowing risks.

Room-by-room habits

  • Kitchen: secure bins, keep food off accessible surfaces, and clear away cooked bones and wrappers.
  • Bathroom: close cabinets, and keep medications and cleaning products sealed and stored.
  • Living spaces: bundle or cover electrical cords and keep small décor items out of reach.
  • Windows and balconies: use secure screens or restrict access — falls are a real risk, especially for cats.
  • Garage and outdoors: store chemicals high and sealed, and clean up any antifreeze spills immediately.

When to contact a veterinarian or poison control

  • If you think your pet has eaten or been exposed to something hazardous, contact a veterinarian or animal poison-control line immediately — do not wait for symptoms.
  • Keep any packaging, plant material, or label to describe the exposure.
  • See our pet poisoning warning-signs page for what to watch for and how to escalate.
  • When in doubt about whether something is dangerous, call and ask.

What not to do

  • Do not assume a plant or product is pet-safe without checking a reliable source such as the ASPCA plant database.
  • Do not store medications or chemicals where a curious pet could reach them.
  • Do not try to treat a suspected exposure at home — contact a veterinarian or poison control.
  • Do not leave windows or high balconies open without secure screens.

Pet-proofing checklist

  • Toxic foods stored securely and out of reach.
  • All medications and supplements in closed cabinets.
  • Toxic plants identified and removed or kept away.
  • Chemicals, antifreeze, and pesticides sealed and stored.
  • Cords managed and small swallowable objects cleared.
  • Windows and balconies secured against falls.

Home Safety for Pets — Frequently Asked Questions

Which foods should I keep away from pets at home?
Common examples include chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions and garlic, and xylitol-sweetened products, among others. Store them securely and see our food-safety pages and the ASPCA people-foods list for more.
How do I know if a houseplant is safe?
Check a reliable toxicity reference such as the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plants database before bringing a plant home, and keep any risky plants well out of reach.
My pet already got into something — what now?
Contact a veterinarian or animal poison-control line immediately, even before symptoms appear, and keep any packaging or plant material to describe the exposure. Do not attempt home treatment.

Sources and further reading

Authoritative references used for general educational context. External links open in a new tab and these organisations do not endorse FaunaHub. Emergency thresholds, first-aid procedures, and what belongs in any individual pet's plan should be confirmed with a licensed veterinarian who can assess your specific animal.