Danger: Water hazards. Cats can swim, but most would rather not. And they can't tread water forever. Kittens have drowned in bathtubs and sinks.

Solution: Don't leave your kitten alone with a full bathtub or sink full of soapy water. Keep the kitten out of the bathroom and laundry room. Teach the males in your family to put the toilet lid down (good luck).

Danger: Falling objects. Prowling requires squeezing into small spaces among interesting objects. Danger lurks when those objects are heavy and unstable.

Solution: If the knickknack shelf contains tall, heavy items capable of crushing a kitty, its time to go for a more Spartan look. Pack it all away until the kitten grows up enough to know a bud vase from a cat tree.

Danger: Things that go ZAP! Electrical cords are chewing gum and playtime for a kitten. But if you think those sharp little teeth and claws can't get through the insulated cord to the raw electricity inside, think again.

Solution: This is a tough one. You probably can't disconnect every electrical appliance in the house for the next six months. The answer lies in paying close attention to the movements of your kitten when she's roaming near electrical outlets. Or try spraying particularly interesting cords with bitter apple solution so the chewing becomes less fun.

Danger: Plastic. We live in a plastic world, and your kitten loves it. She loves to chew it, fight with it and sleep in it. But plastic can harm her insides, and thin plastic bags can suffocate her.

Solution: Keep plastic bags and wrap out of reach. Don't let your kitten play with plastic. If she has a real plastic fetish, she may need a chew toy to work on.

Danger: Open trash cans. Almost all the nasty things listed above end up, sooner or later, in the trash, another very interesting place for a kitten to play.

Solution: Put a lid on it.

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