Me and my girlfriend just got a 6 week old kitten, and both work at the same time during the day for the most part. So when we go to work we put him in the bathroom with his food and water dish, and his litter box. He also has a few toys in there as well as a little kitty home thing we bought at the pet store. We also have to put him in there at night when we go to bed right now, cause if we keep him in our room he runs around all night (including over us) and keeps us up. When we are home though we have him out and play with him and let him wander around our apt. Is doing this ok, or is it bad for him?
2007-07-05 06:03:30 · 13 answers · asked by Aaron C 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
We want to let him roam around the whole house when he's bigger and we know he's not gonna get himself into trouble while we're away. We're not worried about him scratching as much as we are getting himself hurt or stuck somewhere. We have roomates and they will play with him too while we're at work sometimes, but they leave for work shortly after we do. One of the things we worry about is that he can crawl up into the couch (he goes under it, then climbs up on on the wood support beams underneath), and if someone sits on it while he's down there it could hurt him.
2007-07-05 06:18:29 · update #1
Sounds to me like you know what you are doing.Keep up the good work!
2007-07-05 06:08:11 · answer #1 · answered by waterlover 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The kitten can be left to roam the whole apartment while you are gone. They will know where the food is and where the litter box is and will thoroughly have more room to move about in. Cats are nocturnal animals and move more at night. But they should not be running all over the apartment all night long. Cats will run around all over the place when it gets windy and you will learn to read your cat and be able to tell when the weather is changing from your cat. One reason the cat might be running around all night long is that in the bathroom it does not have space to move around a lot, and it is not getting the necessary exercise that it requires. Try letting the cat out of the bathroom during the day and let it run and explore, Kittens learn while growing up in your household what the schedule is and they will sleep more during the night and not going wild, what moving around they do at night will be to check everything out to make sure that everything is as it should be and that everything is right in their world. The kitten will also learn to sleep with you and not keep you up. So let the kitten out of the bathroom. How would you like to be cooped up all day in as small a space as a bathroom. You wouldn't so neither does your kitten. FREE THE KITTEN!
2007-07-05 06:15:51 · answer #2 · answered by prayer l 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Locked up for 8-10 hours per day then 8-10 hours per night. (grumble)
Imagine you are a kitten with a bundle of energy stuck in a bathroom for around 10 hours then you get a few hours of socialization then you two go to bed while bundle of energy kitty still has all this energy to burn. So you lock him up again? (oy vey)
Whether you care to admit it or not you have a new member of the family now. Kitty needs to have as much rights as you and your gf have, if not more. I'm sure kitty is cuter than both of you ^.^~ Create a place for kitty. Put their bed, their food and the litter tray all in the same spot. At six weeks they eat and they poop play sleep (and repeat) A six week old kitten will sleep on average for no more than four hours straight then get hungry have a poo and run around till they get tired again.
Liberate Kitty! Give kitty their freedom!! The more opportunity they have to run around during the day the less disturbing they tend to be at night. I know from experience.
Consider Kitty to be your litmus test for raising children. After all you don't expect to lock baby up for 10 hours straight I hope!!
FREE KITTY!!
2007-07-05 06:22:48 · answer #3 · answered by Melly 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you should leave him in the entire house. Perhaps not in a room where there are things you are worried he may break. But he must eventually learn to be responsible while you are away. I've always had many kittens, I leave them alone in the house when I am away, I just make sure to teach them soon that they must not scratch things, by taking them from the neck when they do something wrong and saying No and putting them on a scratching post.
2007-07-05 06:09:44 · answer #4 · answered by cpinatsi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that is perfectly fine. I also do the same. Kittens can find all kinds of things to get into and until you know after watching awhile it is best to keep them in a safe room. I have had kittens be able to open cabinets, knock over lamps while running and jumping. Your way while you are home you can learn what he might get into and then fix it, as your house is cat proof you can then let them out while you are gone. Enjoy!
2007-07-05 06:17:16 · answer #5 · answered by doxie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why are you locking him up during the day? I understand at night, but I think that during the day he should be fine in the apartment, unless there is another animal there that you are introducing him to. Cats are pretty independent animals and don't really need a lot of supervision. If you are worried about the furniture, have the kitten declawed or put those silicone caps on their nails.
2007-07-05 06:08:43 · answer #6 · answered by Cristina C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's hard to imagine being locked in a lavatory for more than eight hours a day. a bit lonley don't you think? it's actually not good for you kitten due to the fact that the first few weeks are so vital to their mental development. This is their time to socialize with people and play, they obviously cannot do this within a loo. so if you cannot give all of yourselves to the kitten, for the kittens sake, i would recommend a new home.
2007-07-05 06:15:54 · answer #7 · answered by Donotanswer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
many people will use a crate /cage for dogs and cats
If he is going to be in there all day get a big one so he has enough room to move around and only use a small litter box in there
and remember cats do not like to eat where they pee
so if the food and the litter box have to be in the same cage /room try to put them as far from each other as possible.
They have cages that are quit big and you could make different levels in there for him and if he could look out of the window to give him something to do.
You could add a scratching post and some toys with a cage there are ones you could attach to the cage and will move when he hits them just do not use any that he could get caught up in
A friend of mine uses a huge cage for hers and when she is home she leaves the door open and it is her space she loves it she feels safe there.
2007-07-05 06:14:21 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
As long as he's not getting depressed being locked up then go ahead and do it while your away. However locking him up at night because you can't sleep isn't fare to him. He needs to be with you as much as possible.
Kittens are like kids they're alot of responsibility, if you aren't ready for some sleepless nights then maybe you aren't ready for a cat. (Sorry to be so harsh but it's true).
2007-07-05 07:21:35 · answer #9 · answered by simply4sale_ebay 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
perhaps you could have a friend or neighbour go in and play with him during the day while you are gone?
This is an awefully long time for him to be alone.
Keep him busy so the kitten will sleep at night.
2007-07-05 06:14:55 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, I don't think so. I kept my dogs confined to an area until I could trust them in the rest of the house. If you're home, then yes, let him have the run of the house. Wait until you see all the surprising things he'll bring/play with. Congrats!
2007-07-05 06:08:21 · answer #11 · answered by LG 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋