When is My Kitten Old Enough to be Left Alone?

Introduction

Recently I have had a number of queries from potential customers who have got kittens and they are now thinking about how they might be looked after when they want to go away and if they are able to leave their kittens overnight.

How long can you leave a kitten alone?

Kittens should really be with their mother until they are 12 weeks old which allows for the weaning process to take place, it is often suggested that 10 weeks is old enough but kittens removed from their mothers early can show behavioural traits around food and separation anxiety or indifference as they grow up.

It is widely agreed that kittens under 4 months shouldn’t really spend any longer than 2-4 hours on their own and as they get older it is possible to increase this time slowly, from the age of 4-5 months they can spend around 5 hours on their own and then 8 hours when they reach 6 months.

If you do have a kitten and need to be at work / in the office it is advisable to ask a friend to pop in for around 30 minutes midway through the day or you could enlist the services of a cat sitter who offers kitten care. It's worth remembering that the more people your kitten gets to know the more sociable it will hopefully become as it grows into an adult cat. 

Cats are social animals regardless of what some people think and leaving a kitten on their own for too long can cause anxiety, stress and loneliness. Kittens need to be fed more often than adult cats and they love a bit of crazy playtime! 

What can I do to help my kitten feel safe when I am away?

There are lots of things you can do to make your kitten feel safe  when you are away 

• You can leave a t-shirt or jumper with your smell on it on their favourite snoozing spot.
• Leave out a puzzle feeder to get their attention whilst making them work for their treats!
• Leave a variety of toys available, and rotate them so they don't get bored.
• Leave the radio on so there is background noise and human voices.
• Ensure your Kitten has access to a scratching post.
• Enlist the services of a cat sitter or friend to come in and spend some time with your kitten.

When I’m not here, how do I keep my kitten safe?

We all love kittens, they are gorgeous, ridiculously cute, very nosey, a bit crazy and often the source of much amusement which is why they also need us to be aware of the possible exploits they might get up to.

Kittens are inquisitive and just love to explore their home and this type of behaviour becomes more prevalent when it's quiet when they get bored and their usual source of entertainment isn't around i.e. YOU.

Here are some suggestions to keep your kitten safe 

• Think about confining them to a couple of rooms 
• Make sure any toilet lids are down and washing machines are shut 
• Beware of plants that can be toxic to cats e.g. daffodils and Lilies.
• Make sure any toys left aren't dangling or hanging as they could get caught in the strings, also ensure cords from blinds are tied up.
• Move anything valuable out of the way, kittens are great climbers and things easily get knocked off.
• Keep windows closed, you’d be surprised how high and quickly Kittens can jump!

Don't forget kittens do grow up really quickly and become calmer adult cats at around 12 months at which point it is fine to leave a cat for up to 24 hours but it's really important that they are not left on their own for any longer without being seen by a cat sitter or friend to ensure they are well, fed and given some attention to stop them becoming lonely and stressed.

Please also take a look at our previous article:  A Guide to Caring For Your New Kitten

Sandra James

Owner & Founder

The Cat Butler was set up by Sandra James in recognition of the fact that a stay in a cattery can be unsettling for many cats and also their owners.