Kittens between two and four months of age should only be left alone four to six hours at a time, not a full workday. When they're a little older, around six months, you can be gone all day. But they'll certainly be happier if you can check in on them at lunchtime or ask a friend to stop by.
Kittens younger than four months of age should not be left alone for more than a couple of hours. Over four months, they can handle up to five hours. When they turn six months, they should be able to handle your 8-hour workday. Keep in mind that each cat is unique.
As your kitten gets bigger and more confident, you may find they can stay alone for longer periods of time. By the time kittens are six months old, they can be left alone for the entire workday. You may have heard that two kittens are better than one.
Provide them with some toys, maybe filled with food or treats. These will keep your kitten entertained and help them relax. Leave the radio or TV on as a distraction. If possible, having another kitten as a playmate can alleviate their boredom as well as teach your kitten valuable social lessons.
In general, a kitten between 8 weeks to 4 months can be left alone for about 4 hours. After 6 months, they can spend close to 8 hours on their own. Leaving your cat alone all day is not ideal which is why you might want to consider adopting two pets so they can keep each other company while you are not home.
When you're gone, make sure your house is kitten-proofed. Younger kittens might do better when confined to a small, safe room with lots of toys, water, food, and litter. Kittens love little crinkle toys, catnip-filled toys, and mouse toys. They can stay entertained endlessly with simple toys like these.
Kittens younger than six months are developing rapidly both mentally and physically and crave a strong bond with their humans. Being separated from them for long periods leads to loneliness and anxiety, resulting in various health and behavioural problems.
The bond between a cat and their caregiver can be very strong, and therefore cats sometimes become upset when left alone. Vocalization or excessive meowing might occur when your cat is confined to a room and cannot get to you. In more severe cases, your cat may be suffering from separation anxiety when left alone.
Some single indoor-housed cats become anxious when left alone for long periods of time. These cats appear to be unusually sensitive to their surroundings, and may be very attached to their owners. Here are some signs of "separation anxiety" in cats: Excessive vocalization (crying, moaning, meowing)
Yes, you can keep your cat in the cat cage while you are at work. If your cat is litter box trained, they can stay in the cage all day without having any accidents. Make sure to provide plenty of food and water to your cat while they are in the cage.
Anyone simply "present" in their life is someone they may remember, but not associate with any emotion. But as long as you and your cat have shared a pet or two, and as long as you fed them a few of their favorite meals, your cat will remember you as well no matter how long you are gone.
Yes, cats can get lonely. For all their solitary behaviour, cats are social creatures that need stimuli and interaction as much as humans do. Companionship, whether with humans or other cats, is an important part of any healthy feline's life. Leaving your cat at home while you go to work should not prove problematic.
Single kitten syndrome is the idea that young kittens, when raised with other young kittens and cats and then adopted into a home by themselves, can become aggressive, anxious, stressed, and even develop behavioral issues like inappropriate chewing/scratching and inappropriately using the litterbox.
Plan to keep your kitten in their special room for at least the first 24 hours, and up to two weeks. This can be a great way to let them gradually get used to the smells and sounds of their new house. It's especially important if you already have pets in the house.
Cats, while often independent creatures, still crave attention and love, in addition to their obvious nutritional needs of fresh water, clean litter, and food. If you decide to bring a cat or kitten into your home, you should be prepared to spend at least 20 minutes a day giving your cat loving one-on-one attention.
Still, there may be times when you must leave your adult cat for overnight or longer. (Kittens younger than four months should not be left alone for more than four hours. Older than that, they can handle another hour or so.
If your TV is on all day when you're home, leaving it on while you're gone may be calming for your cats since it mimics what things are like when you are there. However, if they're not used to having background noise all day, you may be better off leaving the TV off.
Kittens & Young Cats
Kittens under 4 months old should not be left on their own for more than 4 hours at a time. If because of your lifestyle, your cat will need to get used to time alone, begin training your kitten by gradually increasing the amount of time you are out of the house.
Cats are naturally solitary animals and are often happy without the company of their own species. They are territorial animals who don't like conflict with other cats. Introducing a new cat to an existing cat in the household takes time and patience – but don't worry, we have advice for this!
Feeling guilty about leaving your pet throughout the day is a sign that you care. You may experience guilt because you love and care for your pet and do not like the thought of them being home by their self without you.
Avoid ignoring or scolding your kitten.
Your kitten may not have access to its litter or may be out of water. Likewise, don't scold your kitten for crying too much. It is not only not likely to stop it from crying, but may make it fear you.
Wait until he's of a size to make that an unlikely risk. My main rule of thumb is to wait until the kitten is old enough to get up on the bed on his own — typically around his 6-month birthday. Cats like to sleep up high.
This brings us to the question – is it OK to leave my cat alone for 12 hours? Yes, it is OK. In fact, cats that eat dry food can be left on their own for up to 48 hours if, and only if there is also fresh water available. Kittens, on the other hand, should not be left without company for more than eight hours.
Introduction to the New Home: All kittens need to be confined to a very small room when they first get to their new home (this could be a bathroom, small office or well ventilated walk-in closet). Confine your new kitten for at least 24 hours (up to several weeks for shyer kittens).