i my new kitten arrives on saturday morning and i have to go to work on mon is is better to keep kittie in one area while i am out? I was going to allow him into my bathroom (cos that is where his litter will be) and into the hall and was thinking even my bedroom just while i am out all day. Then when i am in in the evenings he can have the whole house.

x

On arrival home with your new kitten, place the kitten while still in the carrier in a suitable warm room where the kitten can be safely kept for a few days. Let the kitten come out to explore in it's own time. Make sure there is a litter tray in the room and that the kitten knows exactly where it is. The kitten's room should also have a bowl of food and water kept a suitable distance from the litter tray. Cats are reluctant to use a litter tray that is too close to the cat's food. Let your new kitten come to you in it's own time.

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Getting to know your Kitten
Turkish Van Kittens bred by Tansdale Turkish Vans and Bengals.

It can take days or even weeks to establish a relationship with a kitten so please be patient. Kittens need time to bond with you and before long your new kitten will become your best friend.

For the first few weeks, your kitten shouldn't be allowed to roam your home unsupervised when you are not there. You should put your kitten back in their own room with their litter tray, food and water. Make sure your new kitten also has a comfortable bed or basket to sleep in with some toys to play with.

It may be worth considering obtaining two kittens from your breeder especially if you will be out of the home for most of the day. This way they will always have a constant playmate and two cats can exercise each other far more effectively than you can.

Please remember that your new kitten should be kept indoors at all times and shouldn't be allowed outdoors until they are old enough to cope with outdoor life.
New Kitten Advice and Guidelines

I don't think it's wise to let them have the bedroom while you are out. As long as they have a warm bed/blanket in the hall, they will be ok. When you come home you can play with him and tire him out.

Hi

thanks for the advise. so if i put his food and bed in the hall will it be ok to have his litter in the bathroom which is half way up hall? my hall is a bit too narrow to leave everything there at once. my flat is quite small so wouldnt like the thought of him just being stuck in hall all day with nowhere to go play.

Hi. I got my kitten last weekend and she has made herself at home very quickly! When I am out she is kept in the conservatory with her litter box, food and water, toys and her basket. She seems quite happy there and sleeps there at night times too (I put a microwave heated pad in her basket at night to keep her cosy.)
I also have an older cat and though the two have been introduced I have not let them alone together as yet. The older one hisses and then runs away but I'm sure my kitten would chase him if I let her go!
Good luck with you new kitten and I hope he settles in very quickly.

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If there are things dangling or which can be used by the kitten to climb too high see if you can hide them or move them. Kittens can be silly and get themselves into trouble.

thanks i will defo kitten proof my bathroom before he comes. i'm also just a bit worried that at 8 wks its a bit cruel to leave him all day. i'm trying to arrange a neighbour to pop in and see him but is it not best to get him into a routine from the start. i dont mean to sound like i want him obeying rules etc just he's my first kittie (having only had a house trained cat before) and dont want to cause him any unnecessary stress!

I second that because Waffles fell down the toilet when we first got her. Also, remove bleach and anything poisonous like that just to be safe and any trailing wires.
I think everyone else has said it all really. I do a similar thing. Waffles stays in one room when we are out and then has full run of the flat when we are home... not that the lazy lump takes advantage of it though
Good luck and please post pictures when you can

ummm. This is a hard one for me to answer really and I am sure one of the more experienced can answer better. As I have said I am home most of the day with Waffles but when we first got her I did go out for about six hours and leave her. I was VERY anxious and expected the flat to be a complete mess when I came back but she was fine.
I think the best thing that you can do is just play with him LOADS when you are with him. As I work from home I can't play with Waffles all the time and she seems to know when playtime is now so they can get into a routine.
I think it is your call at the end of the day. There are pros and cons to people coming and checking on him when you are at work.
I would be tempted to leave him one day and see how he copes - you will probably find that he will be fine and your anxieties will start to fade - that is what happened to me. If you get someone to come in then eventually one day that person will be unavailable and one day he will have to spend the whole day alone.

Good luck and sorry for the rambling.

It's a good idea for your neighbour to check. Ask the neighbour not to make too much of fuss. It only emphasizes the loneliness, if the cat does feel lonely that is. If your kitten has toys he will probably amuse himself.