Mine still use the crate to sleep in.

I used a baby gate at the bottom of the stairs, not really for the kittens but for our grandson and it worked a treat for the kittens as they could run through between the bars whereas our dog couldn't

I still have a fireguard in front of the fire again it was really for our grandson but I feel better knowing the cats can't harm themselves.

You need to be aware that kittens can jump and climb.

Sue

I was also wondering if small kittens could get through the gaps in the bars? Reminds me of a time when I had a wooden decking style fence put up across the patio to keep my little yorkie from dashing down the garden after foxes. I explained that I had to have very narrowly spaced slats but the fencing bloke didn't realise how skinny my dog is and she was straight through them and off down the garden straight away. I had to put some really ugly chicken wire across my beautiful new fencing. It might just be worth putting an ad on your local Freecycle asking for a crate or the loan of a crate, you could be lucky.

We have introduced 5 cats to present cats [2 of them being brothers] and first one we did, the eldest cat was about 2 or 3 when we got an 8week old kitten and she MOTHERED him and she was never the same when he got knocked down two years later, we introduced them face 2 face


Then we got Jack a few years later, he was 6months old and a boisturus young male and jessie was i think 6 years old or maybe 7 and she's never really taken to him, we divided them for a few days so they could see eachother before being able to be with eachother


Then we got a 4ish year old persian, smokey, no one knew her age or much of her history, just that she was a breeding machine amongst other stuff. She was just put in with jessie and jack and well, she was so laid back we really neednt of worried, she learnt her place quickly


Then a month ago we got two kittens 3-4months old, cos we lost smokey to cancer 18months ago. And we put them all in together and the hell we had! hahahah jack would sit in a corner by the livingroom doorway and any sign of them and he'd growl and hiss, jessie woudlnt come into the livingroom if they were there and they didnt really give two hoots about the elder two. Now, a month later and jessie puts up with them, but will swipe them [well, she 15 or 16years old, she cant be dealing with young uns now haha] and jack is like a big brother, he plays with them and doesnt realise how rough he is til they screach and now outside he's watching over them and taking them places outside the garden and bringing them back!



So, altho keeping them apart at first might seem an easier option, personally i think just put them in and let them get on with it, its scary at first but a couple days and it will start to settle

Okay I just plonked Tigsy right in the same room as Timmy

It went okay, lots of hissing and spitting at first, then Timmy got curious. Now one month later they are inseperable and sleep together, eat together, go to the toilet together, gang up on mummy together

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