How Long Should I Confine My Kittens?

If you're bringing a couple of adorable kittens into your home, it's up to you to make sure their transition is as comfy and easy as possible. One way in which to make things go as smoothly is by first confining the fluffballs -- as a safety measure.

  1. Small Space

    • Once you bring your kittens home, confine them to small and cozy spaces. Some suitable examples of these are spacious closets with walking space, bathrooms and offices. Keep them in confinement for a minimum of a day. If the kittens are especially meek and timid little things, you might want to confine them for up to a couple of weeks or so. Make sure the room is 100 percent hazard-free -- removing cords and keeping medicine well out of reach, for starters.

    Safety and Other Pets

    • Kittens are delicate and fragile animals, and temporarily confining them to a space you can supervise is beneficial for keeping them secure, whether you have other pets in your residence or simply want to keep the wee felines away from everyday household hazards. If you have other pets in your home, whether cats, dogs or anything else, you might want to confine your cuties for upward of seven days or longer. Just make sure their living spaces are equipped with the works -- water, food, bedding, scratching items, toys and litter pans. Caution and close monitoring are always important for bringing new animals together. Never introduce your new kittens to others until they've been cleared by a veterinarian.

    Acquainting Your Cuties with Their New Environments

    • Not only is confining the little guys beneficial for safety purposes, it also gives them some much-needed time to get used to unfamiliar environments. Do what you can to make the transition process as calm and pleasant as possible. Avoid shocking the wee things with too many new people all at once, for instance.

    Litter Training

    • Even if your kittens have access to your home when you're around, you can still confine them when you're not home, not only to keep them safe but also to encourage reliable litter box use. This might be necessary for two weeks, or as long as it takes for your kittens to begin independently going to their boxes.