Where Is a Good Place to Put a Kitten at When You're Gone?

A kitten needs a lot of supervision to keep it from getting into tight spaces or ingesting something harmful. While constant supervision is an ideal situation, sometimes you need to leave the kitten alone to go to work or run errands and there is no one else available to watch the kitten. In your absence, put the kitten in a safe space until you return.

  1. The Nest

    • A very young kitten, under three weeks old, cannot regulate its body temperature and can become chilled easily, according to the Kitten Rescue website. Place a kitten this age into a box with sides high enough so that the kitten cannot accidentally fall out of it. Line the box on one side with a blanket and the other with a blanket wrapped around a heating pad set to low; this way the kitten can crawl to the unheated side if it becomes too hot. Put the box in a draft-free, temperature controlled room.

    Safety

    • A kitten older than three weeks old can walk and explore its environment. Because of this, you need to take precautions to kitten-proof its space, especially when it will have no supervision. Set up a spare bedroom for the kitten, with food and water dishes, a blanket wrapped around a heating pad, and a litter box available to it at all times. Tuck away electrical cords under a plastic carpet runner to prevent the kitten from chewing on them. Close and secure all windows in the room and pick up any small objects such as coins, jewelry or yarn that the kitten could ingest. Make sure to close all toilet lids to prevent accidental drowning.

    Pets and Children

    • Keep your kitten confined to its room and away from other pets and young children. Introduce the kitten to other pets in the home, such as dogs or older cats, slowly, over a period of a few weeks. Do the same with children and the kitten, always supervising the interactions between them. Never leave a child under six years old alone with the kitten in your absence, recommends PetPlace.com. Only when both pets and older children consistently handle the kitten gently can you leave them alone together when you are gone.

    Warnings

    • A kitten under four weeks old needs bottle feedings every two to three hours and you cannot leave it alone for longer than that between feedings. A kitten from four to 10 weeks old needs both bottle and solid food feedings every six to eight hours. You can free feed a kitten older than 10 weeks old with dry kitten kibble, so you can leave it alone during the day. While unsupervised, provide the kitten with toys to play with, give it a scratching post and a leave a DVD for cats playing on your television for it to watch. These activities prevent boredom and destructive behaviors.