Leaving Kittens on Their Own: What to Consider
If you decide to acquire a kitten, you are committing to a great responsibility. After all, the life expectancy of a cat is around 15 years. Some animals grow even older.
In addition, young animals in particular need a lot of attention in the first months of life. So you may be wondering how long you can leave your kitten on their own. We will give you the answer to this question below.
Leaving kittens on their own – the main points at a glance
- Kittens should be gradually accustomed to being alone.
- Up to four months of age, kittens should be left for no longer than two or three hours at a time.
- From the age of six months, it is usually possible to leave cats alone for eight or nine hours if necessary.
- Ideally, you should keep two animals together so that the kittens always have company.
- In order to be able to leave kittens on their own, the apartment must be cat-friendly and safe.
Getting kittens gradually accustomed to being on their own
It goes without saying that you shouldn't suddenly leave a kitten alone for several hours. Instead, introduce the kitten to it gradually. That way, they learn that it's normal that you're not always around, and they trust that you will always come back.
Limit yourself to 15 to 30 minutes when leaving the home the first time, and then gradually increase the amount of time you leave the kitten on their own.
Note that each animal may react differently when left alone at home for the first few times. It is therefore possible that your kitten will cope very well with it from the start or that the little four-legged friend turns out to be particularly anxious and that you therefore need a little bit more patience. The most important thing is that you adapt to the needs of the kitten.
Natural relaxation remedy for kittens
If your kitten initially finds it difficult to be left alone by you, giving Shiimun Calm may be useful. Shiimun Calm is a natural food supplement with a special blend of ingredients such as shiitake and green tea that can help to calm anxious and nervous cats.
Of course, this doesn't mean that you no longer need empathy or that you don't have to take the time to get your kitten used to being alone. However, with Shiimun Calm you can at least help the little four-legged friend to relax and become a little calmer.
Get to know Shiimun Calm for Cats
From what age and for how long can you leave a kitten on its own?
If your kitten is younger than four months, you should leave the four-legged friend for a maximum of two or three hours, even after the acclimatisation period. With increasing age, longer phases of being alone are possible.
From the age of six months, it is quite possible to leave the adolescent four-legged friend alone for eight or nine hours, provided that they cope with it well and the indoor cat does not lack anything in their home.
Leaving a kitten with a playmate
Ideally, your kitten doesn't have to be left all alone, but has the company of a conspecific. Even though cats are often considered to be loners, the four-legged friends really appreciate contact with other cats.
You can keep a cat on your own. However, if you have the opportunity, we recommend that you buy two kittens at the same time. In this way, the animals always have a playmate and it is also easier for the kittens if you have to leave them alone.
Leaving kittens in a cat-friendly home
In order for your kittens to feel comfortable when they are left alone, it is of course important that their home offers the little indoor cats everything they need. This includes not only a filled food and water bowl.
In addition, the following items are particularly important for your four-legged friend:
- At least one clean, easily accessible litter box should be available for each animal.
- Your kittens need some comfortable places for sleeping to retreat to.
- A selection of cat toys suitable for kittens on their own is usually well received by young cats.
- A scratching post and opportunities to climb are very important for the well-being of the kitten.
Also, make sure your home is cat-friendly. This means, among other things, that you have to remove houseplants that are toxic to cats and always keep toxic substances such as cleaning agents or food that is unsuitable for cats out of the reach of the small four-legged friends.
Leaving kittens on their own – our conclusion
As you can see, kittens need quite a while after moving into their new home to settle in and until they can sometimes be left alone for longer. You should definitely be aware of this fact before you decide to acquire a cat. After all, it is your responsibility to ensure that the animal does not lack for anything and that the four-legged friend gets enough attention from you despite work and other obligations in everyday life.