Tips for new cat

[SkyBlue1987]

We have a new young kitten who we’ve been keeping in the bathroom over night since we got him a few days ago. His litterbox is in the bathroom. He’ll need a bit more space overnight soon to run around if needed so ideally we would contain him to the living room area at night. However that means installing a gate so he can’t get to the hallway and bedrooms (and bathroom) during the night. So we’d have to move his litterbox each night into the living room - is that likely to confuse him? I am new to owning cats. We have toddlers so need to leave our bedroom doors open at night which is why he can’t have access to the hallway. He’s still to bitey at the moment to sleep in our beds.

First of all, how old is he? He sounds very little if he is still biting? Secondly, what kind of gate are you thinking of to keep him in anywhere? Cats can jump really high and slip through the smallest of gaps. Really, only a shut door will keep him contained. And even then, cats can be really clever at opening doors! The litterbox really isn't a problem, if he is reliably using it, then moving it shouldn't be a problem, just leave a bit of wee or poo in there and he will know. Although personally I'd suggest having a litter tray in the bathroom and the living room in the same place all the time. How long are you planning on keeping him contained?

A safety gate will not 'contain' an adolescent or adult cat. I know this because we used them to isolate the cats' food and litter from our dog, because the cats could easily leap them and the dog couldn't. You'll need to shut the appropriate doors, but be warned he may scratch at them and pull your carpets up if he wants to get in/out.

I would avoid moving the litter tray about - you are better off having two trays if you need him to go in a different place sometimes.

Re. the biting - you need to discourage this. Shout 'oww!' if he bites, as a protesting cat would protest, and immediately disengage and walk away so he learns that the attention stops if he bites you.

He’s only 12 weeks ago, he can’t get over the baby gate yet so we’ll use that. We do try to discourage the biting so fingers crossed it’ll stop and he’s not just an aggressive cat. But at the moment I don’t trust him not to claw the kids while they are asleep.

He’s just 12 weeks old so very little. We’ll have to keep him contained as long as we need to (once he’s a tad less bitey/playful). At the moment I just don’t trust him not to claw the kids while they are asleep.

Two trays. He will get past a baby gate unless he's a complete pudding.
The biting is playing - don't use your hands as toys, use wands and suchlike.
Cats in bedrooms are a recipe for being woken up all the time (kicked mine out at 5am having got fed up with the grooming and wandering around)

I have no useful advice except to issue a reminder about cat tax.

A good rule for litter box numbers is 1 for each cat plus 1 extra, so you could do with a 2nd litter box regardless.

Is he ok on his own in the bathroom? Does he have a comfy bed to sleep in? My cats were very attached to their donut bed for their first few years and slept there every night - placed on a piece of furniture in my bedroom. You could try settling him in your room at night. My kittens weren’t jumping in my bed at night to bite me.

You might want to post your question (and a picture of your new kitten ❤️) in the litter tray
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/the_litter_tray

If he's only 12 weeks old, he really shouldn't be alone. Single cat syndrome really is a thing. Did you adopt him from a charity? They shouldn't really be a singleton under 16 weeks as they don't have appropriate company to learn from, which is why he is biting you. As someone else said, you really are going to have to nip that in the bud. Squeal "OWWWWW!" quite loudly whenever he scratches or bites and kind of whimper. Like another kitten might. Sounds dramatic, but you really need to make them understand and quickly. And teach your toddlers to always have kind hands, they are never to young to start learning how to behave around cats.

As for the gate, if he's left alone behind it for more than 2 minutes, he's going to be over or through it. A baby gate is simly NOT going to contain a 12 week old kitten.