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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Can I leave a kitten for 2 days?

69 replies

Hubblez · 11/12/2013 12:47

Hello, first post after a week of lurking!

I recently got a kitten but over Christmas I'm going to travel and stay with family, will be gone for 3 days and 2 nights but leaving the morning of the first and coming home the evening of the third day. The kitten will be 9 and a half weeks when we leave and won't have had its vaccinations so can't go into a kennel or anything. I've also got 2 large dogs but am taking them with me, I could take kitten too but it hasn't been introduced to dogs yet so this would be really awkward when visiting people as it means it would be trapped in a cat carrier the whole time OR left in a room alone in an empty house of a relative during the day and be with us at night (not sure how safe the area is of the house though) it just feels like along with the dogs this is going to be messy and stressful to take kitten and possibly unsafe

Would it be viable to leave the kitten behind in my house when we go? It has it's own empty room full of cat things so I would leave lots of food and water down as it eats when it's hungry so wouldn't gobble it all, or is leaving it a bad idea? I also have 2 guinea pigs I'd be leaving (in a different room) as I don't know anyone in the area (recently moved) who could look after them

Was originally going to be gone for a day but because I can stay in the relatives empty house it means I can stay for longer and see family properly who I haven't seen in 6 months

So what do you think is best to do with the kitten? I've never had a cat before so not sure if method 2 would work or if it is cruel, thanks for any advice

OP posts:
TheBunsOfPanettone · 11/12/2013 12:54

I think that's much too long a time to leave the kitten alone.

Try contacting reputable local rescues who may be able to put you on to a reliable sitter, who could come in once a day to feed your kitten and spend time with him/her. The rescue I volunteer for actually has a cat-sitting service with all proceeds going back to the sanctuary.

If that's really not possible I think it would be better to take him/her with you although I can see that's not ideal. 3 days is just too long for a kitten to be alone.

BunnyLebowski · 11/12/2013 12:55

No Shock

You cannot leave a 9 week old kitten on it's own for 3 nights.

I'm shocked you'd even consider it.

Take it with you or stay at home with it.

If you knew you were going away over xmas why did you get a tiny kitten?

Your pets, your responsibility. And that goes for all your pets not just the dogs.

IHeartKingThistle · 11/12/2013 12:56

I don't think you can leave a kitten that long, no. I will admit that we occasionally leave our old and grumpy cat for 2 nights (although I'm not sure we've left her for 3 days) but she is independent, set in her ways and hates catteries.

Our neighbour uses a cat feeding service, could that work? The lady comes in every day to check on the cat and feed it etc.

TheBunsOfPanettone · 11/12/2013 12:56

Ooops I forgot the guinea pigs - I really do think it's best if someone could come in.....

ChestnutsRoastingOnAnOpenFireG · 11/12/2013 12:56

Face. Palm.

MrsPnut · 11/12/2013 12:59

No way, it's like leaving a small toddler on it's own for 3 days.

We do leave our adult cat alone for 2 nights but she has a cat flap and there are people on our lane looking out for her but she is still very miffed with us when we get home.

FannyFifer · 11/12/2013 13:03

Ummm, no you can't leave a wee kitten alone for that length of time.

Original poster
Hubblez · 11/12/2013 13:04

I didn't know I would be away for more than a day when I originally got the kitten and as I said I know nothing about cats so wasn't sure if it would be ok to leave or not, obviously not!

I could get a cat feeding/sitting service, didn't really know those existed since I've never really been away at all since I've had animals (unless they came with us), will have a look at some of those now as that sounds like a good option, otherwise I guess kitty is coming with us!

OP posts:
gamerchick · 11/12/2013 13:06

Erm no its bloody irresponsible. It's still a baby :(

Preciousbane · 11/12/2013 13:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

noddyholder · 11/12/2013 13:14

No

Sparklingbrook · 11/12/2013 13:19
Shock
TheBunsOfPanettone · 11/12/2013 13:21

Do look into the cat sitting services but take great care to ensure they are reputable. If you end up having to take kitty with you and are worried about the safety of the house, you may want to hire a crate.

Also - do you have a decent carrier for your kitten whether or not you take her along this time? Just mentioning this because you're new to being a cat owner and some carriers don't lock terribly well. The plastic ones in particular can become ineffective after a few journeys (the nubs supposed to hold the lock in place can wear away) and it's best to get a solid metal one which locks by putting a bar through two hoops. I discovered this for myself after a very scary near miss.

Sparklingbrook · 11/12/2013 13:23

So the kitten is only 7 1/2 weeks now? That is very young.

TheBunsOfPanettone · 11/12/2013 13:25

Sparklingbrook I hadn't done the maths! Yes, that is very young indeed to be away from mum.

Sparklingbrook · 11/12/2013 13:28

How old was the kitten when you got it Hubblez?

Camargue · 11/12/2013 13:31

I wouldn't even leave one that age with a daily visit, tbh - I would get a catsitter to stay in the house - there are services that do that, though likely to be tricky over xmas. I think taking it with you is the best option, but really, please read up (lots of info online and in books) about what kittens need. 7-12 weeks is still really little - I don't like to leave mine, at 11 weeks, for more than 8 hours, and I have two. I actually think what you do with them at this point does impact their later personalities, sociability and so on, so it's not just about safety. They do still sleep a lot during the day, though, so if you take it and then have a good bit of time to play at the beginning and end of the day that should be ok.

NaturalBaby · 11/12/2013 13:37

Where did you get it from? The lady I bought my kittens from offered to look after them if we needed to go away for a day or two within a few months of getting them.
I only leave mine overnight with a relative to come see them for an hour or two a day, and they are over a year now plus there are 3 of them for company.

I would think about it if you are going to one place and staying there but it's not really ideal and depends on how far away it it - my cats have just about managed travelling for an hour to spend a weekend away but it was our second home so nobody else living there.

TheBunsOfPanettone · 11/12/2013 13:37

Was actually going to revise my opinion to 2 visits a day if you leave her assuming you can't get someone to stay in your house as Camargue suggests. She was adopted very young indeed and needs a lot of socialisation.

thecatneuterer · 11/12/2013 13:38

I think it should go back to it's mum if possible. It was too young to leave mum anyway. Definitely you can't leave it.

teenagetantrums · 11/12/2013 13:46

I wouldnt its only a baby, i leave my boys for two nights sometimes, but they are 4 and have each other and the run of the flat, any longer and a friend comes in to feed them and play with them for a while. Do you not have anyone who can pop in and say hi to the kitty?

HellonHeels · 11/12/2013 13:47

You cannot leave a kitten to fend for itself for that length of time. That would be very cruel.

You also cannot leave your guinea pigs without someone to care for them. That would also be extremely cruel.

Your little pets need a high level of care and attention, especially when they are babies. It's a shame you didn't think of this when you first decided to take on the responsibility for cats and guineas but it's good that you're thinking about it now.

You need to think carefully about caring for your pets; their welfare must come before anything you may want to do over the holidays and it is more important than your desire to see more of your family.

My view is that you should NOT go away and leave the pets at all, unless you can arrange a reputable pet sitter to either come twice a day OR to stay in the house and take care of them.

Ephiny · 11/12/2013 13:53

It would be different for an adult cat, but I think such a young kitten needs more than someone popping in once or twice a day.

Personally I would cancel my plans and stay home, but then I'm not keen on visiting relatives anyway.

stickysausages · 11/12/2013 13:55

We have left adult cats for a couple of nights, they're house cats & have each other for company... but a kitten!? No way, it's cruel :(

Take him with you. Could he stay in your bedroom?

Original poster
Hubblez · 11/12/2013 13:55

I got the kitten from an acquaintance who had bought it a week earlier (I know way too young) and didn't want it anymore and was going to "put it on the street to find its own home" basically he didn't give a toss about it so I took it as I had been planning on getting a kitten early next year and didn't want this one to end up in the wrong place

I do not have a cat carrier yet but I do have a cage which is the dogs old one but the kitten can fit through the bars of it, if I can't find a cat sitter and he comes with us then I will be buying a carrier to take him in. The journey is 3 hours or so though which is another reason I didn't really want to bring him as he won't be used to travelling and with no vaccinations is he even meant to go out of the house?

Regarding his care atm he has his own room in my house and every 2 hours or so I go in and take him into another room with me and play with him and give him attention/let him explore, I don't feel like I can let him roam yet as he's so small I won't know where he is (got him collar with a bell but it's too big so hasn't got it on) and would need to keep the dogs away and don't feel like it's safe to introduce them properly til kitten is bigger - anyone have any exp with this?

And yes booking a cat sitter with such short notice and just after Xmas might not be easy so he will have to come with us I think. He is also very bitey and scratchy in play, is there any way I can teach him like "that's too hard so stop", I tried distracting with toys but he's much more interested in my hand!

OP posts:
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