Leaving kitten alone.

[Dogmatix34]

I'm going to stay at my mum's with DC next week and leaving our 16 week kitten with DH. He will feed her in the morning at 7am but will go out at least 2 of the evenings and may not be back till 11ish. My mum says she is happy for me to bring kitten to hers (she doesn't go out yet). The drive is 75 minutes without traffic. Do you think kitty will be better off at home or coming with us to a strange house?

I had to take one of my kittens with me once when I went to stay with my mum for a weekend who lived about 1.5 hours away. My kitten was probably about the same age as your kitten at the time and I hadn't had her long. She had come from a crap home where she wasn't fed or looked after properly and I was still trying to build her up and she needed to be fed little and often. I also had two adult cats at the time which my neighbour fed for me but I didn't like the thought of leaving her.

She travelled well but did dirty in her cat carrier and as I was on the motorway it wasn't safe to pull over. I had to drive with the window open - yuk! She was a little disorientated the first night but she slept in the bedroom with me. It wasn't ideal to be honest as I spent most of the time worrying she wouldn't use her litter tray and dirty in my mum's house but she was very good and I was happier having her with me than leaving her at home.

I'd take kitty. Our two year old boy has always been used to going to my mom's though it's admittedly only a five min car journey. But we've just got back from our second holiday with him - journey of about three hours - and he is fine in the car and at self catering accommodation. He has also stayed with mom while we've gone away for a few days (flight and hotel do couldn't take him that time).
I think if you go it when they are young they are more adaptable.

Ps we have litter tray on floor in back seat and cat is let out of his carrier. He has never used the tray in the car though. He spends most of the journey wedged over the handbrake between the two front seats. I know some people are very against the idea of cats being loose in cars but it works for us.

Thanks very much for your replies. I'm now thinking I maybe should take her.

Is there anyone who could pop in during the day whilst DP is out?

My cat absolutely hates travelling in the car and would scream the entire journey. In your shoes I'd leave her at home which she's (probably) still getting to know and see if someone could pop in for a half hour each day (or even twice) to feed her and play with her. Could a neighbour watch tv in your house instead of theirs for a wee while?

We have lovely cat-loving neighbours who will be doing exactly that when we're in Spain but I feel too cheeky asking them to do anymore.

If they are cat-lovers I'm sure they won't mind having to play with a little baby kitten an extra few times, esp as they won't have to do any of the nasty stuff (ie the litter tray) as DP will be back soon.

I'd take the kitten with me. It'll have a cushy life for the next 20 years so a bit of travelling won't kill it.