For how long would you leave new kittens?

[LynetteScavo]

I've seen the most perfect 9 week old brother and sister kittens. I love them already. But I won't get them because they will be left alone for four hours each morning and four hours each afternoon.

Am I being soft?

No not really. 9 weeks is young. I suppose it's not awful if they've got each other.

Can they stay with mum a bit longer?.

We got our wee lola at nine weeks. She's been grand to be left alone. She has her bed and toys. So i would imagine two togethwr would be fjne.

9 weeks is a bit young but not ridiculously so.

Four hours will be fine. There's two of them so they'll either be playing, playfighting or sleeping (if my two were anything to go by!)

They will be company for each other and will trash your house whilst you're away but it'll be fine!

I got my last cats at 8 weeks old, they lived for 18 years and never trashed my house... MN has terrified me about getting new kittens!

They will be fine, especially as they will have each other.

They'll be fine... Definitely get two so they're company for each other - but do it!

Well someone else committed to the gorgeous little babies before me I'm being so dithery about getting kittens despite owning cats for the past 19 years. It seems like such a huge responsibility!

My senior cats were so dopey and placid, and self sufficient. I know kittens will be so different.

I'll be the first to say it..... why don't you rescue a pair of cats? Skip the madness of having two kittens!

We've just had two new kittens (we were fostering the pregnant Mother cat for Cat's Protection).

They're fine to be left alone for four hours especially as they're in a pair. They need to be fed three or four times a day at that age but you can do morning, lunch, when you get back and then later in the evening.

They'll spend most of their time playing together and then passed out together when you're not there (pretty much the same as when you are there).

Nine weeks is young...absolute ideal is 10-12 weeks...but it's not unreasonably young for them to leave Mum.

But agree with previous poster....if you're unsure about getting such young kittens take a look at your local RSPCA or Cat's Protection and they'll have plenty of adult cats who are lovely and affectionate and docile looking for homes. IMO they know on some level that you have rescued them and tend to bond with you very closely.

This is the lovely three year old Mummy cat who is fostered with us at the moment (with one of the kittens) and who is just about to be adopted...

What a beautiful cat stumbly!

I think they should be ok if confined to a couple of rooms. We found ours when they were 3 weeks old and I was with them 24/7 (WFH) till they were 10/11 weeks when I had to go away for 2 weeks. DH would pop home at lunch, but they were alone for 4-5 hour stretches.

He did set up a camera one day to see what they were doing (he's a scientist, I think he thought it would be a fun experiment) and apart from play fighting every now and again, they slept non stop.

We had an open plan kitchen/lounge at the time, so left them in there with the litter tray, food etc and made sure there were no gaps that they could sneak and hide in.

Well, I am now the mummy to two 8 week old kittens!

A girl and boy - the boy is bonkers! When he's awake he's all over the place

The girl was so scared on the car journey home she hung upside down on the cat carrier, mewing. 11yo DD was in tears, I was telling DH to turn the car around and take it back...(yes I was saying it, I thought she was possessed by the devil ! ) Fortunately DH didn't listen to me, and she has been absolutely adorable and as calm as can be expected since we've been home.

They have been fine while we've been out. They're so active when we're home I think they must just sleep when we're not with them. But I'm so glad we have two, one would definitely have been lonely.

My biggest concern is that the boy is so attached to the girl. If he can't see her he mews, and he snuggles up against her when sleeping. She seems to be able to take or leave him. Do you think he'll grow out if this?