New kitten worries

[partdeux]

So our long awaited maine coon kitten is coming home next week, but suddenly I have all these questions and worries?
Is our house kittenproof? What should i look out for in terms of dangers in the house?
I usually open bedroom windows in the morning to let fresh air in, can i still do that or could he fall out?
I read that initially kitten should be just in one room of the house? With our layout it's a bit tricky to do that, is it important?
Also DC have sports activities every day next week, can i leave the kitten home alone for a few hours on his first few days?
Where would he sleep? Alone downstairs seems cruel? Take him to the bedroom?
Sorry it's a lot of questions! I'm panicking a bit!

No need to panic. Keeping him in one room to begin with is good because he might feel overwhelmed in his new home. Put all of his things in one room, food, water, litter tray, bed, toys, etc & a box for him to retreat into. Would you be happy to have him in your bedroom to begin with? Don't open your bedroom windows whilst he's in there on his own. Kittens are full of energy and far too curious for their own good. You'll learn to become aware of him and where he is, making sure he's safe. It just becomes 2nd nature.

The litter tray main coon slaves will soon be along to help.

Good luck.

Windows are a danger so need to be on the latch or they’ll jump out at that age.

It might not want to be confined to one room but you’ll find out when he arrives.

He’ll be ok for a few hours if you have to go out.

We got a kitten on Friday and he’s fine. Has free roam of the house, although he seems to prefer our bedroom.

Thanks!
I never considered putting him in the bedroom actually, he would be alone a lot though as we mostly live downstairs.
I could initially keep him in kitchen and living room and just kitchen for when we are out?
But then at night would be sad to leave him there...? We usually have all doors open in the house so will be odd to keep doors clised, but obviously doable if that's what he needs

We got our Maine coon 2 weeks ago, we have her settled in our bedroom with litter tray, climbing tree and food but she does come out when we are in. We have had to leave her so we make sure she is shut in our room with food water and a clean litter tray.

I know what you mean about the panic I too had this, this is my first Maine coon and they are very different to your average cat, my girl has no fear, is really friendly and vocal, she is amazing. I do currently make sure all windows are closed and the toilet lid stays down, she tries to get in the bath with the DC, she also loves climbing hence the climbing tree. Enjoy your new kitten Maine coons really are amazing.

I don't know if you need to keep all doors closed of you are in it depends initially if the rooms are kitten safe, my kitten gets into everything and eats things that's why I keep the DC rooms shut unless we are in.

We spend most of out time downstairs to, when we bought our kitten home we just wanted her to settle in one room so she felt safe and could escape there if she wanted to, she knows her litter tray is in there and tends to retreat there to sleep in the day, she then obviously sleeps there at night and during the day if we are working. Does that make sense? Initially I spent time in my room reading so she was not lonely but now she roams the house we just ensure we shut the windows and know roughly where she is.

Let's say we have him downstairs during the day in kitchen and living room and then upstairs at night- should i get a second litter tray upstairs or move the one from downstairs?
I honestly feel a bit overwhelmed at the moment

Kitten will choose where he sleeps, probably all over the place, probably somewhere really irritating for you.

Yes windows need to be shut, he won't fall out, he'll jump out and then go missing.

We did one room initially then free range, you soon learn kitten-proofing - ours are magnetically attracted to pins for example 8 months in it is only getting worse, not better.

How long is initially? ( the one room period i mean)
Few days or few weeks? So do you keep windows shut forever?!
Thanks everyone this is helping!

If you intend to keep him as an indoor cat, and/or if budgets allow, have a look at Flat Cats for windows. As well as keeping the cats in and the breeze still coming through, have the added advantage of keeping all but the smallest insects out .

Until kitten looked like it wanted to explore/we decided it was too cute not to see the rest of the house.

Depends a lot on how much of a scaredycat your kitten is but few days really.

And we still have windows shut 8 months in - the kittens only go out when we want them to go out. The windows will definitely have to be shut until kitten is ready to go outside and you know he will come back when called.

My cats stay in overnight so all windows are shut overnight anyway and all pleas from cats/kittens ignored - for their own safety and the good of the local bird population.

It's difficult to say how long a while is how long is a piece of string?? Everyone is different and it depends on your cat, if he is indoor or outdoor and your house set up my Maine coon is only 10 weeks so needs a second set of injections and to be spayed before I would let her out, even then I'm not sure what I am doing with her.

Meanwhile all external doors and windows stay shut.

Where are all the pictures of these lovely Maine Coon kittens?

ScreamingValenta I was hoping to see them, too.

You may have seen my girl on my other thread but I can post some more. These are not the best but all I can seem to post.

Will he be an indoor cat as he is a pedigree?

Windows will need to be permanently cat proofed in either case. Do you have restrictors on them that allow you to open just an inch for ventilation? Otherwise look into Flat Cats screens as mentioned upthread. Cats can and do fall/jump out of windows.

Be mindful of small gaps - i.e. under/next to kitchen units, your fireplace is if you have an open chimney, etc. Make sure children are very mindful to not let him escape from the front door. Some kittens will chew on electrical cables etc. Be careful of plants - are they all safe for cats? Never, ever bring lilies into the house, even a tiny amount of pollen/leaves is fatally toxic to cats.

Perhaps you should have thought this all through before committing to a cat?

What a little sweetheart, rupertpenryswife!

... just flicked between the pictures and it was as if he was winking .

We adopted a stray kitten 18 months ago. He was in his own room 24 hours a day for about 2/3 days but mainly because we have 2 older cats and I wanted them to have time to get used to his presence. (they could smell and hear him). After that, kitten had full range of house but went back into his room at night (other 2 cats have the kitchen and access outdoors at night).

Even without other cats, your kitten needs a place he feels safer in, a room where he can go and escape the hustle and bustle. Ours would go back into his original room occasionally for weeks after he had free reign of the house.

Yes to keeping windows closed. Also, if you keep him in a room with an open fireplace, block the chimney off - they will climb! Remove breakable from any shelves in that room. If you have curtains, esp ones that reach the floor, be prepared for them climbing them.

Ignore Shannith - that’s what this page is for, to ask for advice on all things kitty.
I’d try not to leave him for more than three or four hours at first.
Some kittens are adventurous and confident - ours made it clear he had no intention of being confined to one room. Others disappear under the sofa or up the chimney or whatever and don’t emerge for days.
Be careful of window blinds. Ours got caught in the blinds when he was a kitten and had to be rescued dangling by one leg. Thank goodness we were in. He bit me really hard, bless him, but was fine.
Also be careful of gathering up the kitten in a load of washing and putting it in the washing machine or tumble dryer. Someone was on here a few months ago who accidentally killed her kitten doing that. I imagine it’s harder not to notice a Maine coone though due to them being bigger than other kittens.
We had our boy in late July and just managed for the rest of the summer by opening windows he couldn’t get out of, like the bathroom, which has a push out top section.
I think he slept one or maybe two nights shut in downstairs before I bowed to the inevitable and let him in my room. Used to worry about squashing him in my sleep, but you kind of have an awareness of where they are on the bed.
Post some pics when you get him.
Ps gorgeous, Rupert

When our kitten was a few months old I went away for work and DH opened the bedroom window and left it. When he returned the kitten was out on the window ledge looking back in at the window, luckily he managed to grab kitten before she fell and got hurt. Kittens have no fear (Dcat is now 17 years old and is finally a lot less adventurous).

Thanks everyone!
Planning to keep him indoors mainly and to take him out with a lead. (I guess we'll see how that works out)
Thanks for the flat cats link , will definitely look into this. Do you think it's much different to just insect nets you can get on amazon?

Lovely kitty rupert!
I'll be sure to be back with a photo once we have him.

I have checked about our plants, I will chuck out the daffodils and hyacinths (they're almost done anyway) and then we just have a lemon tree, orchid and cactuses.

I have them in a few windows and they are very different to insect screens. They are much stronger, my Girlcat did try to test them when I first put them up & opened the window behind them, but she hasn't even marked them. They attach via very strong velcro - they have one half of the velcro stitched in to the hem of the fabric, and you get a roll of the other side to stick to your window frame. I got plenty of spare on the roll, so could move the screens to different windows if I wanted.

I promised a photo.
Here he is on his first morning at ours, looking at me fromthe nightstand.
He seems to be enjoying himself, but kept me up most of the night by hunting my toes and hands😬😀