Didn't think this through - advice please!

[WelshMoth]

Our 2 sisters arrived this afternoon - adopted from local cat protection place. They're 4
Months. Gorgeous!

We've been advised to keep them in one room to start, and certainly inside until they're 6
Months (to greatly reduce their killing instinct lady said).

We choose our kitchen diner as it's where I spend most time.
We also have a back door in here which used to be constantly open especially when cooking (I think I must have a pretty strong aversion to old cooking smells - wakes me up etc).

But because the kitties are here, the door is now constantly closed. Chilli is on the hob and already, I'm feeling like the fatty smells are sticking. Windows are open a little bit it won't be long before kitties are exploring and find them.

I wondered about those magnetic insect screens - ones I can put in the doorway. They're on amazon but I have no idea if a) they'll be firm enough to keep kitties in and b) whether theylll let enough smells out and fresh air in.

Any advice?!

I'd suggest just living with it . My lovely overlord stayed in her allotted safe space (DD's bedroom) when a kitten for about 48 hours. Then she got curious.
She could always go back to the safe space (and did) but she started to open up access to the rest of the house pretty quickly.

I think you can get specific screens to put on windows that are substantial enough to be cat proof.
Interesting advice about prey drive (suspect it's not true though!) We kept one of our cats in until that age and one went out sooner. Can't say there's much difference. Prey drive probably more down to personality.

No, those screens won't be strong enough. Keeping them in the living room would be a much better idea.

‘Flat cats’ is a company that make screens for doors & windows. Don’t use the cheap ones with magnets - they will definitely escape.

My two spent first fortnight behind sofa in sitting room, emerging only to eat and use tray!

Stay in until 6 months to reduce their killing instinct? Ok. That's a new one on me.
Mine lived in cages (fostered) until they came to us at 5.5 months old. Inside for a week then allowed out (very scared to go out, took a week to get out of the garden). Since then they kill everything.

Here's a link to Flat Cats.

I use them and they are very effective - let breezes in but no insects, and keeps the cats in OK.

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate your advice and suggestions. I think it's going to be really, really hard to contain them in this one room for 2 weeks or so - their curiosity is insatiable. The killer instinct theory is also new to me but I didn't want to question the lovely lady from the charity too much. I'm
happy to keep them in until they're 6 months.

Am quite concerned about one little cat though - her eyes are slightly too shiny and wet and she has been sneezing all evening. Am pretty certain that there was a droplet of blood in one of her sneezes this evening.

Phoning vet tomorrow but it was originally just for registration. Think I will need to take her

Bump

We too got kittens in spring and planned to keep them inside, in our kitchen diner but didn't factor in the hot weather over summer! They had free reign of the house though. Now they go out into the back, but don't stray far away. They are always in view.

Reduce their killing instinct? They're natural predators, not sure what trapping them indoors for months on end is going to do for them.

I wouldn't keep them in one room, if they want to roam is there a reason they can't/shouldn't?

I think a lot of cat advice says keep them in one room when you get them. When we got our 2 kittens that's what I planned on doing, as I didn't know any different, but within an hour or 2 of getting them we just let them go anywhere (inside)!

They were so inquisitive I just couldn't confine them to 1 room. Might have been different if they were scared to death or quivering in a corner but they were fine.

I'd say let your kitties have free roam of the house then you could shut the internal kitchen door and have back door open with no fear?

Also the advice about reducing the killing instinct??? Bizarre! How do you reduce an instinct in an animal? I suppose you could train a dog to withhold instinctive behaviour for a short time (i.e making them sit & wait before eating) but I really do not believe a cat's killing instinct can be reduced! Mine are house cats and want to pounce on any small bug that moves!

Thanks - I feel the same.
One of them is really poorly - sneezing, mucousy and snuffly. Phoning vets now.

You never reduce the killing instinct. I saw a country cat with a baby rabbit in its jaws recently with exactly the same expression on its face that my indoor suburban cat has when she carries a toy in her mouth.
As Jackson Galaxy (google him, he's ace) says: HUNT CATCH KILL , followed by EAT GROOM SLEEP. That is what all cats want to do.
Work around that.

Sorry to hear kitten is a bit poorly. Rescues often don't have the best start, what with Mum cat probably being unvaccinated and maybe not well nourished.

Sounds like one of them might have cat flu 😥

I wouldn't worry about keeping them in one room tbh, I always let my cats explore the house at their own pace.

I'd let them out when you feel they're ready and confident.

If one of them is ill you'll have to separate them anyway....

@bellinisurge I'll definitely remember that - thanks.

She's been checked over - just a cold at the minute so an anti inflammatory jab to clear her airways. Further check in 5 days to make sure they're ok. Hopefully the other will stay cold free, but not holding my breath.

What do you all do with cat poo? I'm feel a bit wrong about adding it to landfill or putting it down loo!

*I feel

I put it in the bin when emptying the tray but you can put the odd poo down the toilet.

bumping to knock all the cat pee threads off the front page.