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The litter tray

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

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Original poster

Would you crate train a kitten?

67 replies

FoxRedBitch · 26/01/2020 18:13

I know there are mixed feelings about crate training dogs.

I am getting a new kitten he will be 9 weeks old. I have an 8 year old child and a Labrador. I was thinking that maybe it could be a quiet space for him to escape as well as being somewhere that he could be put for a short time when perhaps the front door is open etc.

I would cover the crate so that it was a nice dark space.
Has anyone tried this?

OP posts:

SaskiaRembrandt · 27/01/2020 10:12

I used to have a half Siamese cat, she was absolutely beautiful and really intelligent. Very vocal though.

To get the kitten and the dog used to each, maybe try putting a safety gate across the door of the room the kitten is in so they can see and smell each other. That worked with my cat when my son's dog was visiting. Disclaimer: my cat and my son's dog are not what you'd call agile, if your pets are it may not be an option.

Fluffycloudland77 · 27/01/2020 13:39

“Half Siamese” The dogs screwed then isn’t she? 😹. I can see it now, cat riding Labrador using claws as reins.

The kitten sounds stunning.

Beamur · 27/01/2020 13:45

I crated my dog to introduce her to the kittens
I can't see the problem with shutting a kitten in a kitchen overnight as long as all potential hazards are dealt with. It's where mine sleep, it's the warmest room and they have a window to look out of.
Rescues usually rehome from 8 weeks, and neuter at 8/10 depending on weight. Only breeders keep until 12 weeks.

NeverDropYourMoonCup · 27/01/2020 13:52

Mine have the back of the settee, behind the armchair, the box behind the armchair, the box on top of the box behind the armchair, a bed, two other boxes, a spare room, two hampers on the landing, the main bed, under the bed, top of the wardrobe, under the kitchen table and on the settee with us.

One still chooses to sit halfway up the stairs and the other likes to sleep on the coffee table. Occasionally, they'll sleep on the armchair or DP's office chair.

There is no way that they could tolerate being caged - they want freedom to move up, down, under and halfway up things.

bellinisurge · 27/01/2020 14:02

When we first got our rescue kitten, I used a dog crate with a permanently open door and her food, litter tray and water (spaced away from each other) . A a bed, toys and some hidey spaces set up. She used it as her base for a day or two then took over the rest of the house.

Fleetheart · 27/01/2020 14:05

OP do you think that’s a no then

PuppyMonkey · 27/01/2020 14:10

Crate a kitten? No.

Cardboard box a kitten? Now you’re talking, OP.

We had a kitten who was quite partial to a box we had saying “50 Pig Ears.” God, he loved that box.

IME, giving a kitten somewhere to escape to up a bit higher is a good plan, so s/he can feel safe.

I’ll be back for the pictures ok OP?

Booboostwo · 27/01/2020 14:24

I’ve done it twice with two sets of kittens. I used the large dog crate for the GSD so the kittens had a lot of space. There was room for a litter tray, bed and toys. It was the perfect solution to make sure the, comparatively, tiny kittens were safe around the four dogs until everyone got used to each other. None of the four kittens were stressed, but of course I didn’t just shove them in there. I closed the door when they were tired and sleepy, I fed them in there to create positive associations and let them out as soon as they woke up.

PickwickThePlockingDodo · 27/01/2020 14:42

I will post a pic when I pick him up, he is half Siamese so he is white/grey with bright blue eyes. He is gorgeous.

Aww cute. Could you stretch to getting 2? The kitten will settle much easier with a sibling and it wouldn't be so bad to leave them in the kitchen overnight if they have each other.

MontStMichel · 27/01/2020 14:49

I wouldn't dream of it - I had never heard of it! How to terrify a cat!

When we got our two kittens, they spent the first two days hiding behind the settee! We coaxed them out from behind the settee, by sitting on the floor playing with their squishy balls - they came out to join us.

They both have igloo beds, and a cat tree, although actually they spend most of their time on our beds!

IME, any kitten will soon put a dog in its place - firmly under the kitten's paw!

BitConfused28 · 27/01/2020 14:57

A local cat rescue does this with rescued feral kittens. And that is what they are comfortable with their fosterers doing it. The kits seem totally fine with it

Same with my local cat rescue, i got a very timid adult female and they advised me to keep her in her crate for a week or so ( we left the door open ) but it had her litter tray and toys in there and her food just outside the door, she stayed in there for weeks! It was her safe place, but she wasnt locked in she could of gone out if she wished

I think the crate is a good idea for a safe place but just dont lock it in,

Rainbowbabymummy · 27/01/2020 15:00

I have two cats and I know they would absolutely hate it, whenever they need quiet time they disappear and find there own little spaces (one at the window ledge and the other on top on or under the bed) they've been like that since they were kittens

salsmum · 27/01/2020 15:02

Dogs are den animals so take to the crate easier cats on the other hand probably not but they do like to be up high or in an igloo type bed so maybe a cats play platform might be better

Booboostwo · 27/01/2020 15:10

There is no reason why you can’t put a box for cats that like to hide or a platform for cats that like to sit up high within a crate.

viccat · 27/01/2020 15:15

I don't know why the OP is getting such a hard time tbh. It's not a bad idea to use a crate for the initial introductions to a new home, especially as you have a dog. Cats tend to naturally find a small space to hide in when they're scared, and it's much better it's a safe crate than a lot of places they may naturally choose... Crates are also often used by kitten fosterers and rescues.

It's usually recommended to have a dedicated room for a new cat/kitten so they have a safe space with all their things, and can get used to the sounds and scents of the new home gradually. If you don't have a spare room, then in this instance a crate sounds fine.

I would rethink the sleeping in the kitchen arrangement though, Siamese in particular are VERY sociable and will want to be where you are, not locked away!

fedupandlookingforchange · 27/01/2020 15:23

We had a young cat in crate, she broke her leg and the vet said crate rest for 6 weeks, it didn't heal and then had to be pinned so she was in there for another 6 weeks.
It worked really well and she slept in the crate every night until she was about 4, we did try to get her to sleep just in the kitchen but it stressed her out so she went back in the crate.

A relative used a crate at night with a new kitten to keep it safe and away from the other cat until they got used to each other .

bellinisurge · 27/01/2020 15:33

It's not really crate training. It's more giving the kitten a safe space until they have worked out where the other ones are. We pushed the door to at night iyswim but didn't close it. It was in my dd's bedroom and her door was closed. The kitten could explore DD's room overnight if she wanted to and could work out how to push the crate door open. We only used it for a couple of days, guided by what our kitten was comfy with.

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