How to get kittens to use the rest of the house

[Marching7x7]

We have had two ten week old kittens for a little over 2 weeks.

They have been in a spare bedroom with litter, food and water and beds. Our house is a strange layout (the type if I put a floor plan in the Property thread, everyone would say they'd never buy it!) - basically it's large and sprawling. Over 3 (wide - not a townhouse) floors and only a few rooms have doors. Basically the bedrooms and bathrooms only. The rest of the space is all open plan including up and down the stairs.

So the spare bedroom felt a good idea as I could keep the kids out if needed.

We started them in the spare bedroom but now they are very reluctant to leave it. And I'm keen to move the litter test and food etc elsewhere soon. Plus I'd like their company on the house itself!

When we leave the door open, they don't do much more than a few steps outside the room. If we carry them into a different, they dash back very soon.

Any tips on how to get them to explore? It feels not right to take their food elsewhere and make them find it. What's the usual?

Thanks.

Don't force them. They are still babies and the big wide world is very scary. They'll gain confidence in their own time. Just be patient.

2 weeks is early days, try putting their food next to the door, then outside the door etc. They will get bolder as they get older. Make sure they have lots of socialisation time with the family whilst they are young so they bind with you. I got my dd (9) to do treat feeds and playtime every day. Now 2 of mine sleep with her every night.

Oh and at that age definitely the fluffy toys on a fishing line. Kittens love them and it stops accidental injury to hands!

Are the children playing in there with them as much as possible? They can gradually encourage them out by pulling toy on string out the door, and keep trying it. I'd suggest not carrying them out though, they need to feel secure in their ability to return to safety.

Also you could try leaving various things in their room like cushions, throws etc for a bit and encourage play on and around them, so their scent rubs off. Then move items back to their usual locations and the kittens will be able to smell familiar things around the rest of the house.

I'd just move them (and their litter) to the area of the house where the family always is.

Just open the door and carry on with your day. Soon enough you will spot them exploring around.
When I got mine he stayed in a room and would not leave it. I usually sleep with the bedroom door open. He decided to explore the house at night, he even came into my room. I pretended to be asleep. He also made a mess in the bathroom as he knocked some decorations down.
Next day, he started coming out of the room when we were home. Soon enough he was everywhere!
They make like to explore when you are not around, and is quiet.

@TheVanguardSix

I'd just move them (and their litter) to the area of the house where the family always is.

This. They’re only ten weeks old and the quicker you acclimatise them to your house, the better. The situation would be different with adult cats who already have nervous dispositions. With babies you need to handle them as much as possible and expose them to all sort of situations. It’s no good pussyfooting (no pun intended) around trying to entice them to step out of the bedroom they’ve confined themselves to. Just pick them up and plonk them down where you’d prefer them to be. Retired rescue centre fosterer btw

They're cats.

Forbid them from leaving the room, tell them especially never to go on the windowsills or the sofa, and explain that the warmest spot in the house is yours.

Then turn your back for five minutes.

@EatsFartsAndLeaves

They're cats.

Forbid them from leaving the room, tell them especially never to go on the windowsills or the sofa, and explain that the warmest spot in the house is yours.

Then turn your back for five minutes.

This

Thanks all. Two schools of thought then!

I might try plonking them in the living area, litter tray and food included and see how we get on.

@EatsFartsAndLeaves

They're cats.

Forbid them from leaving the room, tell them especially never to go on the windowsills or the sofa, and explain that the warmest spot in the house is yours.

Then turn your back for five minutes.

This!!

Works every time!!

Just to report back on this one: plonking them where I wanted them did indeed work.

We had two days of them scuttling back to the spare room but then they just got on with it. And are now happily taking over the whole house.

Thanks for the advice.

Ahem @Marching7x7 there are rules about threads on the Litter Tray, you know...

(Happy that they’ve braved the big, wide world!)

@Ninkanink

Here you are:

Their adorable!. You’ll regret this when you lose your favourite chair though & your clinging onto the edge of the bed at night while they starfish emitting enough heat to toast marshmallows.

❤️❤️❤️

They are gorgeous. We had exactly the same.. v large open plan house, they wouldn’t leave their room for 2 weeks. It’s just so lovely now seeing them feel at home. Enjoy😻😻