New kittens in an open-plan house….

[FiveGensOfLove]

Hello - next week we’re bringing home two new kittens (will post pics when I have some!).
Any advice on where to keep them initially in an open-plan house? We don’t have any doors downstairs (except the bathroom) and there’s no spare bedroom to keep them in.
Should I get a big box or pen or something to start with until they feel comfortable enough to explore? Don’t want to overwhelm them!

We just let ours roam free! We did board up a gap in the kitchen so they couldn't get under the units though. They like exploring, despite the advice its very hard to keep a cat shut in one room. Looking forward to pics

Something like a cardboard box on its side to hide in might be nice if you don't have any furniture they can get under

I would just let them roam free but give them somewhere enclosed go where they will feel safe.

We had an older cat and a toddler and we bought a smallish (4ftx4ft) pen for our kitten so that she had her own space for the first couple of weeks. We also had her litter box and food in there too as I was worried she would lose the litter box in our open plan house and I would come home to gifts on the rug

Thanks - good advice. Was thinking maybe a big cardboard box would work.

@LemonadeAndSchnapps I am a bit worried about them getting lost - I say the house is open plan, but it’s just that there are no doors, and it’s old so rooms lead into other rooms….there are unlimited places they could hide/disappear and forget where their food and litter tray is. I did wonder if a pen might be helpful….
Could you link to the kind of thing you got?

If they are old enough to leave their mum they will be totally fine.

We had this situation a couple of years ago. They did spend the first hour or so hiding and feeling a bit scared of the new place but were soon scampering around chasing each other and exploring and enjoying themselves not scared any more and no chance of getting lost.

Only one issue was there was some temporary confusion about how a well-intentioned kitten could reasonably learn how to identify the difference between a litter tray and other objects that might easily be misidentified as a litter tray (eg a doormat or a cardboard box) but that was sorted out within a few days (by recognising that a kitten was in need of such facilities and was in the wrong place, and swiftly picking it up and placing it into the correct place. Kittens learn quickly)

I would make sure that you first release them somewhere (a)close to where their litter tray is going to be and (b) ensure there is an obvious sensible hiding place nearby (somewhere a kitten can feel safely surrounded and can see out). Put the basket/carrier down there, open it up and put some food down nearby then just leave everything completely alone and read a book or watch tv for an hour, paying no attention whatsoever to any kittens. They will emerge and will feel adventurous soon enough.

Thanks @KihoBebiluPute - that’s really useful, esp the tip about releasing them close to the litter tray. They’ll be 9 weeks, so hopefully they’ll be fine (and they’ll get plenty of love here)

Kittens should stay with their mother til 13 weeks.

@thehairyhog Cats Protection and RSPCA both say not before 8 weeks

Theoretically, they CAN leave their mothers after 8 weeks. And rescues obviously push this as they constantly have too many cats to rehome.

However, it’s optimal for kittens to stay with mum until 12-13 weeks. This is the period where they learn so much regarding socialisation, what is acceptable behaviour etc.

OP - not having a dig at you at all, it just irritates me when rescues push this info as the norm.

I think having a large pen for the is a great idea for keeping them safely contained. And then let them gradually explore at times when you can properly supervise them. In advance, just try to block up anywhere they could crawl into. They are such curios little sods and I’ve seen too many rescue programmes where new kittens have got under/behind kitchen units, up chimneys, under floorboards etc!

And for the rest of your home, just look around at stuff (ornaments, Things that hang down like blind cords, electric cables, vases of flowers) and think to yourself “what could a 5 foot tall destructive toddler find interesting?”

Good luck - and do come back to pay your subs with photos when you have them!

Thanks @Furries. That’s all really helpful.

If I do get a pen, particularly to keep them safe overnight, should I make sure the litter tray fits inside it?

@FiveGensOfLove - am only guessing here, as not had to do this set-up myself, but I’d say yes. And if you can have the pen fairly near to where you want the tray to eventually lice, then that might help.

A couple of things to bear in mind - and it won’t necessarily be easy with the pen! Cats do not want their food near the litter tray - keep food bowls as far away as possible. Also, they are not fans of food and water bowls near each other. Honestly, I’m making them sound worse than they are, but just bear in mind.

Long-term (ie when they’re old enough to have free reign of the house), general rule of thumb is one litter tray per cat, plus one extra.

Personally, I prefer a large tray that is covered - the thought of an open tray with them missing their aim makes me want to vomit! Plus a hooded tray gives them some privacy - especially if your home is fairly open plan (after all, who wants to take their daily ablutions when others are looking on?!)

With regards to litter, I always go with Cats Best. It’s a wood pellet clumping litter. It’s slightly more expensive than others, but it makes it very easy to clean out the “dirty stuff” whilst not wasting the clean stuff. You will get tracking, but really easy to clean up with a Hoover. And get a ridged mat to put at the entrance to the tray, it catches a lot of loose wood pellets.

BTW - it can all seem a bit overwhelming and over the top to begin with. It honestly isn’t that bad all the time! Once they grow up, they sleep loads and can’t fit into small spaces 🤣

Plus, they are so darned cute that you will forgive them just about anything (apart from bringing you a very much alive Mose gift!)

*mouse gift!

I'd shut them in the bathroom for the first night or two until they look like they're happy to explore, then I'd give them the run of the place. If they're used to humans and old enough to leave their mum, chances are they'll settle right in

This is what I used in the kitchen for my kittens when they were in the tiny stages. As you can see I also took them outside for air. It has a waterproof base and a mesh lid so they are confined safely. I put tray on one side and a tunnel down the middle with bedding on the other, dish of water and food at opposite ends of the tunnel. At night I draped a sheet over the top of the pen to signal that it was sleepy time and time to settle down. At six months they were allowed to have the side panels open at night and after a couple of nights I removed the pen altogether and it was only used for rest after neutering day.

Thanks @Furries! I’ve had cats before, just not kittens…. So will be an interesting baptism, with two….

@NotanotherboxofFrogs that looks perfect. I’ve seen lots on Amazon which look similar - do you remember the brand?