Is it ok to leave a kitten at home when I go out to work?

[Sweetchocolatecandy]

So I have just got a kitten who will be nearly 3 months old when I go back to work in the office in January. At the moment I’m working from home until then so it’s getting plenty of attention. Is it ok to leave it for 8 hours 5 days a week when I go back to work or will I need a cat sitter? We have an older cat aswell so it has company, I just wanted peoples views on this.

I'm sure the kitten would get used to your absence, but to go from being around its person all day to losing you into the ether for 8 hours a day will be a bit shock. I would go gradual and give the kitten some time to get used to it, if you can? Go out for longish walks or a coffee in the day before you return to work.

Also you've broken all the rules of MN and need to show us a picture before your thread spontaneously combusts.

Lol thank you for your advice. I have had the last 4 days off so I’ve been around it all the time but when I work tomorrow it will be seeing me less but I’ll still be checking in on it on my breaks and lunch to play, feed etc. I just didn’t know whether it would be cruel or affect it’s development if we’re out of the house for that long. I suffer from anxiety too so I worry a lot about these things! His name is Gus by the way

I've never had a kitten so can't advise but still need to tell you that Gus is GORGEOUS. If he were mine I don't think I'd ever go back to work!

We took quite a lot of time off work with ours for the first month then gradually built it up. We had 2 other cats so kitten wasn’t alone ever.

I started off doing half days at work, then some alternate whole days at work. But from 8-12 weeks we were home most of the time apart from quick trip to shops etc.

I really don’t want to leave him but I have no choice unfortunately! I have dreamies and kitten toys to pay for lol

We got our kitten in October and I was on AL at the time so had a few days of having me at home but since then she’s been absolutely fine being left alone all day. I would say she’s slightly more mental and excitable in the evenings that she’s been alone all day though!!

It is very young. It's unlikely you would be allowed to adopt a rescue that young if you were already working out of the home full time. Maybe someone who volunteers for a rescue could advise? At least Gus won't be alone, is he close to your other cat?

@Lj8893 that’s reassuring to hear, it’s just that on some websites it says kittens 2-4 months shouldn’t be left alone too long so I didn’t know whether I would need a cat sitter or someone to check on him. I’d hate to think he was lonely or bored, but he does have an older cat for company and I would leave plenty of toys and food for him.

@Svara our older cat is not keen on him yet but we’re giving them treats and play dates so she’s finally coming around. I’m hoping by January they will get on better.

Could you have someone visit at lunch time for a couple of months?

If it helps, I'll take him when you go back go work

Ime it will give the dcats a chance to form their own relationship without you looking!! Sometimes ime dcat 1 doesn't want to look like he has submitted to the cuteness!!
Ours last Xmas..

I love the photos.

I don’t have any family locally to check on him so I would need to enquire about a cat sitter- I just didnt know whether I would actually need one.

If the cats are not well socialized together, you should separate them in your absence. Otherwise the kitten will be fine.

What a beautiful baby! Gus will be fine when you go to work. Leave his food, water, litter tray, bed, etc., as you would normally, and perhaps leave the heating on if it's really cold

If your cats get on well together, he'll be fine. He's absolutely adorable

Beautiful kitten!
3 months old is much too young to leave on their own all day 5 days a week. It’s recommended they don’t even leave mum until 13/14 weeks. I wouldn’t leave them alone with an unrelated adult cat either, you need to shut the kitten in it’s own area for its safety whilst it’s so tiny.

It's absolutely fine.

Mine was left all day from two days after we brought her home. She had food, water and litter trays and we left her secure in one room so she couldn't wander and get herself stuck or trapped.

I've never even considered coming home at lunchtime to check on a cat

Does your older cat have a cat flap? How will you stop kitten getting out?

I think the worry is that kittens can get themselves in some worrying spots through exploring etc So you will need to know he's safe. I would keep him in one room. But....then your older cat won't be able to roam.

We are lucky and are home all day. But if we go out for a day and I leave them with a pop up feeder and the cat flap i still get anxious!!! Mine are 1.5 years....but because of covid we haven't left them loads.

No we don’t have cat flap, our older cat just goes to the door when she wants to go out but has been staying in more for a while anyway due to the cold weather. I got up early today to play with Gus and he’s currently fast asleep (worn out!) so I’m hoping he’ll just sleep while I’m out anyway? I just can’t stop feeling guilty about it.

Honestly, you have no need to feel guilty. It's only on MN that I've ever read about people coming home at lunchtime to check on their cats, or saying you can't leave kittens at home by themselves for longer than an hour or two, lol.

IRL everyone I know who has a kitten/cat, has one precisely because you can go out all day and leave them on their own, lol. As long as they have food, water, access to a litter tray and are left in a safe space, they'll be just fine.

I think your kitten will probably sleep most of the time you are at work and then want to play and hang out with you when you are back home.