Crate for a pair of rescue kittens as 'safe place'??

[GlomOfNit]

After months of looking at cat rescue place listings, we seem to have managed to strike gold and I think we've been approved for a pair of brothers! I can't quite believe it. They're 9 weeks old and have just been separated from their mum, who apparently 'had had enough of them'! The rest of the litter are also being rehomed in pairs, which I think is good.

We're now making sure things are ready. We do have some bits and pieces from our last cat, but one thing I thought we might need is a small crate, like some people use for new dogs to give them a safe place to retreat to. Do people do this with kittens, though? I thought it would be sensible, as my younger son has LDs and might at times be a bit noisy, to give them a safe and enclosable place to retreat to. It also makes sense if we need to have doors to the outside open for any length of time, while we're in the period of not letting them out.

I'd be interested in hearing from people who have used a pet crate for their new cats. To be clear, this isn't a cage we'd keep them in at home! They will at first have the run of our bedroom with everything they need up there, and when they've got used to the smells and sounds of our house, we'll let them explore the rest of the house. (This will give me time to make some window screens so we can actually open the windows!) But initially I thought it would be good to give them somewhere safe that can be closed if necessary.

It's been a long time since I had a kitten and in fact have never had two together. Hoping they'll keep one another company and play together. I need to think what else we might need before mid-week next week!

[Scampuss]

No, it's not really the done thing to crate kittens in this way (there are good reasons for using a crate for feral taming, but clearly that's not the case here). A room with everything they need is ideal.

[TwoLeftSocksWithHoles]

I tend to think of dog crates as being open mesh type cages, whilst cats, I my experience, seem to prefer enclosed spaces - something like a cardboard box with a hole cut in it seems to do the job.

[Grumpyoldpersonwithcats]

You don't need a crate. With the single exception of ferals, NOBODY needs a crate for kittens.
If you can't manage two kittens without a crate then don't get kittens.

You are sensibly restricting them to one room for a few days, then giving them free rein. You are also getting two kittens together which is a good idea as they will keep each other amused.
You will just need to be careful to avoid cat sized open doors and windows until they are going outside.

Oh - and you don't need a crate. But do provide cardboard boxes for them to play and hide in.

[AnnaMagnani]

Kittens, and adult cats for that matter, decide themselves where they will hang out.

If you buy them something they will never once go in it. Instead they will pick somewhere uncomfortable and of maximum annoyance to you. Such as your laptop keyboard.

And you will allow it because they are your overlords.

[Anameisaname]

You don't need a crate but a room with some hidey places for them. So under an arm chair or a bed will do but somewhere they can hide and peek and explore.

I think we had a cardboard box on its side as well when I first had a pair. To be honest they were pretty brave and didn't take much time to start exploring but each cat is different of course

[GlomOfNit]

@Grumpyoldpersonwithcats

You don't need a crate. With the single exception of ferals, NOBODY needs a crate for kittens.
If you can't manage two kittens without a crate then don't get kittens.

You are sensibly restricting them to one room for a few days, then giving them free rein. You are also getting two kittens together which is a good idea as they will keep each other amused.
You will just need to be careful to avoid cat sized open doors and windows until they are going outside.

Oh - and you don't need a crate. But do provide cardboard boxes for them to play and hide in.

Edited

Hey, I didn't say we 'couldn't manage' kittens without a crate! But it's been so long since I had a kitten, as opposed to a slightly older rescue cat, and common practice changes. They will have boxes to hide in, definitely!

[GlomOfNit]

@AnnaMagnani

Kittens, and adult cats for that matter, decide themselves where they will hang out.

If you buy them something they will never once go in it. Instead they will pick somewhere uncomfortable and of maximum annoyance to you. Such as your laptop keyboard.

And you will allow it because they are your overlords.

Oh I know... Every so often my (then much younger) older son would sucker me into buying yet another cosy cat bed for our late-lamented Last Cat. The bugger never went near them!! We are, in fact, off to the shops later on to buy a nice 'doughnut' shaped bed for the kittens to cuddle up adorably in - which probably means they'll be making nice furry little nests in my jumpers, which live on top of the chest of drawers in the bedroom.

[Birdbrained13]

We had a crate (my mum volunteers for a cat rescue and lent it to us). We had it because we also have dogs and didn't want them to be a snack in the night. Was also handy when we wanted to keep them safe before they were allowed outside without having to shut a room off. But we only used it for a month or so until the dogs had realised family not food.

[PutASpellOnYou]

How lovely to have two little brothers. I love boy cats, all of mine have always got on very well, even when much older. My little kittens loved their cat tree, l got it off Amazon, they loved climbing and playing on it, plus it had a hidey hole. I
Have you got names yet?

[Alphabet1spaghetti2]

They will find their own safe space. As pp said give them places to choose such as boxes and cat beds and a cat tree or three with cat hidey holes/hammocks to snuggle in. Although ime it’s always the places you think aren’t suitable which appeal - on top of shoes in the bottom of the wardrobe/bathroom sink/under a chair/in the log basket etc.

[GlomOfNit]

@PutASpellOnYou

How lovely to have two little brothers. I love boy cats, all of mine have always got on very well, even when much older. My little kittens loved their cat tree, l got it off Amazon, they loved climbing and playing on it, plus it had a hidey hole. I
Have you got names yet?

Our last cat was a boy too. My brother's recently adopted two older kittens, not siblings but living together in the shelter, and they are inseparable. I'm hoping these will get on well. No names, yet! We're waiting on final approval next week and then will see what sorts of personalities they have.