New kitten

[FlowerFlowerFlower]

New kitten do you leave them alone at night? She was sleeping in my son’s room but she’s been keeping him awake all night with her meowing (squeaking!) I don’t like the thought of leaving her alone all night but have to as he isn’t able to sleep. Do others leave them alone at night?

DH slept downstairs with ours when she was a kitten until she was settled. We did have other adult cats though so I think that helped her settle more quickly.

How old is she?

You need another dkitten..
It's the only solution..

Don’t want another and 10 weeks

It’s impossible to tell without a picture……

I got my girl at 14 weeks. I slept in the room with her every night. She had a space she could get away and comfy spaces of her own but she would often end up on the bed.

At 10 weeks they should not be alone. Ideally they should be with their litter mates and mum. You don't want another one, but that leaves a very young kitten alone. (The best rescues won't let them go alone to a cat-free home.)

🙄 never mind

10 weeks is too young to be alone at night but probably better if it’s not your son who sleeps with the kitten. Tire her out before bedtime with playing, then a feed. Hopefully means you get several hours uninterrupted.

Someone needs to sleep downstairs with her or if you don't mind her sleeping in your bedroom have her in with you. She will be unsettled and you will get woken by her but that's because she is a baby. It won't be forever.

I will take this advice. And my son is a teen not a small child. Won’t be responding again. Literally says 8/9 weeks so will ignore the mumsnet cat police 🤣

Purina and rspca say different so will be going by that advice 🙂

Why did you bother asking then? Also the advice you have highlighted says "should be happy" have you also googled what to do if they are not?

Also, if the kitten came from a rescue or a registered breeder have you tried asking them? Or your vet for that matter - if you've had the kitten more than a couple of days you should be registered with a vet by now.

The needing company at night thing is why reputable rescues only rehome kittens in pairs, so they keep each other company at night. Plus tend to play with each other when awake reducing damage to things like soft furnishings. Note I say "reduce" - do expect a few damages, scratches etc!

Remember this is still a baby and a thinking, breathing animal who needs love and affection the same as a human baby, except a lot more active.

Forgot to say, as cat specialists you can look at Cats Protection website as well. Plus I'm not sure what he has on kittens as I've always adopted adult cats, but try Jackson Galaxy on YouTube

We’ve always left our cats and kittens alone overnight and we’ve never had any issues. They get left in a cat-proof space with food, water, their litter tray, bed, a cat tree and a couple of toys to bat about.

We’ve had solo kittens and pairs of kittens and all of them have been absolutely fine with the arrangement.

I hope some of the more abrupt answers haven’t put you off!

Thank you! Finally someone who isn’t just rude.

But this kitten isn’t happy. Have you had it vet checked. Is it as old as you think?

I have checked cats protection and it also says kittens can leave at 8/9 weeks you can check that yourself. What do you want me to do give it back? 🙄 said I wouldn’t come back to this but couldn’t believe the cheek I suppose none of you work either and are stay at home mums to kittens 🤣 like you never leave them alone 🙄 and don’t need your condescending advice either I already have a cat who is 11 so yes we already have a vet I’ve only had her 3 days! I got my cat when she was 1 so didn’t go through the kitten phase. I simply asked about what sleeping arrangements others did not for a lecture, I will give it back should I 🤣🙄 definitely will avoid this little section of mumsnet.

she meowed the entire time my son slept in the room with her 2 nights in a row so it’s nothing to do with being left alone she only likes to sleep on people but we don’t want it in the bed at night for it’s own safety. My post clearly states it cried even when we have had it in the room (not alone)

I left my current cat in the kitchen overnight when he was a kitten but I did feel concerned leaving him alone at such a young age. The first few nights I got up several times to check on him and then gave up after a week or so and let him sleep with me. He knew how to find his litter tray and food by that time. He was a bit squeaky and wanted to play in the middle of the night at first but he soon settled down and slept through the night.

i know many people say that you shouldn’t have kittens until they are a bit older but my current cat was 8 weeks old when he came to live with us and was about to be chucked out into the street when we got him. He was absolutely fine and always seemed to be really happy from the second we collected him. I think all of my previous cats were about eight weeks when they came to live with us.

I resolved to the bloody kitten sleeping in my bedroom. I pretended like it was a huge disruption and inconvenience but the truth is I love kitten cuddles and she still lodges at the end of my bed every night 3 years on 😂. Never once peed on me, or anywhere other than designated toileting areas. Might have been different if she was pissing on my quilt but she was a belting kitten.

Yes actually I did wait to get kittens until I could be at home. Before that we only had rescue adults.
I would have a vet check. I worry this kitten is younger than you think. Where did it come from?

@FlowerFlowerFlower you're welcome!

I'm sure she'll settle. Our last kitten was underage as he was rejected by his mum and he was absolutely fine on his own overnight. He had the carrier, a nice warm blanket, another bed, food, water, litter and toys. DH would "put him to bed" when he came up around midnight and I would get up at 7 to let him out.

After a couple of weeks we left him "free" with our resident cats, but he was absolutely fine on his own! We've also had other kittens on their own with absolutely no issue whatsoever :)

I'm afraid this comes across as you thinking anyone who doesn't agree with your view is being rude. I was trying to be constructive, as were a number of other posters on this thread.

The advice isn't "condescending" at all, it's just you reading it that way. You asked what could be causing the crying & ways to prevent it, we've offered you suggestions that posters here have found helpful over the years. I don't work from home, always been out of home based, which is one reason why I didn't get kittens in the first place.

My not-intending-to-be-condescending advice now we've had an update from you about how long you've had the kitten would be maybe give her a few more days to settle in? Having been removed from her mother & siblings and into a new home she'd probably needing a bit of comfort & will settle down as she gets used to her new living arrangements. Does she get on OK with your existing cat?

I've always let my kittens sleep on my pillow. They soon settle down next to your head.