New very young kitten, where should it sleep?

[Trovindia]

On Wednesday we are picking up a kitten from a rescue. He is 9 weeks and was separated from mum at 3 weeks with his three siblings, he is in the rescue now with just one of his brothers so has been used to being with other cats. He has been hand reared by a foster, I'm not sure how long he's been in the rescue rather than the foster home but I don't think long.

We have two cats, one is very old and the other is just over a year. In the day the plan is to keep the kitten in the dining room while we scent swap and introduce them and he settles in.

But I don't know what to do at night. Will he be really lonely downstairs overnight? Our house is quite big and we won't hear him miaow I don't think. But if we bring him upstairs we will have to shut our other cats out which we don't usually do, plus bring a litter tray up.

He's just so little and has had a bad start to life, I don't want to traumatise him! What is best to do?

I'd bring him to bed with me. Poor little chap, you can't leave him alone downstairs.

I have kittens and older cats. The kittens had exclusive use of my bedroom for the first few days while they settled in. The older cats were surprisingly unbothered

This.

On your pillow.

Is there a room upstairs he can start in and sleep in?
Slowly broaden the space upstairs first?

No, there's only bedrooms and my work room which I can't have animals in due to the nature of what I do. The best room for him is the dining room but I'm worried about overnight.

Ok so I've bought a playpen type thing so he can come into the bedroom at night.

He needs to be upstairs, safe and warm with you, not alone, cold and with the smell of unimpressed other cats around him.

That's where mine slept, for a few weeks at least.

Does his brother have a home sorted or could you take him too? Two sibling kittens together will have each other for comfort when you're not there.

I agree with the last post- is there anyway you could take 2 siblings? The benefit for a kitten, especially one that has been separated from Mum so young, to grow up with a fellow littermate is huge. They get so much comfort & support from having a littermate to bond with, as well as a playmate the same developmental stage as they are, plus studies show they end up more balanced & less behavioural issues in the future.
If that isn’t possible I’d keep such a tiny kitten in the bedroom with me so they’d have someone to snuggle up to- along with litter tray etc…

Agree with this.

Depends on the personality of the kitten. First one I had cried when he was left alone at night. Second one conked out from all the playing and was perfectly fine to be left until morning. You’ll figure it out when you get him.

Bring his brother home too and they’ll keep each other happy after a rough start in life ❤️💕

He needs to be on your bed. This is why I have a king size bed as a single person.

When we got our new kitten I shut him on the top floor (3 storey house) with 7YO DD and put the litterbox in the bathroom and food on the landing. Older cat was used to sleeping in our room and having the run of the downstairs but rarely went up to the top floor so it made sense.

In your case I’d set the kitten up in your bedroom for the first few days. Or if you’d rather not then I’d strongly consider also taking the sibling as they’ll comfort each other.

I'd put him in a little soft cat bed (so he feels more secure/cosy) on my bed, where the other pillow would normally be. (I'm currently sleeping alone in a double.)

Oh & wheres the tax??

Yes, I was hoping for the tax.

Sorry I don't have pics of him but I'll pay the tax when we get him!

The playpen thing arrived today and is a good size. I would love to have him on the bed but I'm worried he will go exploring in the middle of the night? Our door doesn't have a latch (after DC accidentally locked me in there years ago by breaking the latch) so I can't keep it closed.

You could just put something heavy in front of it.

we will remember your outstanding tax!

What sort of rescue separates 9 week old litter mates who have had a bad start? If separated it shouldn't be before 12 weeks and it would be more responsible to home them together.

I had an igloo cat bed on the end of my bed with a small teddy in it to snuggle up to. She woke me in the night when she needed a wee by meowing. The furthest she explored at first was just my bed and snuggling into my neck.

Yes I was surprised they wanted us to take him before 12 weeks, but they are bursting at the seams with loads of other cats needing to be taken in, and I guess they feel a home with other cats is a good option.

People seem so much nicer and kinder in the litter tray than the dog house.
Interesting.