Is it cruel to keep a kitten in a cage at night?

MikeRB_2

Hi,

Just after a few opinions really.

We have recently bought a kitten and currently have a cat too. They seem ok together, but I like to keep them separate at night when we can't keep an eye on them and also the kitten likes to chew cables! The other reason is the kitten can't go outside yet.

At the moment, the kitten sleeps/plays etc in the bedroom where we sleep at night (only one bedroom). This has got to stop as we are not getting much sleep as she likes to play all hours of the night.

I have aquired one of these cages from my parents

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/8705455/Trail/searchtext%3ECAGE.htm

and was thinking of putting her in there at night. However, I'm thinking it might be too small. She has lots of room but not enough to run about and I think it might be a bit cruel. What do others think?

The only other place we can shut her at night is the bathroom. More room but not ideal. This will be just until she grows out of her playful stage which may be many months.

LittleMissAspie

Can't you just shut her out of the bedroom and kitten-proof the other rooms so she doesn't hurt herself on anything? Failing that I think keeping her in the bathroom would be nicer for her than staying in a cage for 8 hours.

geri1965_2

I really don't think the cage is a good idea. How is she going to access the litter tray?

Kittens are playful and if you can't cope with that you really shouldn't have got one.

MikeRB_2

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I will keep her in the livingroom and kitten proof it so she doesn't hurt herself chewing on cables.

I agree the cage idea is probably not a good idea, and geri1965, I'm fully aware how playful kittens are and can cope with that but don't want to be playing all hours of the night. Humans need sleep too.

Thanks for the input.

dmg24

If you are even considering caging the kitten, please contact me and I will do everything I can to find a different home for her.

The kitten is a part of your family. Young children tend to wake at all sorts of funny hours, but you would not consider caging them up.

Kimberley

The best places to keep a kitten is either the bathroom, making sure the toilet seat is down obviously or the kitchen, although the kitchen is unhygenic but you may not have any choice. You can get things now to cover up wires etc if you want to leave her/him in the front room, but beware you may hear some strange smashing noises if you have ornaments during the night . You need to kitten proof your home, the rewards are endless. My kitten is due later this year, well she/he hasn't been conceived yet but it will be sometime hopefully in november and I cannot wait.

I think it's harsh when some of you have suggested him rehome the kitten, blimey he's only asking a question. This is probably his first kitten so give him a break.

finallydebtfree!!

Anyone would think the OP has suggested keeping the kitten in there 24 hours a day!!

obviously it is not ideal, but the OP is concerned about the kittens safety as much as anything! I think when we had a kitten when I was a child, she stayed in the bathroom overnight, which I read was another option they had considered. That way she came to no harm and there was less mess to clear up when she had playfully destroyed anything within her reach!! When she got a bit older she had the run of the kitchen overnight as there was more space, we couldnt leave her in the living room as she did enough damage to the sofas while we were there with her!

hotcookie101

from the looks of the link, that cage is big enough for a large dog, so would be plenty big enough to keep a kitten, tray, food and water in overnight.
Its not ideal, but it the kitten is constantly trying to eat things etc, it may be safer for her to sleep in there, make sure you don't have a collar etc on her. You can even put a scratching post in there too.
I had to cage rest my adult, outdoor all day, etc etc etc cat for 12 weeks when he fractured his toes, and he was in there 24 hours a day.
To suggest that the kitten needs rehoming seems very OTT to me-these people obviously love and care for the kitten and dont want her to hurt herself. The lack of sleep is not the main issue (well I didnt read it that way anyway)

geri1965_2

hotcookie101 wrote: »

from the looks of the link, that cage is big enough for a large dog, so would be plenty big enough to keep a kitten, tray, food and water in overnight.

But the food. litter and water would be too close to each other - not hygienic at all.

Those cages are meant for short periods of time, not all night.

OP, sorry if I appeared harsh earlier. I do hope you manage to come up with a solution.

MikeRB_2

Thanks all for the replies.

First off, I agree with most of you that its not right to keep a kitten in one of these cages. But, I wanted clairification as I wasn't sure what else the point of these cages were for. I guess to transport animals in cars is one, but it seems the agreement is, caging a kitten overnight (its a big cage, but I don't think big enough) is not the answer.

Also, I don't want harm to come to her and don't want her getting outside so I think the best solution is to either keep her in the bathroom at night (11pm- 7am) or kitten proof the front room and shut her in there at night. The bathroom is pretty big, plenty for her tray, bed, food and toys. Its also quite cool especially in the summer where the other rooms can get quite hot.

She is loved (despite chewing off my new DAB clock radio aerial (just thin copper wire):) ) and gets lots of attention and when we are at work she has the run of the bedroom all day with toys etc etc. When we get home she is played with all evening with the full run of the house. Hope this reassures some of you.

geri - no worries.