Leaving new kitten

Mojisola

sheramber wrote: »

Don't lavish too much attention on him when you are at home all the time or he will feel abandoned when you return to full time working.

That's the point I was trying to make.

no1catman

AS far as I can recall - six weeks is the minimum age for kittens to leave their Mum.
Well remember my previous cat was due to collect at about six weeks, but Stock-Taking at work intervened, so it was delayed.

Believe when I did collect it was a weekend, she missed her brother I think who was still there, the other four kittens had already left before.
While later when I was at work, she occupied herself by chasing flies and as a result ripped holes in the net curtains.
But that was in 1988 - said good-bye in 2008, but things may be different know.

Silvertabby

no1catman wrote: »

AS far as I can recall - six weeks is the minimum age for kittens to leave their Mum.
Well remember my previous cat was due to collect at about six weeks, but Stock-Taking at work intervened, so it was delayed.

Believe when I did collect it was a weekend, she missed her brother I think who was still there, the other four kittens had already left before.
While later when I was at work, she occupied herself by chasing flies and as a result ripped holes in the net curtains.
But that was in 1988 - said good-bye in 2008, but things may be different know.

My sister had a tortie persian, who loved swinging on net curtains. A nosy neighbour called the RSPCA to report her for having a monkey in the house !

McKneff

IvyFlood wrote: »

Thanks all for the replies. We went to see him and we are in love! The current owners are happy for us to pick him up on Friday 4th October which by then he'll be 11 almost 12 weeks. We plan to spend all weekend with him then the two weeks following that my partner can visit him at lunch time for an hour and then we are off the last 2 weeks of October. Hopefully he will be ok.

Please, please, please consider getting 2 kittens so they are company fr each other. ,,

Anything else is just too sad to even think about.

onwards&upwards

Can the breeder not keep him until you are off in October?

With two weeks off you can build up the time you are away, starting with half an hour the first day and then adding time on each day to get him used to it gradually.

Going from being with his mum and his siblings 24/7 to being alone in a strange house for 8 hours (and is it not actually more than that with a commute? Most people who work full time are out of the house more like 9 or 10 hours) is just awful to think about. You’ll traumatise the poor thing!

If the breeder won’t keep him I would start looking at rescue centres for other kittens who will be ready to take home at the right time when you can settle them in.

jackieblack

Please make sure your “ big garden room with a wall of windows which overlook our garden“ has several places where he can hide if he’s feeling overwhelmed or nervous. Things such as heavy rain or helicopters flying over even big/noisy birds can startle/freak out a kitten.
A couple of cardboard boxes on their side with an old towel in will do fine.

I agree with all those advocating getting a sibling pair of kittens.

no1catman

I remember the first night with my previous cat - left her in the kitchen - near food, and went to bed. But soon cracked to the sound of her plaintive meows, went down and brought her up to be with me - settled on my chest for awhile.

I think, as long as there are things they can do, and see - an upstairs windowsill is good - gives them the time to build up a 'video' map of the immediate area.
It was cheering to see her at a window when I came home, though did surprise me one day - found her on the bedroom windowsill - on the outside (no, no open windows)
Moreover, when you come home after work - make time for the kitten first, whether it's playtime, or have a cuppa while she's on your lap.

Our last cat - didn't know how to play - ergo not given enough attention and time.