子猫をひとりにする前にすべき3つのこと

August 16, 2014 • jaime

子猫をひとりにする前にすべき3つのこと
新しいペットを家に迎えることは、新しい子どもを迎えることに似ていると感じる飼い主さんは少なくありません。赤ちゃんにはより多くの注意が必要ですが、新しいペットも日常のルーティンに大きな変化をもたらします。新しい子猫を家に迎えることにはさまざまな課題があり、その中でも特に難しいのが、仕事に戻る時です。
 
初めて子猫を家にひとりで留守番させる時は、何が起こるのか不安になることでしょう。子猫は一日中鳴き続け、ストレスを感じてしまうでしょうか。退屈して、家の中の物を壊してしまうかもしれません。さらに困ったことに、しつけができていない子猫は、トイレ以外のあちこちを汚してしまうこともあります。初めて子猫をひとりで留守番させるために、どのような準備をすればよいのでしょうか?
 
1. 行動範囲を制限する
初めて外出する際に、子猫を家中自由に歩き回れるようにしておくのは、絶対に避けるべきことです。帰宅するまで一日を過ごせるよう、安全でありながら限られた環境を整えることが大切です。方法はいくつかありますが、最も簡単なのは一部屋に限定することです。浴室やクローゼットなどの狭い部屋が適さないことは、言うまでもありません。
 
子猫が日中を過ごす場所には、家の寝室や書斎、できればランドリールームを選びましょう。子猫が遊んでいるうちにケガをしたり、夢中になりすぎて壊したりする可能性がある物は、部屋から取り除いて安全な環境を作ってください。取り除く物の例としては、ガラスの花瓶、ボトル、有害な化学物質を含む洗剤などが挙げられます。
 
2. 楽しめるものを用意する
子猫が日中を過ごす環境を選んだら、次は子猫が楽しめるものを用意しましょう。危険な物をすべて取り除いたからといって、一部屋に入れておけば子猫が魔法のようにおとなしくなるわけではありません。子猫が遊べるおもちゃをいろいろ置いておきましょう。子猫用の部屋には、爪とぎポールやキャットタワーを用意するのもおすすめです。これにより、破壊的な行動を発散できるほか、日中にできる活動(登ること)も与えられます。
 
3. 必需品も忘れずに
子犬よりも子猫を飼う利点の一つは、子猫が(必ずしも汚すことなく)室内で排泄できることです。子猫を安全な環境で一日留守番させる前に、必要な時に好きな場所でしてしまわないよう、トイレをその部屋に移しておきましょう。
 
さらに、部屋にフードと水の器を置いておくことも忘れないでください。猫は少量ずつ何度も食べるため、出かける前と帰宅後だけに食事を与えるのは難しいものです。子猫がお腹を空かせた時に食べられるよう、ドライフードを入れた器を部屋に置いておきましょう。食べていると喉が渇くのは自然なことですので、子猫用の水の器も忘れずに用意してください。
 
子猫が成長するにつれて、こうした習慣の一部は変えていけます。初めて子猫を家で留守番させる際に、最も重要なのは、管理された環境を整えることです。成猫であれば、家全体に行けるようにしても、たいていはお行儀よく過ごせます。しかし子猫は元気いっぱいでいたずらをしがちなので、留守中に一部屋以上を自由に歩き回らせるのは賢明ではありません。

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コメント(26)

  1. Carsen

    This website is so much help I’m about to get a 8 week old kitten now I know what to do thank you

  2. Jessica

    Me too! I’m so frightened to leave her when I get her, I feel as if I should take the week off work!

  3. nicole

    this is helped a lot but am getting a 9 week old kitten so worried about leaving it at home alone?

  4. Michelle

    My 7 week old kitten is very rambunctious. I read some of these posts and it is very helpful.

  5. Johanna Guppy

    I left my 9 week old kitten at home today in one room with all the items described above. I had to go back to work. He has had 4 days with me since I got him. I'll let you know tomorrow how it went! I left him for a couple of hours yesterday and he was fine.

  6. Kelly

    How did it go? I just got mine 3 months old kitten two days ago. I have spent the last two whole days with him. Tomorrow I will have to leave her alone for 8 hours for the first time.

  7. Kaitlin Cameron

    I live in a bachelor apartment and I’m nervous about leaving my new 8 week old kitten in the apartment by himself. Everything thing I read says to confine him into one room but the only room I would be able to do that with would be the bathroom and that doesn’t seem right.
    Any suggestions?

  8. Lindsay

    I am fostering 3 abandoned ~8week old kittens and I don't have a spare room for them. So I bought a large playpen with a lid (google pet playpen) that I have had them in for the last 2 weeks while I'm at work or sleeping. They come out first thing in the mornings while I get ready for about an hour and then all night when I'm home from work.

    My question is, is it OK to keep three 8week old kittens confined in the playpen for 8 hours while I sleep and then 9 hours while I'm at work?! They used to cry when I put them back in but now they don't even seem to mind... Of course it has a litter box, food, water, and lots of toys.

    Thanks!

  9. Ashleigh

    I would find it wrong. Kittens need attention. I have a kitten who’s 9 weeks and he likes to sleep with me and my fiancé. They need to be able to explore. Because when it comes time for someone to adopt them they will most likely run and hide in the new environment. They won’t want attention they will be scared and confused. Kittens need cuddles and to be played with not caged up 24/7. Your fostering them for a reason. If you can’t give them the attention that’s required find them a new foster home

  10. lay

    If there's 3 they have each other to keep company and with

  11. Lindsay

    Update: I let them roam free at 9 weeks. They were extremely friendly and well socialized and one even learned to fetch!! Insta: @pawsome_kittens_check_meowt

    But your comment really bothers me. Do you think every foster parent doesn't work and doesn't sleep and spends all day with them?! I hardly think the life they lived with me was worse than being abandoned, locked in their carrier with no food outside a dumpster.

  12. Rose

    @Lindsay - I agree 100%. That's silly to presume that every foster parent works from home, doesn't work or is retired. It's also basically stating that nobody that works can adopt a kitten because they have to stay home with it. I would think that as long as you had toys to keep them entertained and it was only for a little while until they got acclimated and your house kitten proofed, it would be just fine.

  13. Mike

    I feel im getting the separation anxiety, my kitten was rubbing on me since i slept in the kittens room. My wife sleep during the day and sleeps in the master bed
    I feel bad going to work

  14. Cy tanner

    I'm getting a kitten in 4 weeks. She'll be 11 weeks old. I really don't see the whole picture for what it's worth. I'm staying home for the first week about 9 days because kittens are use to having their sibblings around and people, so they don't know how to be alone or feel safe. If you can afford a pet sitter than that's a way to go too. That's what I'm trying to find is dmeone to watch her while I'm at work except they would be at my place for 6 hours and the kitten that will be alone for2 1/2 hours. Cause I clean house and it takes 2 1/2 hours so.do we still confine them to 1 room or leave them roam the house for this couple of hours?

  15. Skippy

    Hewwò, My name is Skippy & I am 9 weeks + 1 day old. At first, whem my new mumy left me alone, I was too scared to. do anything, so I hid + went to sleep until she came home. She hadn't left me before & I think she had a harder time than I did. She bought me more toys & I fell in love with it. Now, I think I'll play on the guilt trip a bit longer to get more toys. hee, hee. When I really do get scared mumy cuddles me & if I "accidentally" knock something over, like the set-top box, I go into hiding for a little while. She even cuddles me for that. She told me that if I ever get sick not to get upset. She says its alright, that everyone gets sick. Im very happy shes my new mumy. Shes so gentle & makes me feel so safe, id feel guilty if i "accidentally" broke anything, esp. her computer. Those things have to go. It takes up too much of my cuddle time + since Im still very wittle, I need a lot of attn. If u leave us puddy tats good, water, bickies, a radio or the tv on, we will be very good. When we hear the tv or radio talking, we think there is someone home & it makes us feel safe. Personlwwy, I like soft gentle music. I dont like jazz. Birdies like that. I like soft music because it helps me to sleep, but I like people talking on tv or radio best. I liked it when mumy left me gor half an hr, then 1hr, then 2, etc. It helped me to get used to being by myself, with the tv or radio on. I do like the tv, esp uf its hot animals on. Puddy tat shows or movies are goid cause I can learn how to wapp mumy around my wittle claw. Just wemember that we luv u vewy much, esp if u dpoil us wotten & will be good wittle kittens. I hope dis helps u wit taking care of us. The spoiling us wotten is very important
    miaoww . . . miaow . . .

  16. Caron

    I have just gotten a new kitten, he is 10 weeks old. For the past 2 nights I have stayed with him almost constantly - I leave him around midnight in my livingroom downstairs and I go to my bed upstairs untill around 7am the next day. He has a comphy bed, fresh dry food, fresh water, clean litter tray and toys
    I also have been leaving the Tele on for a little bit of noise and light - is this okay to do ? I worry as he is so young. Thanks

  17. Joan

    Do you need to leave a light on at night for a11 week old kitten or are they fine in the dark

  18. Margarita

    Blu my kitten is appx. 2 months, we have never left him alone, he’s is a gift for 5 years of ‘issues’. We have a small indoor dog, Jax. They instantly became best buddies. I’m not comfortable leaving them alone for a 4 hours. I could take but most of it will be travel. Suggestions?

  19. Michaela

    Hi there how did they do on there own. We have 7 week old who was abandoned and leave him in one room at night for 10 hours and will be leaving him for 9 hours while work when he is 9 weeks old. He will be okay yeah. I’m worried in some ways

  20. jeanna newell

    I need help t remind me how to teach a kitten that it is being naughty how to train it to be nice and what claims a kitten down

  21. Ash

    I got a bengal kitten (8 wks old) n its been 4 days since n nows hes better settled. As soon as i leave the room... He meows a lot. I need to go to the shops tomorrow and back to work on 4th jan... Im having palpation thinking about leaving him tomorrow. Do you think it ok? He has everything mentioned

  22. Peter C

    We got Fidget at 9 weeks old just over a week ago, and she has settled really well. We set her up with a kitten corner in the kitchen and I put one of my old t-shirts in the bed with her blanket as it had my scent on it, it makes her feel safe. There are plenty of toys as well and a scratching post
    Plenty of fresh water, pouch food and dry food as well.
    If I have to go out, I give her a big cuddle and a stroke then I put the radio on for her. She likes. 70s, 80s and 90s tunes the best. I then put her on her bed and tell her ill see her later, then go out. When I get back in, we have a 10 minute play and fuss and she is fine. I have left her for 4 hours at the most and there are no issues.
    I am furloughed for about another 8 weeks so she will be just over 5 months old when I hopefully go back so that is why I do these things now.

  23. Mia

    My daughter left her adored and pampered 9-week old Scottish fold kitten alone in a safe and familiar environment for half an hour while running an errand. There was food and water in the usual place, as well as a clean kitty litter. When she returned, she found the kitten had peed in his bed. He kept hiding under the furniture and was looking and acting very miserable. For the next few hours, he was not responding to her cuddles and stroking, which he normally loves. It made my daughter feel very guilty and we wonder when the kitten will be ready to be left on his own for longer periods. What should be done differently?

  24. Juliet

    Alot of questions here but there doesnt seem to be many answers except from the pretend kitten one (very good lol) I too am going to leave my 8 week kitten on her own for the first time tomorrow..I am going round the Living Room and kitchen to make sure there is noithing she can hurt herself on. I wonder if the couple of people here that left their kittne on there own...How did it go? Was she/he ok? How did she/he act towards you when you got home. Was your room in one piece ...Were they in one piece? It would be nice here how it all went.

    Thank you

  25. Christine

    I rescued two 6 week old kitties a couple of weeks ago. And because they're so young, I made a safe space in basement bathroom with bed, water, food, kitty litter and toys. I also had a crate in living room where I bring them up for a little playtime. Gradually, I started letting them out the crate to play. They did well with their safe space in basement mostly Because there's two of them and they keep each other company. I Gradually started giving them more and more freedom. It's safe in basement and there's the cat climber so I started leaving the bathroom door open so they can roam. I leave the side indoor door open so they can see sunlight. 2 weeks later I now bring them upstairs and I let them roam, closing some doors to rooms but it's all monitored. I only go to work twice a week in office so that helps. At night time I still let them sleep in basement where the litter, food and water is. My plan is to keep one and rehome the other and that is where my problem may begin. Because I will have to change up some things. I don't know how I will work it with one kitty. I can't exactly let a 8 or 9 week old kitty completely roam. I can't keep in my room because it will need the litter. So I have to figure out before I separate them. I am guessing that maybe I wait till the kitty is 3 months before separating but I also do not want them to go through separation anxiety.

  26. Katy

    I adopted an 8 week old kitten 4 days ago. Before she arrived I asked the owner what brand of food she was eating and what brand of litter she was using so I could get her what she's been used to (I will slowly transition to more sustainable brands I would prefer her to use). When she arrived I had her set up in my living space with litter tray, food, water, comfy spots to rest and plenty of toys (tin foil balls are her fav.) She was very brave and curious straight out the crate. She was running about, playing, coming over for strokes etc! I anticipated her hiding under the sofa but she was not scared at all. She spent the night alone in the living space, albeit only a few hours as she arrived late and I stayed up playing with her for ages. The next day I stayed with her in the living space all day. That evening I took her into my bedroom to sleep, she slept through the whole night with me under the covers! In the morning I carried her back into the living space. After she ate some food I opened up the door to the hallway and went with her as she walked through to explore the hall and stairs. Later on, I encouraged her to watch as I moved her litter tray into the bathroom which she used in there straight away. Luckily, her arrival was all planned around the bank holiday weekend so I knew I had plenty of time to bond with her and settle her in.
    I left her for an hour or so on day 2 only in the living space, then 5 hours on day 3 with the house open for her. I'm out the house for work 9 hours a day, 4 days a week. For the first day of me back at work I will keep her in the living space just to be sure she feels safe. With all these steps I have taken and understanding her personality, I believe she will be alright left while I'm at work. Hope this helps someone!

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