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Having a new kitten is super exciting. Seeing a little adorable kitty growing up is one of the most awesome things you can experience!
During this period, your kitten will need a lot of love, affection, and care from you, making it a significant responsibility.
If you haven’t had a cat before, or perhaps you have, but not one this small, you probably have many questions and doubts on your mind.
One of these is likely whether you should leave your kitten alone while you’re sleeping. Are there any potential dangers here? How old should a kitten be before you leave it alone while you sleep?
Let’s explore this issue thoroughly.
Can Your Kitten Be Alone While You Sleep?
Cats are quite independent animals, but, of course, we don't want to leave them alone for too long so they don't become lonely and frustrated.
An adult and healthy cat can handle spending the night alone while you sleep. However, this doesn't apply to young kittens.
Young kittens shouldn't be left alone for long since they are still developing physically and mentally, getting accustomed to you, your family, and the world around them.
The first few weeks are the period when you need to devote yourself to your kitten. So, until your kitten has established its rhythm, you shouldn't just go to sleep and ignore its needs.
This may take until your kitten is about 6 months old.
Kittens are quite demanding, especially up to about 4 weeks of age – this is usually also the period when they start drinking water and slowly wean themselves off their mother's milk.
How Long Can Kittens Be Alone Overnight?
If you’re already scared that you won’t get any sleep until your kitten turns 6 months old, don’t panic right away!
The truth is that you’ll need to check on your kitten during the night, but it should be fine being alone for around 4 to 6 hours.
Therefore, you should check on your kitten every 4 to 6 hours, meaning that you’ll still have enough time to get a good night's sleep.
The reason why you shouldn’t let your little cat go without seeing her a couple of times during the night is because of her basic needs.
She needs food, water, and to use her litter box. According to PetMD, you can start litter training your kitten at around 4 weeks of age.
Chances are good that your kitten will be litter-box-trained very soon, since felines instinctively cover and hide their feces and urine, because this is something most of them learn from their mothers.
Should Your Kitten Sleep In A Separate Room?
Once your kitten gets used to you, you will notice many cute ways of her showing affection towards you, such as sleeping pressed up against you
This is adorable, of course, but, in the long term, this will not be the sleeping situation you would like to be a part of.
Even though you'll get up to check on your kitten, having your kitten sleeping next to you or in a separate room is a different story.
You might also be afraid of your little cat sleeping completely alone, away from you. Well, this is completely doable, provided you make that space completely safe for your kitten.
You should make sure the windows and the doors in the room are completely closed, so that there isn’t the slightest chance your kitten might get out.
Also, you should remove any breakable items from the room your kitten is sleeping in, as well as any electric cords.
Make sure the kitten has fresh and clean water available all the time, as well as her litter tray close to her. To make the room as comfortable as possible, put a cat bed in it, and fill it up with a soft pillow, a blanket, and some cute toys for your kitten to feel safe and warm.
You could even leave a light on for your kitten at night for the first couple of nights to make things less stressful for her. You should stop doing this once she gets used to the surroundings, since keeping the light off will help her sleep better.
What If You Have To Leave The House Overnight?
Leaving the house for the entire night isn’t the best idea if you have a kitten younger than 6 months.
Even if you leave food and water for her, and even if she's litter-box-trained, there is still a possibility that your small cat might make a mess when she notices you're not home for some time. For example, she might scratch your walls out of stress and anxiety.
Young kittens shouldn’t be left alone for the entire night without any supervision. If you have the opportunity, the best would be to ask your neighbor, friend, or relative to at least check on them a couple of times while you’re away.
Final Words
Young kittens require constant attention, which can sometimes be quite challenging, and it may even necessitate adjusting your schedule to meet your little cat's needs.
So, can I leave my kitten alone while I sleep?
No, you shouldn’t do this. But, this doesn't mean you have to be up all night, watching over your kitten.
It will be enough to check on her every 4 to 6 hours. Don’t get afraid of this obligation since it won’t last long – approximately until your cat is about 6 months old.
I’m sure you’re aware of how independent and confident cats are. So, once they are all grown up, they won’t need this kind of attention.
You’ll have to dedicate your time to a kitten for a couple of first months, but, after this, you’ll be able to enjoy the company of the most amazing furry companion!
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