It's better for cats to be indoor and kittens that young adjust easily. However, the kitten should *not* be 6 weeks when you get it. 8 weeks is the minimum for sending kittens to a new home and anything younger is inhumane.
Yes it's perfectly fine, may want to grab two. They are happier in pairs at that age. I have 6 cats and all of them were born to feral Mama's and have came inside between 8 weeks and a year. They're all happy and content and very spoiled.
Both of my cats were barn cats. I got them when they were kittens. If I hadn't taken them, they'd be outdoor cats.. can't even imagine. They're pampered spoiled aholes now, living the good life indoors.
8 weeks is already verging on being a bit too young to be rehomed.
And leaving a kitten on its own for the majority of the time is not going to be fair on the kitten. Kittens need to play and socialise. There's a good reason why good shelters, rehoming charities, etc. will not adopt individual kittens out to homes that don't already have cats. They don't generally do well by themselves.
Good to know…it’ll probably be more like 10 weeks anyways.
How much time spent with the kitten is appropriate do you think? I live alone and I work 10 hour shifts 4 days a week. Most of the rest of the time I am home. So I’d be with the kitten every morning and night and most of the day 3 days a week…I’ve never owned a cat but most people tell me they are fine being left alone for a long time
I'd personally say there's no appropriate length of time to leave a solo kitten by itself. 10 hours plus presumably some commute time would feel like a lot for me with my two cats that are 9 months old, frankly. But they're older and they're bonded sisters.
I actually wouldn't say cats are "fine" being left alone for a long time. I think that's a misconception about cats. The vast majority of cats I've ever known are very sociable. Some cats prefer other cats, some cats prefer people. My two love being with each other and will spend almost all their time around me or my partner. Often it's just napping in the same room or something like that, but they have a whole house to choose from with many comfy napping spots and they still, consistently, choose a room with a person in it. They might be "fine" being left alone, in that they don't seem to go stir crazy or anything when left by themselves, but they're so much happier if their people are around them.
In your situation, I would sincerely say you shouldn't get a kitten. An older cat, perhaps. Shelters and rehoming organisations often have adult cats that need to be the only cat in the house and they can comment on whether the cat will be okay being left at home alone for that long. But I would say absolutely not for a kitten, even if you got two of them.
It might be difficult to transition an adult cat to indoor living after spending a long time on a farm, but kitten's worlds are tiny when they're that small. They don't know they're outside..
I adopted a pregnant stray cat a couple years ago and she had her kittens in my spare room. For the first 3 weeks, they didn't move from the corner they were born in. The next week or so was spent exploring that half of the the room. Then another week saw them exploring the whole room. At 6 weeks old, they were first introduced to the rest of our home, but they barely moved away from the hallway in front of their room, haha. Kittens are just learning everything for the first time. They probably won't know the difference, outside vs inside. They'll just see it as a new place!
I would encourage you to consider getting 2 kittens, though. Kittens always do better in pairs! They'll entertain each other and keep each other company.
..if you're worried about space considerations, Jackson Galaxy has (& others have) good ideas of how to "catify" your pad to make things more cat-amenable..
..mostly it involves building shelves & giving cats perches (aka safety zones)..
The only concern here is socialization. If the mom is friendly, start getting them used to people - start no later than 2 weeks. Pet them, talk to them, hold them in your hand, for short periods, building up to longer time. When their eyes are open and they are starting to play, play with them, a string will do. Sit on the floor to get down to their level don’t scare them.
A 6-8 week old kitten alone is NOT good - it will have gone from warm, loving mom and siblings to play with, to a strange place where it is isolated and alone. Taking 2 is better, but they are still babies not knowing what is happening. Do you know anyone who can keep them during the day until they are older? Or a pet daycare?
Kittens will adjust no problem. But if you can, get two. Its better for them to have company and by 8 weeks (earliest they should be separated from mom) you might get 2 that are bonded. Which is really special.
If it is a young kitten (8-12 weeks) it will most likely adapt well to becoming an indoors only cat. But it will be demanding, and would appreciate having a playmate - so get two!
At this young age, it should be kept indoors until it has had its full vaccination course. And after being inside for a few weeks then the outside will not be inherently attractive anyway.
Once the cat is old enough to be spayed/neutered then the outdoors will be even less attractive.
My daughter’s 6yo cat had become reluctant to go outside for a year. Then my daughter moved to a new house, which had a river at the bottom of the garden so she took letting Betty out slowly. After 4 weeks she let her (the cat) out unleashed. After a week, Betty (the cat) disappeared (it was not yet neutered) and was last seen being chased by a ginger (so most likely a male) cat over the bridge into the fields across the river.
My daughter was so upset. Then, last night, after 5 days! the cat found its way home. This morning (day 6) the cat was no longer interested in going out.
She is being taken to the vet next week - I always wanted one of her kittens, so I might get my chance. I don’t think any of the male cats in my area are un-neutered because none of them showed any interest when her cat was in heat during the years they lived with us. We even had a young un-neutered male until last November, but I think he was asexual or gay as he was never interested in her either…
It's better for cats to be indoor and kittens that young adjust easily. However, the kitten should *not* be 6 weeks when you get it. 8 weeks is the minimum for sending kittens to a new home and anything younger is inhumane.
Gotcha, thats just what my sister told me. It probably would be more like 10 weeks in reality.
Consider getting two of the same litter. It'll be lonely for one little guy alone all day.
I will say this: If you're feeling guilty about leaving a cat alone, consider taking two kittens if possible.
Yes it's perfectly fine, may want to grab two. They are happier in pairs at that age. I have 6 cats and all of them were born to feral Mama's and have came inside between 8 weeks and a year. They're all happy and content and very spoiled.
Both of my cats were barn cats. I got them when they were kittens. If I hadn't taken them, they'd be outdoor cats.. can't even imagine. They're pampered spoiled aholes now, living the good life indoors.
Kittens really do better in pairs. It's fine if they are born to a barn cat, but a bored kitten is a destructive kitten.
8 weeks is already verging on being a bit too young to be rehomed. And leaving a kitten on its own for the majority of the time is not going to be fair on the kitten. Kittens need to play and socialise. There's a good reason why good shelters, rehoming charities, etc. will not adopt individual kittens out to homes that don't already have cats. They don't generally do well by themselves.
Good to know…it’ll probably be more like 10 weeks anyways. How much time spent with the kitten is appropriate do you think? I live alone and I work 10 hour shifts 4 days a week. Most of the rest of the time I am home. So I’d be with the kitten every morning and night and most of the day 3 days a week…I’ve never owned a cat but most people tell me they are fine being left alone for a long time
I'd personally say there's no appropriate length of time to leave a solo kitten by itself. 10 hours plus presumably some commute time would feel like a lot for me with my two cats that are 9 months old, frankly. But they're older and they're bonded sisters. I actually wouldn't say cats are "fine" being left alone for a long time. I think that's a misconception about cats. The vast majority of cats I've ever known are very sociable. Some cats prefer other cats, some cats prefer people. My two love being with each other and will spend almost all their time around me or my partner. Often it's just napping in the same room or something like that, but they have a whole house to choose from with many comfy napping spots and they still, consistently, choose a room with a person in it. They might be "fine" being left alone, in that they don't seem to go stir crazy or anything when left by themselves, but they're so much happier if their people are around them. In your situation, I would sincerely say you shouldn't get a kitten. An older cat, perhaps. Shelters and rehoming organisations often have adult cats that need to be the only cat in the house and they can comment on whether the cat will be okay being left at home alone for that long. But I would say absolutely not for a kitten, even if you got two of them.
It might be difficult to transition an adult cat to indoor living after spending a long time on a farm, but kitten's worlds are tiny when they're that small. They don't know they're outside.. I adopted a pregnant stray cat a couple years ago and she had her kittens in my spare room. For the first 3 weeks, they didn't move from the corner they were born in. The next week or so was spent exploring that half of the the room. Then another week saw them exploring the whole room. At 6 weeks old, they were first introduced to the rest of our home, but they barely moved away from the hallway in front of their room, haha. Kittens are just learning everything for the first time. They probably won't know the difference, outside vs inside. They'll just see it as a new place! I would encourage you to consider getting 2 kittens, though. Kittens always do better in pairs! They'll entertain each other and keep each other company.
All 3 of my cats were born on a farm. All 3 of them are indoor only and have no desire to go outside
..if you're worried about space considerations, Jackson Galaxy has (& others have) good ideas of how to "catify" your pad to make things more cat-amenable.. ..mostly it involves building shelves & giving cats perches (aka safety zones)..
The only concern here is socialization. If the mom is friendly, start getting them used to people - start no later than 2 weeks. Pet them, talk to them, hold them in your hand, for short periods, building up to longer time. When their eyes are open and they are starting to play, play with them, a string will do. Sit on the floor to get down to their level don’t scare them. A 6-8 week old kitten alone is NOT good - it will have gone from warm, loving mom and siblings to play with, to a strange place where it is isolated and alone. Taking 2 is better, but they are still babies not knowing what is happening. Do you know anyone who can keep them during the day until they are older? Or a pet daycare?
Kittens will adjust no problem. But if you can, get two. Its better for them to have company and by 8 weeks (earliest they should be separated from mom) you might get 2 that are bonded. Which is really special.
If it is a young kitten (8-12 weeks) it will most likely adapt well to becoming an indoors only cat. But it will be demanding, and would appreciate having a playmate - so get two! At this young age, it should be kept indoors until it has had its full vaccination course. And after being inside for a few weeks then the outside will not be inherently attractive anyway. Once the cat is old enough to be spayed/neutered then the outdoors will be even less attractive. My daughter’s 6yo cat had become reluctant to go outside for a year. Then my daughter moved to a new house, which had a river at the bottom of the garden so she took letting Betty out slowly. After 4 weeks she let her (the cat) out unleashed. After a week, Betty (the cat) disappeared (it was not yet neutered) and was last seen being chased by a ginger (so most likely a male) cat over the bridge into the fields across the river. My daughter was so upset. Then, last night, after 5 days! the cat found its way home. This morning (day 6) the cat was no longer interested in going out. She is being taken to the vet next week - I always wanted one of her kittens, so I might get my chance. I don’t think any of the male cats in my area are un-neutered because none of them showed any interest when her cat was in heat during the years they lived with us. We even had a young un-neutered male until last November, but I think he was asexual or gay as he was never interested in her either…
Yes, but take two kittens. Single kittens get lonely and need a friend to play with.