Need Advice Re: Leaving Kitten Home Alone

I’m just looking for some advice about whether it’s okay to leave my kitten having the run of the house while I’m gone at work, or if I should lock her in a room (only possible room being the bathroom). I live in a studio apartment with a loft. The loft is safely blocked off. Whenever I leave the house, I always double-check everything—kitchen is clean, all cupboards closed, nothing dangerous to eat, nothing breakable to knock over, most cords unplugged, etc. But I still feel worried that somehow Clove will get into something and hurt herself while I’m at work. It’s entirely possible I’m just being paranoid, but it’s my first kitten so I just don’t know!

Clove, the kitten, is 5 months old. I also have a 4 year old female and the two get along pretty well—Chilli is very hissy and grumbly at Clove lately, but there’s no fighting or anything and they often play together. I have had Clove for about 2 months but a large part of that time was spent keeping her in a crate due to a broken paw. As of yesterday, Clove is finally free, which is why I’m just now having to think about this issue!

On weekdays I’m gone for work usually 6-9 hrs a day (but these days it’s been up to 10hrs due to extra responsibilities, etc). I’m sure the cats miss me, but Chilli is pretty used to it, and if Clove has the run of the house then at least they will be together. I left Clove out for about 4 hours this evening as a test run and everything seemed fine, aside from some milk cartons knocked out of my recycling box. She also was free all night last night and she just ran around and entertained herself with no problems. I feel like I’ve kittenproofed all I can, and I have to let her have the run of the house eventually... but I’m so worried that something will happen anyway somehow and I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself. Any advice? Should I lock her in the bathroom when I’m gone or let her free for good?

Give her freedom! You'll likely stop worrying after a couple weeks.

Do you work too far away from home so that you couldn't start out with 1/2 day of letting her roam, and check in during lunch hour?

If you have kitten proofed then I would leave her out and let the two cats be together. Most of their days are spent sleeping any way.

If you are really nervous, invest in a video cam where you can check on them from your phone. I have Wyze cam which cost around $30 which works great for monitoring.

I just reread your post and definitely you don’t want to shut a five month old cat in the bathroom all day every day.

Okay, I will let her free! I just wanted to make sure I’m not being irresponsible or something, but it sounds like locking her in the bathroom would be worse.

FeebysOwner said:

Do you work too far away from home so that you couldn't start out with 1/2 day of letting her roam, and check in during lunch hour?

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Yeah, unfortunately it’s too far away to come back during the day. I will just have to cross my fingers, worry a lot, and hopefully come back to a nice safe peaceful house.

Yep! Here is the thing, there is no magic age where a kitten becomes so smart that it becomes impossible they will do something stupid and injure themselves. So you don't lock them in a room forever, you cat proof the best you can and hope for the best.

rosegold said:

Yeah, unfortunately it’s too far away to come back during the day. I will just have to cross my fingers, worry a lot, and hopefully come back to a nice safe peaceful house.

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That's how it is with my job. Lelia was 4.5 months when I got her and it was right at the beginning of the school year. I would rush home, even before I let her out of the safe room. But it got easier!

She's definitely old enough. My kittens had the run of the place before they were 4 months old. I know you've got everything thoroughly kitten-proofed, so don't worry! (I know that last part is easier said than done.)

Yeah, I guess it was kind of a silly question... Of course she has to be left unsupervised at some point... But the reassurance is helpful! She’s been a very good girl the last day and a half (clearly matured a little since 3 months old!) so I’m trying not to worry too much. And she and Chilli were wrestling and running around very happily so hopefully they’ll entertain each other and wear each other out. Off to work now... fingers crossed everything is fine when I get home!

Agree with the rest, as long as your house is cat safe, let her roam free. It's better to start early so she can get use to being alone at home and you can gets to it leaving her alone. She'll probably sleep most of the time.

You can start by leaving her for an hour each time and slowly increase your absence longer. And also do some irregular timings so that she don't have to really wait for you to come home but most likely she'll wait by the door for you.

I turn on the radio to the Classical Chanel for my boy each time I leave and I also have a video cam to check on him.

Lovely gal you have here

Not a silly question! It can be nerve-wracking. At least she's got a buddy.

You might just find a few things on the floor that weren't there when you left...

You are doing great! Stop worrying

Like a human child, Clove would want to run and play most of the day. Let her run around the house. I am sure you have done all the safety precautions. As for Chilli, I think that soon everything will be just like normal and she will wholeheartedly accept her new sibling. I am actually experiencing that now with my Bourbon and Brandy - the two do not go along together too. But as long as no furs flying and blood they will probably be fine. At first I was under extreme stress, too.

You are a marvelous pet parent.

rosegold said:

Yeah, I guess it was kind of a silly question...

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Not a silly question at all. And with your string of bad luck, you have additional reasons to be cautious. Hope everything went well while you were at work.

Everything seems to have gone fine. Well, sort of. I’m currently hyperanalyzing Clove’s gait since she seems to me to have a slight hitch in her step—back leg, I think, or maybe her back... thankfully it doesn’t seem like it’s the formerly broken front foot! I’ll see how it is in the morning. Other than that, it looks like everything went well in my absence.