To ensure your kitten is comfortable in their new home, the first step is to set up a cosy, warm space so they feel safe and secure. This area is your kitten’s own and will help them to get to sleep on their first night.
When arriving home with your adorable kitten, your first instinct may be to lavish them with endless cuddles but it’s actually best to give your kitten some space. First, set up a sleeping area and allow your kitten to explore and get used to its new surroundings. Your kitten will need some time to get to know you and settle into their new space. If you follow our guidelines below, your kitten will soon happily adjust to your family and be sleeping peacefully through the night.
Where should my new kitten sleep?
A secure and comfortable room like the laundry is ideal, or you might even want to consider a pen or large crate so that you can control your kitten’s movements at night. Kittens love to be nice and cosy, so make sure there are lots of blankets, and that the bed has reasonably high sides to provide extra warmth. Make sure your kitten has access to a water bowl, food, and litter tray near their sleeping area. This room is your kitten’s space and they need to feel comfortable in order to adapt to your home.
Comfy Cat Bedding
Should I let my kitten sleep in my bed?
As tempting as it may be, avoid letting your kitten sleep on your bed or with the kids. As well as being dangerous for your kitten, cats carry some diseases that can be transmitted to humans. To avoid injury, it’s best to keep your kitten in a secure space while you’re both sleeping. If you allow your pet to roam free while they are young, you may find it hard to enforce bedtime in the future.
Should the light be left on or turned off?
Remember, cats can see in the dark a lot better than you or I can, so your kitten will have no problem finding what they need, even in minimal light. However, you can leave the light on or provide a night light on the first night while they adjust to their surroundings. An interesting fact about cats is that they love to be active at both dusk and dawn, so it will take some effort on your part to get yours to adapt to your schedule. Turning out the light when you go to bed can help to establish the sleep patterns with your home. This is very important if your kitten is going to become a happy member of the family.
What should I do when my kitten starts crying at night?
It’s almost inevitable that your kitten will cry for at least the first couple of nights when you bring them home. Remember, they’ve just been removed from their mum and littermates and they’re bound to feel a little bit lonely. The best thing you can do is keep your kitten feeling as safe and warm as possible. A great tip is to put a hot water bottle in their bed, as the warmth will help your kitten to relax and feel more comfortable – just make sure the bottle is covered and not too hot! Please do not use boiling water from the kettle.
Conclusion
If you take the time to provide your kitten with a safe and secure sleeping environment and encourage them to adapt to your sleeping patterns, your pet will become a well-adjusted cat in the long run. These helpful suggestions we’ve provided should get you on your way nicely. If you’re experiencing trouble getting your kitten to sleep at night, please book in a behavioural consultation at your local Greencross Vets who will be happy to help you resolve your problems.