Can I Put My Kitten In A Cage At Night – 10 Considerations

It is very common to crate cats at night time, especially when they get a bit wild and need a timeout. It’s even encouraged for specific breeds. However, adult cats respond a little differently to environmental changes compared to a kitten. Sometimes though, it helps to keep a kitten in a cage to stop their late night behaviors. But is it okay? Have you ever wondered; can I put my kitten in a cage at night?

Yes, you can put a kitten in a cage at night. When kittens are eight weeks old or younger, you may want to keep them in a crate or a gated area at night so that they are not able to roam freely around your home. Kittens that are sick, in training, or have had recent surgeries can also be kept in cages at night.

If you put your cat in a cage at night, make sure to limit the amount of time they spend in the cage throughout the rest of the day. This will keep you and your cat happy. Read on to learn more about some of the advantages and disadvantages of caging a kitten, and how you can help your pet adjust.

Advantages of Putting a Kitten in a Cage At Night

While putting a kitten in a cage is not the most fun experience as a pet owner, sometimes it’s necessary. In fact, there are many key advantages to putting a kitten in a cage at night.

It may help them sleep better

Sleeping in a cage or gated area may help a restless cat improve their sleeping routine. If your kitten is a light sleeper and is prone to waking up if there are any distractions, a cage might be a great way to keep them in a secure place where they can get a good night of rest. Routines are essential for kittens at a young age, as their first year of life is when they are at their most formative. It is helpful for them to learn that nighttime is when everyone in the house is quiet and rests. 

All species need to have a good sleep routine to ensure they are getting enough hours of rest. The hours cats spend sleeping is when they regain their energy, regulate their body temperature, and the brain stores away all the information from the previous day. 

Keep them from waking you up in the morning 

If your cat sleeps in a cage or kennel, they won’t be able to wake you up in the morning or get up until you are ready to start your day. This can be a great way to ensure you get enough sleep at night without interruption, especially if your cat is prone to being a very early riser or loud in the morning. 

One of the biggest complaints people often mention when they talk about having a cat is that cats are notoriously early risers. It is true, cats are their most alert in the morning, and if they are left to roam freely around your home at night, there is a good chance they will jump on your bed or ask for attention. 

They can’t get into trouble during the night 

Kittens are prone to getting into everything when they are little and may chew up your shoes or scratch furniture if they are left on their own for too long. Putting your kitten in a cage or a kitten-proofed area will help you to ensure the damage done in your absence is minimal.

Helps prevent them from having litter box training accidents 

It takes time to teach a young kitten how to use the litter box, and it is guaranteed that there will be mistakes along the way. This is also a beneficial strategy if your kitten is not yet fully litter trained and trying to avoid them having accidents around your house. 

While accidents may still happen, you can rest easy knowing your cat isn’t going to mess up an expensive rug or piece of furniture in your home.  

Allows you to curate a safe and comfortable space for them 

While the word cage might seem like it has negative connotations, it can be a very comfortable and cozy sleeping nook for your kitten. This allows you to make their cage their own safe space by adding in a cozy bed or blanket, some water, and even keeping a toy or two in the cage for them. Some cats will grow to love their cage as they see it as a place to relax and unwind that is just their own.

Privacy

One huge benefit of keeping a kitten in a cage at night is privacy. Kittens are still adjusting to the new world, and younger kittens will often be afraid. In some situations, you may even catch your kitten hiding in various areas of the home.

This is something that is more difficult to deal with at night, and it’s essential that you can locate your kitten at night in case of an emergency. So with that said, the cage provides privacy for them. If they are feeling scared, they can hide in the cage without the risk of roaming and getting into a bad situation.

Protection From Other Pets

Other pets in the home are something of notable concern; especially when it comes to kittens. You’ll want to invest in their protection, and one of the best ways is to put them in a cage at night. This is essential if your other pets are free roaming.

Because a lot of activities can happen at night when it comes to cats; the only way to really keep an eye on them is to keep them in a safe confined space. As your kitten ages, then you can start to allow them more sleeping options.

Surgery Healing

When a cat has surgery, rest is the last thing on their minds. They are ready to get active, however for their own protection, you should keep your cat as stationary as possible.

For kittens it’s even more important that they don’t get injured as they’re still developing. That’s why it’s a good idea to have them sleep in a cage while they heal from their surgeries. This will prevent them from climbing on things, jumping around, running, and that sort of thing.

Disadvantages of Putting a Kitten in a Cage At Night 

While there are advantages to putting a kitten in a confined space like a cage at night, sometimes it doesn’t always work out too well. Here are some of the key disadvantages of caging a kitten at night.

Your kitten might meow the whole night

If kittens are not pleased about something, they may use their voice to make that known. While you might think putting your kitten in a cage would prevent them from being disruptive at night, they may choose to meow the whole night instead, which can be equally disruptive.

You are not nearby if they get sick

One disadvantage of sleeping away from your kitten is that you won’t closely monitor them. If your kitten happened to get sick or throw up in the night, you would not know about it until the following day. If a cat is allowed to roam freely, they are pretty good at waking up their owners if they feel bad or need help.

They may not like being confined

This is the most significant disadvantage of putting your kitten in a cage- they are likely not to want to stay in there! Kittens have a lot of energy, so they are happiest when they can freely roam around and play. While they may tolerate being in a cage for a couple of nights, they may start to put up resistance when you put them in the cage to sleep once they figure out what is going on. 

It may lead to behavior problems down the line

If your cat builds up too many feelings of anger and resentment about being kept in a cage overnight, they may start to act out in other ways. This could look like bad behavior, such as having accidents on purpose inside your home or destroying things in your home. 

It could also lead to permanent damage down the line for your relationship with your cat. If they resent you for locking them up at night, they may not feel as close to you and may never come to you for affection or love.

If your kitten is well behaved, you shouldn’t need to crate them

More than anything, it isn’t necessary to put your kitten in a cage at night. Cats spend many days sleeping, so they should be napping for most of the night. They also are very curious animals and may spend some time wandering around the home, but a well-behaved cat won’t do anything destructive during that time. Many cats enjoy snuggling up with their owners while they sleep, so by keeping them in their cage, they cannot be close to you.

Where Should My Kitten Sleep At Night

The best place to have your kitten sleep while they are young is in your bathroom or laundry room. The most important thing is that they have access to their litter box and water during the night. If you keep them in your bathroom or laundry room, it should be pretty easy to shut the door at night to prevent them from having free rein over your entire home. When kittens are very little, you certainly want to keep them in a confined area to make sure they stay safe. 

Things To Consider

If you are crating your cat because you are afraid of what they will do when you aren’t home, spend some time kitten-proofing a particular area of your home for them. This will allow them to have more room to run around, and you won’t have to worry that they are eating your plants while you are gone. 

If you feel like your cat is acting out because they are under-stimulated, consider whether your cat is getting enough playtime during the day.

While cats can have nocturnal tendencies, if they are rambunctiously playing and running around all night long, that is a sign that they are not getting enough of their energy out during the day. If this is the case, make sure you spend at least an hour a day having vigorous playtime with your cat.

Make sure to avoid playing with really stimulating toys right before you want your cat to go to sleep as well. They take their behavioral cues from the way humans act, and it’s essential to demonstrate that the whole household is winding down for bed. 

Another recommendation if you are having trouble with your cat being bored during the night is to get a second cat. If you get a second cat at the same time as your first or while they are both still young, it’s easy to get them to bond and get along.

This is a great way to ensure your cat is getting adequate playtime each day, and they also have a built-in friend to play with when you are not available. Getting a second cat often solves many of the behavioral problems you are experiencing with your first cat.