Where Should Kittens Sleep at Night?

Where Should Kittens Sleep at Night?

Hey there, fellow cat parent! Choosing the ideal sleeping spot for your precious ball of fluff can be tricky. As your kitten’s sleep coach, let me walk you through everything you need to know to get your kitty catching zzz’s in no time.

The Perfect Kitten Boudoir: Location, Location, Location

When prepping for that first night home, the most pawesome sleeping site for your kit is a cozy corner in your bedroom. I know they’re irresistibly snuggly, but avoid the temptation of direct bed sharing just yet. Kittens under 6 months are still pretty clumsy, and you definitely don’t want them tumbling off the mattress or getting squished in the middle of the night.

Instead, set up a little nest with blankets right next to you. This allows for bonding while giving them their own space to stretch out. As they get older, you can revisit snuggle sessions under the covers if you’d both enjoy it.

To Crate or Not to Crate?

Good news! Unlike puppies, kittens don’t really require crate training. As long as you’ve got a nice, cushy kitten bed or makeshift cardboard cave for them to retreat to, they’ll be A-OK. However, if your kit is still mastering the whole litter box thing, containing them at night can avoid messy surprises.

Kittenizing the Room

Safety first! Before welcoming your kit to their new domain, be sure to fully kitten-proof the space. We’re talking covering outlets, stowing loose items that could fall or be chewed on, blocking hidey holes behind furniture…the whole shebang. Nobody wants a curious kit tumbling into trouble on their first night away from mom.

Oh, and don’t forget to set up the essentials! Food and water bowls, potty provisions, mental stimulation with toys—make sure it’s all squared away so you can both catch some zzz’s.

Nighty Night: Establishing Healthy Sleep Routines

Now for the fun part—dreaming the night away! As a fellow cat lover, I’m sure you know kitties are naturally most active around dawn and dusk. So, for the first few nights, expect your kit to get a serious case of the “zoomies” when normal people are heading to bed. Totally normal!

To align Cat Standard Time with Human Standard Time, make sure to wear them out well before bed with interactive play sessions. Try feathers on string toys, laser pointers, sparkle balls…go all out! This helps release that restless energy so they snooze when you snooze.

If they still persist in using your face as a springboard at 3am, gently return them to their bed and ignore the behavior (as hard as it is to resist that cute lil face!). Consistency is key in communicating that nighttime is for snuggling blankets, not human slaves.

Supporting Restful Zzzz’s

Aside from location logistics, there are additional ways to set your kit up for sleepy success:

• Schedule regular vet checkups to rule out health issues disrupting their rest
• Provide a balanced, nutritional diet to fuel growing bones…and dreams!
• Note any odd sleep behaviors that could indicate sickness

By tuning into your kitten’s unique needs and quirks, you’ll be resting peacefully—paw in paw—in no time. Now, who’s ready for some cat naps? Night night, little whiskers!