On average, cats are capable of sleeping for up to 16-20 hours a day. Unfortunately, as cats are crepuscular creatures, most of that shut-eye takes place during the day and not necessarily during our own bedtime.
A lot of cat owners find that locking their kittens in a bathroom at night is a useful alternative to listening to their nighttime patrolling activities.
Are you wondering whether it is safe to lock your kitten in a bathroom?
To answer your question, although it is not recommended, yes it is safe to keep your kitten in a bathroom, provided that you have taken the necessary precautions to kitten-proof it.
Cats are independent and free-spirited. Being locked up in one space can jeopardize their physical and mental well-being.
Thus, you need to consider all consequences before locking your kitten in the bathroom. Continue reading the rest of the article for more details about the same.
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Can I Keep My Cat In A Bathroom At Night?
Simply put, yes you can keep your cat in a bathroom at night. However, you need to be cautious of numerous other factors before doing so.
Cats are crepuscular, which means that they are active at dusk and down. This sleeping pattern of kittens can be disruptive to your own sleep schedule.
If your cat is very energetic and constantly wakes you up in the middle of the night, you can prepare a separate room for her after ensuring that she will be safe there.
If an extra kitten room is unavailable, then the bathroom could also be used as a makeshift alternative. But, you will have to ensure that you remove all hazardous items and that being locked isn’t detrimental to your kitten’s health.
Must Read: Confining A Cat To A Room At Night: Is It An Offence?
Is It Okay To Lock My Cat In A Bathroom At Night?
Cats are perceived as intrinsically fierce and self-sufficient, incapable of receiving love.
However, the unequivocal truth is that cats need care and affection as much as the rest of us do. They care deeply for their owners and love having a snuggle buddy at night.
Being left alone for extended periods of time, can be traumatic and frightening for them. This inclination also varies from cat to cat.
Some of them are not bothered much by the small absences of their owners, but for others, even that can be a challenge.
Either way, if you do wish to lock your kitten in a bathroom at night, you shouldn’t make a habit of it.
You must kitten-proof the bathroom to remove all dangerous objects and ensure that your kitten’s food/water bowls and the litter box is kept nearby.
Interesting Read: Do Cats Need Access to Litter Box at Night?
Can I Lock My Cat In A Bathroom As A Punishment?
Punishment is any action that is taken to eliminate or decrease the probability of a particular unwanted behavior.
“Punished behavior is likely to reappear after the punitive consequences are withdrawn”
B.F Skinner, “Beyond Freedom aand Dignity
In addition to that, punishment also does not display the appropriate or desired behavior of the one being punished.
Thus, before locking your cat in the bathroom as a punishment, you should be aware of the mental, emotional and psychological harm that this can inflict upon her.
Instead of resorting to punishments, you can curb your kitten’s undesirable behavioral traits through discipline or training.
You can use techniques like Positive or Negative Reinforcement to build adaptive habits and decrease maladaptive ones.
Injudicious punishment can cause anxiety, fear, or even depression to arise in your kitten and might affect your bond with her.
Several studies conducted over time prove that punishment isn’t effective in the long term .
Markhams 2014, Psychology Today
Therefore, if avoidable, do not lock your kitten in the bathroom as a punishment.
Must Read: Is It Cruel To Keep Cat Out Of Bedroom?
How Long Can A Cat Be Locked?
This answer is completely subjective and depends upon the maturity level, personality, and age of your kitten.
According to vets: a kitten under 4 months can be left alone for 2-4 hours, 4-5 months for 5 hours, 6 months for 8 hours, and a healthy adult cat be left alone for up to 24 hours.
However, keep in mind that this is the maximum limit, it does not mean that you should lock your kitten for the stipulated amount of time.
You must strictly ensure that while your cat is alone, she should have access to plenty of food, and water and also has her litter box nearby.
You should also take care to remove any sharp items or poisonous plants.
Interesting Read: Can I Keep My Cat In A Cage Overnight?
How To Make Your Cat Comfortable In A Bathroom?
At times you cannot avoid putting your kitten in the bathroom. In such circumstances, there are many things you can do to make the bathroom comfortable a place for your kitten.
Here are some of them:
1. Provide a sleeping space
Bathrooms tend to be a bit colder than the rest of the house. You can cover the floor of your bathroom with thick blankets and soft, cozy duvets to make it a warm cocoon for your kitten.
You can also purchase a kitten bed for extra comfort. Bathtubs or the sink also make for great kitten beds.
2. Food & Water
Your kitten cannot stay a long time without proper nourishment. Ensure that you keep ample food and water in her bowls and that she has easy access to them in the bathroom.
3. Secure the space
Lock away any toxic products or dispensers that might be out in plain sight of your kitten. You can also cover the hard faucets or nobs with protective layerings or cloth.
Remove all sharp objects from the bathroom and also assure that your kitten doesn’t accidentally turn on the faucets.
4. Shut The Toilets
Close the lid of the toilet so that your kitten doesn’t drink the bacterial water or mistakenly draw in it.
5. Provide Toys
Being locked in the bathroom is sure to spike boredom in a kitten so give them a couple of toys to play with so that they can entertain themselves.
6. Provide a Litter Box
You don’t want your kitten to urinate or defecate on the floor of your bathroom, so provide a temporary litter box so she can do her business.
Must Read: Should I Leave A Light On For My Cat At Night?
Points To Consider Before Locking Your Cat In A Bathroom At Night
1. Size of the bathroom
If you are considering keeping your kitten in the bathroom for the night, then this is arguably the most important thing to be mindful of.
The layout and structure of the bathroom are something you should definitely focus on.
A small bathroom can be potentially harmful to your kitten as it has greater scope for injury. Cats are not comfortable with small spaces as it makes them feel cooped up and claustrophobic.
It can increase their anxiety level and that is not something you want to subject your furry friend to.
You want to ensure that the bathroom has plenty of space for movement, sleeping, feeding, and resting.
2. Cat’s Response
This is something that cat owners often overlook, but they shouldn’t. Some cats do not respond well to being confined. They claw at the doors and become very hyper.
If this is how your kitten reacts to being kept in the bathroom, then you shouldn’t consider locking her.
However, other cats are perfectly fine with it as long as they have their food, water, and toys.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can kittens sleep alone?
This depends entirely on the personality and temperament of the kitten. At times, kittens do prefer sleeping alone and in a separate room. It is safe and healthy for a kitten to sleep alone.
Can I lock my kitten out at night?
You should not lock out your kitten at night, especially if you live in a busy neighborhood. Several cats have gotten hit by moving cars while crossing the road.
Final Words
To summarize, you can lock your kitten in the bathroom as long as you are certain that she will be safe and comfortable in it. If she displays signs of anxiety and trauma, then be sure that you let her out quickly and do not expose her to a confined environment again.
On the other end of the spectrum, some kittens can enjoy being kept in the bathroom as it becomes their private room, and cats are known to appreciate seclusion.
Thus, judge your kitten’s personality and temperament well before locking her up at night.
