Summary
The space needs for weaned kittens will depend on their age and health and your home environment. Learn about the space options and the importance of a minimal two-week quarantine period.
Space Needs for Weaned Kittens
Initial Quarantine Period for Weaned Kittens
As kittens grow, they need more space to run and play, which develops their muscles and coordination. They also need more access to additional stimuli which also often requires that kittens have access to more spaces. Despite this, kittens should still be initially confined to a space that can be easily cleaned and which will keep them completely isolated from other animals in the household for at least a two-week quarantine period. This is important in case they have been exposed to or are incubating a disease that can spread to other animals, people or spaces in the household. Similarly, this quarantine protects kittens from exposure to illnesses or diseases carried by other household animals or pathogens in other areas of the house. See Basic Space Needs of Kittens for more information on the importance of a quarantine period.
Space Requirements for Weaned Kittens
The space requirement for weaned kittens depends on their age. A small space like a bathroom is fine if they are four to five weeks old. Within a larger room, a pen of some kind also works well. The sides of the pen should be high enough to prevent escape. A large, even multi-level cage is also a good option, especially if the kittens later return to a shelter where they will be housed in a cage. Familiarity with a cage may reduce stress when their pre-adoption housing includes cage confinement. We offer specific space suggestions in Basic Space Needs of Kittens.
Whatever space you choose, make sure it is large enough that their food, water, and bed are as far as possible from the litter box so that litter is not kicked into water and food bowls and bed. Kittens should not have to eat and sleep next to a litter box.
Kittens six weeks of age or older may need more space, and by eight weeks, they may want access to other areas of your home. In deciding if they are ready for more space, first assess the kitten’s readiness and development behavior. For example, timid or under-socialized kittens may be overwhelmed by more space or too many experiences at once. It is important that a kitten consistently uses the litter box in the space they are occupying before allowing them access to larger space. It is also important that kittens are adequately socialized so that they can be readily picked up or lured out from hiding places in the new space.
When kittens are ready for more space, be sure those spaces do not include hiding places you cannot access to retrieve them. If the new space does not give kittens easy, quick access to their food, water and litter box, provide additional food, water and litter boxes in the new areas. As with other new experiences, access to new space should be done safely, gradually and with supervision.
Spaces should not be too warm or too cold. If the space is too warm or cold for you, it is probably not right for kittens. While kittens over four weeks of age can maintain their body temperature, they are not yet proficient in doing so and, therefore, may need assistance via access to heat sources or places to cool down.
