Is it Cruel to Keep Kittens in a Cage?
Are you wondering if it is cruel to keep kittens in a cage? Some might think that it is. After all, it doesn’t sound kind or comfortable, but leaving them unsupervised can be unsafe. Is it okay to leave kittens alone? It isn’t a good idea. Kittens are furry little toddlers that can get into trouble when mom and dad aren’t around. Just because they’re animals doesn’t mean that supervision isn’t required. They’re notorious for climbing curtains and crawling into tight spaces. Curiosity can be deadly! It’s best to keep younger kittens safely contained when they can’t be watched, but every enclosure isn’t appropriate for cats. If you’re going to use a cage, it should be as comfy and as safe as possible.
What to Look for in a Cage for Kittens
Don’t use a plastic dog kennel to house kittens. They can be hot, uncomfortable and offer very little square footage. They’re not always ideal for canines let alone cats. When wondering if it is cruel to keep kittens in a cage, you won’t question it any further after checking out this one. It should include:
- Platforms
- Hammocks
- Ventilation
- Plenty of room to sleep, play and stretch
- Room for a small kitty litter box
- Space for water and food bowls
- Sturdy construction
- Wheels for easy relocation
- Durable closures
- Easy-clean tray
View it at Amazon – Prevue Pet Products Premium/Deluxe Cat Home, Black
Small Cages are Cruel
As you can see, a big high-quality cat cage is well worth the cost. Is it cruel to keep kittens in a cage? Not that one! It’s a regular kitty condo. It couldn’t get any comfier! The Prevue Pet Products Premium Cat Home above provides plenty of places to sleep, lounge and play. When the kittens aren’t climbing they’ll enjoy resting on the platforms and hammocks. Add a SmartCat Corner Litter Box and it’s almost complete. It’s a good corner cat litter box for a cage. You’ll also find pet bowls that attach to a wire cage for holding water and food. Just be sure to provide lots of free time out of the cage. They need loving human interaction and lots of room to run.
At the stage where they want to “claim territory” by making messes outside the litter box, if kittens can’t be outdoors with their mother, I’d agree they need a cage.
@priscillaking – They are adorable, aren’t they? I wish that I could have another kitten, but my husband won’t let me. Their moms are good at keeping them out of trouble. When mine were little they liked to climb the drapes and the window screens.
Oh what cute kittens!
We had a cat that was not completely right in the head. He would freak out for no reason and climb the walls or curtains scared to death until I could catch him. I converted one of our rabbit cages that held 3 rabbits into a home for him.He loved it and no more worry about him getting hurt if I was not home.
That was a good idea, @wolfgirl569. I wouldn’t leave kittens unattended even if they were perfectly normal. They’re like little toddlers.
Not a bad idea. I would not leave a kitten in the house unattended that is for sure!
@andriaperry – I’d have a kitten if my husband would let me. My two cats aren’t very playful anymore. I still love them of course, but I really enjoy the little ones.