Adopting a kitten then being away

[morfeius]

Hello, my fiance and I are looking to get a kitten. He'll be about 9 weeks old when we get him. About 11 days after bringing him home, we'll be away for 5 days. We have trusted family members who will be at our home almost around the clock. Is it a good idea to get him and then 11 days later his owners are gone for 5 days, and staying with someone new?

[Mollycat]

Although it's generally recommended to leave kittens with the mama cat until 12-13 weeks now, 8 weeks is the minimum - so would the people you are getting the kitten from keep it until you get back?

If not - no probably not ideal to leave it but could be a good thing depending on the kitten's character. As you say someone will be there most of the time, the kitten will be in your (its) permanent home and not dumped in a cattery, and kittens need socialising with different people too. I can't see 5 days of you being away making a huge difference to your bonding at this stage.

[Ruth B]

I agree with Mollycat, the best option would be if the kitten could stay with it's mother for another couple of weeks, it would benefit the kitten and mean you weren't worried about it while you were away. However if that isn't possible then having someone stay over with it is the next best option. it will be at it's home, after 11 days it will be starting to think of it as home, and being looked after by someone you know and trust. The only thing I can add is if you could get the family members who will be looking after the kitten to visit it regularly for the few days before you leave them with it so it can get to know them as well as you.

Congratulations on the new addition and I hope you have many happy years together.