When can you leave your new puppy or kitten home alone?

Until “peternity” leave becomes an issue of national importance new pet owners will continue to wonder when is the right time to leave their new addition alone. 

Cats and dogs, kittens and puppies, all require different things over their different life stages. For one thing it should be noted kittens are often better equipped to cope with alone time, while puppies will sometimes act out by digging, chewing and destroying. 

Dr Rachel Chay, chief veterinary officer at petcare company Greencross, said the ideal time to start leaving pets alone was different for every person and every pet, but that when the time came the bathroom or laundry were good choices as they are easy to clean and create closed off enclosures. 

“They should be left in a place in the house where they feel safe and confined and have access to safe toys, water, and snacks if you will be gone for some time,” she said. 

“It is also valuable to let your neighbours know you have a new pet in case they are noisy during the settling in period.”

The RSPCA recommends considering when to get your pet as a way to maximise time with them. A Christmas present puppy is something no one should do, but Christmas time provides a good block of no-work time to help settle a new puppy or kitten into your home. 

Dr Bronwyn Orr, scientific officer for companion animals at RSPCA Australia, told Domain when the time comes to leave a puppy alone, the best strategy is to ease them into it. 

She said to “make this a gradual process to avoid causing anxiety – leaving for very short amounts of time and rewarding him upon returning with a healthy dog food treat, a walk or play time”.

Dr Orr said some ways to overcome anxiety for cats and dogs was to spend some time with them in the morning before going off to work. 

She advises “ensuring your pets have toys and stimulation at hand to prevent them getting bored, leaving the TV or radio on, getting someone to pop in to check on your pet through the day or putting your dog in puppy daycare or find a pet sitter“.

Dr Chay, said one important factor was to consider the “house rules” for pets. 

She said people should consider where their puppy or kitten will sleep, whether that’s the bed, couch or a pet bed. 

“It is important they have an area that has their bed and their food, water and toys to make them feel safe,” she said.

“Keep in mind that puppies and kittens are just babies and that they will need additional warmth and a snuggly bed if they are sleeping alone.”

Cats and dogs are social animals, leaving them alone for eight hours can cause problems, this is particularly an issue if you’re leaving them inside and they’re not toilet trained. 

Toilet training takes time, most cats will quickly pick up using a litter tray from an early age – so long as it’s away from their food and water – but puppies need teaching. 

Dr Orr recommended changing the litter tray frequently as cats do not like to use soiled trays and to praise the cat when they use their tray, but not to punish them if they have an accident outside the tray as they’re unlikely to associate your punishment with their mistake.
 
For puppies she recommends rewarding the puppy every time they use the toilet where you want them to go, which often requires a close eye on what they’re doing.
 
She said, “the reward must occur immediately after the event, within a few seconds, not when the dog comes back inside, as the dog will not make an association between going to the toilet in the right spot and the reward unless it is given straight afterwards”.