Is locking a cat up in a bathroom all night abuse?

Question

Okay, first of all, it's not me doing it, it's my brother. My cat, who is about a year and a half old, meows by his door all night keeping him awake. He ends up locking her up in the bathroom for about 6 to 7 hours in the bathroom, which is about the size of 6 small closets combined, with no food or water but with the lights on. He has to do it every night, so it clearly isn't helping, and I don't like what my brother is doing to my cat. So, is locking up a cat in a small bathroom all night animal abuse? How can I stop my brother from locking up my cat? Remember, there is still less space in the bathroom too, since a bathtub, toilet, ect is taking up space.

Answer 1

It would be better for him to simply let the cat have the run of the house. If he can't or won't do that, I hope he leaves a bed/box with blanket for the cat in the bathroom, plus litter tray. The cat should have water and some biscuits, too

Answer 2

Without food and water- or litter box- is not a good idea. With- not abuse, But



Whether or not You have a problem with the meowing, it's Your cat, so yes, you put it in Your bedroom at night if you don't want it locked in the bathroom.



Obviously she's going to get locked up, so it's much better for her to be in Your room with food, water, etc, than in the bathroom without anything. Unless you can keep her from bugging your brother, it's your responsibility to take care of the problem (whether it bugs you or not)

Answer 3

Here'a simple question. Do you have your own bedroom? If so, put the cat and the litterbox in your bedroom and there is no more problem! It's YOUR cat! Take care of it!



Cats are nocturnal and they are up at night. They eat, they drink, they go to the bathroom, they play and they sleep. Locking a cat in a bathroom may not be actual abuse but it ranks right in there with mistreatment and lack of caring and punishment.



Go to the pet supply store and get a kitty teaser, a laser light, and cat treats. Tell the cat "Play Time!" every evening and give the cat 30 to 60 min. of hard play, lots of praise and treats. Then feed the cat it's night time meal of canned food. Make it tired, let it get a full tummy and with any luck the cat will be ready to settle down in a happy little food coma for a few hours.



http://pets.webmd.com/cats/guide/nighttime-activity-cats

Answer 4

Sorry to be rude, but this is psychologically not fine for the cat. Trapped in the room with the light on all night.

Cats are nocturnal, they need the night. Cats can see six times better then humans at night, so keeping it in a room at night trapped with the light on is extreme abuse.



What I would suggest if you have not already tried it, would be to simply leave a door or window slightly cracked open enough for your cat to escape into the night outside. This would leave your cat to be outside of the house doing its hunting and jumping around, while at the same time the owners of the cat can have the night to them selves to sleep without no interruptions.



If you have not already tried giving your cat access outside, you should. It might keep it busy instead of meowing all night.



What ever you do, just don't leave your cat trapped in a room.

Good luck.

Answer 5

This is really cruel to the cat. My cat meows outside my room all night, but I put up with it. I would never lock it in the bathroom. Couldn't he just lock it downstairs? Then it can access its water, food and litter tray. If not you clearly need to give your cat to a better home if he really wont stop this.

Answer 6

Some people are lighter sleepers than others. It's entirely possible that something that doesn't bother you or your parents could be keeping your brother awake. It really isn't fair that he should be kept awake by your cat. Keeping the cat in the bathroom may not be nice, but neither is sleep deprivation.

Answer 7

NO, it isn't abuse, but it isn't good for the cat either. Just tell him not to do it and keep the cat in your room. There is a little device I bought online to keep my cat away from our laundry room, it is a can of compressed air that puffs a bit of air in their face when they get too close. He can get one of these and put it outside his door so the cat will come up do the door and get a puff of air scaring it away. This wil keep the cat from meowing at his door all night.

Answer 8

If the kitty doesn't have access to a box, it is abuse. However, I have kept kittens in the bathroom while trying to get my older cat. This was with access to a box, food, and water.



Now, since this is your cat, you need to talk with your brother about it. You may want to close him in your room instead- again with food, water, and a box.



Good luck.

Answer 9

Yes it is you can stop him by finding a nicer place to lock the cat till the morning. If that didn't work at least let him put some food in there he has to.

Answer 10

If you're going to do this at least put a box for her and water! But a bathroom has plenty germs and they can get eye infections. Seem it happen already so be careful!

Answer 11

Of course it is. Imagine that your brother is in the cat's position right now and ask him whether it considered as abuse or not. Try to talk to ur parents. Please consider all the risk of having pet before getting one, they're living things too...