Should You Be Locking Cat In Bathroom At Night?

Your cat’s well-being has always been a top priority.

That’s why you lock your him in during the night. When he’s not around, your home and your family are less likely to be exposed to potentially dangerous accidents.

So, should you be locking cat in bathroom at night? As cat owners ourselves, we know that cats can be curious creatures at times.

And that’s especially true when they’re left alone at night. That’s why it’s important to keep an eye on them while you’re sleeping.

Most cats will sleep for most of the day anyway and that leaves you free to do other things around the house for the rest of the time. But at night, you need to be extra vigilant about your cat’s wellbeing.

Think about what would happen to your other pets if your kitty got into something he shouldn’t and couldn’t get out on his own. Cats that roam free at night are at higher risk for all sorts of accidents.

And for cats, dangers include not eating enough, getting hit by a car or being attacked by other animals or people.

Can I Lock My Cat in the Bathroom Overnight?

Your cat may be annoying you when he refuses to go to bed.

Perhaps you need to confine them to their bed during the day or when they are misbehaving.

For whatever reason, you want to be able to keep your cat confined to the house overnight, but you don’t want to lock them in a cage or a room, just for the sake of keeping them from roaming around.

Yes, you may leave your cat in your bathroom overnight as a trick to help him relax and get a good night’s rest without waking you up in the middle of the night.

It is also critical that you separate your litter box from the bathroom as much as possible so your cat doesn’t associate it (a dirty litter box) with his sleeping quarters.

Small confines for extended periods of time are neither fun nor safe for your pet, so do not keep a cat in your bathroom for an extended period every night assuming that he will be okay.

What Should You Consider Before Locking Your Cat In The Bathroom At Night?

Access to Basic Necessities

In this circumstance, you will of course have to make sure that the feline can get to a litter box and food and water.

Leaving your cat in the bathroom overnight means that you’re restricting their movement to some degree, so you cannot completely limit their access to food and water.

Cats should always have access to basic essentials such as water, food, and a litter box.

A cat that does not have access to these necessities will stress and dig under the bathroom door – or even climb on top of it – in order to find his basic needs.

It is neither a secure place nor healthy for the cat – nor his urinary tract – to be constantly digging and climbing around to get what he needs.

Keep this in mind if you lock your cat in the bathroom at night.

The Cat’s Reaction to Being Locked Inside

The goal is to keep stress down to a minimum, so your cat will feel safe and comfortable in his bathroom environment so that you can lock him in there without worry.

Some cats may begin to dig at the bathroom door or otherwise become stressed about being locked inside.

This is a bad indicator since it indicates a lack of trust, and the cat will likely not be happy being inside the bathroom for long periods of time.

When this occurs, it is a sign that you are not doing enough to keep your cat comfortable and secure, and it is not a good idea to continue locking your cat in the bathroom overnight.

When cats are forced to stay in a confined space, they become anxious and may scratch or chew at things in an attempt to release stress and anxiety.

This is why it is critical to groom your cat frequently and check him for fleas and ticks every day.

Some cats, on the rare occasions when they are left alone for long periods of time, may urinate on their beds, so it’s important to just remember that cats sometimes self-medicate.

They won’t mind as long as they know they can release their stress by relieving themselves, so keep that mind when determining how often to clean out your cat.

These are the cats who should not get locked in the bathroom at night.

Bathroom Size

It all begins with the size of your cat’s bathroom.

You don’t want to put your cat in a small bathroom if he is especially large in stature because he is going to need ample space to move around comfortably and release any pent-up energy.

This will restrict the amount of room that you have to work with, and you may not be able to provide your feline friend with the space that he requires.

It may also raise their nervousness, which will lead to further self-mutilation or scratching and biting at furniture or bedding in an attempt to relieve their anxiety.

As a consequence, anybody considering keeping their cat in the bathroom at night should first consider the size and dimensions of this particular space.

You should ensure that the cat has enough room for movement until he has been relieved of his duty, and you should also consider the dimensions of any furniture or objects in the bathroom that your cat will need.

This is where a tape measure and measuring tape can come in handy.

Keeping a cat in a small bathroom at night is not a good idea because a cat needs to have their own room where they could move around and stretch their legs.

They’re not going to take care of themselves as well as they would if they were in a bathroom that is a comfortable size, and this can have a negative impact on their well-being in the long term.

How to Make Your Cat Comfortable in the Bathroom

Install a Litter Box

A entire night spent in a bathroom is no fun at all for your cat so you’ll need to find other ways to keep him occupied and to relieve his anxiety.

If you don’t want your cat peeing or defecating on the floor, then installing a litter box in your bathroom will be the best option.

This will prevent your cat from waking up in the middle of the night and needing to relieve himself outside of the litter box, and it will also prevent him from having bad memories associated with your bathroom.

Give Them Some Toys

Cats, as previously noted, do not take care of themselves as well as dogs, and this is why they need more care and attention than dogs do.

This implies they are up most of the night and need something to do during that time.

Try to provide them with some toys made of feathers and catnip color to have a good time in the toilet space at night.

This will keep them engaged during the night and prevent them from engaging in undesirable behaviours like urinating on the floor or meowing loudly.

Give One of Your Personal Items to Your Cat.

If your cat feels nervous or attached to you, you may give him one of your personal items to help him feel relaxed in the bathroom.

Having your aroma in the bathroom can calm him down and bring better memories associated with that place.

Close the Toilet

Don’t forget to close the toilet door of your bathroom at night to prevent your cat from wandering into the bathroom, or from sleeping on the toilet itself.

You don’t want your cat drinking from the toilet, which may lead to him.

Keep Toxic Products Safe

You must keep any harmful products safe to your cat so to keep him comfortable in the bathroom.

Because cats will get into everything, it can be quite dangerous if you leave harmful products lying in the bathroom, such as cleaning agents with toxic fumes or strong chemicals like bleach.

You may even place these products in a place that is not easily visible from your cat’s view.

It is always better to ask your vet about possible products that may be harmful to your cat, and what you can safely give to your cat.

Remember to Bring Food and Water.

Make sure your pet has food and water before locking the bathroom door at night and leave him for the night.

Because cats need food and water that they can use frequently, you should leave food and water available so that they can have food whenever they wake up at night.

So if you want to keep your cat locked in the bathroom at night, make sure that you provide him with food and make sure that there is enough water available for him to drink.

You want them to feel comfortable in your house and to feel safe so that they are not looking for a way to escape or to be brought out of the house.

If they don’t regularly eat at regular time, they’ll look to eat more often at night, causing you to have to get up in the middle of the night to give them their food.

You don’t want them to starve because their food has run out so make sure that you take home their food and water for the night and lock the bathroom door behind them.

Provide a Sleeping Area

If they have a favorite bed at home, bring that into the bathroom and set it out so they can use it as a bed when they wake up at night.

A excellent spot for them to curl up in is a cardboard box or old towel.

Cats like being contained, so if you can provide them with an area of their own to fall asleep in, they’ll probably go back to it every night or every night to sleep.