We had an older cat when we got two kittens almost 11 years ago. For several reasons we kept the kittens in "their" room at night, and let the old cat have the house to herself. We were all used to it, and when the old cat died, we still put the other two in their room.

Now we have only the one cat left, and she still gets shut in at night. I am the main reason we do this. I have a difficult time sleeping as it is, and when she tries to get on my lap, it causes my muscles to spasm (from the weight).

I don't think she's being abused by spending the night in a 10X12 room, with food and water, cat box, toys, a cozy kitty bed, etc. It's not as though she hears us out here doing things--except for the hour or so I stay up later than my husband, we're asleep. And I think she sleeps most of the time she's in there. She goes in about 8, comes out when we get up at 5-5:30.

I say she's fine; my husband thinks she should be "with us". (Hmm, maybe I could fit a twin bed in the cat's room for...no, no, just kidding.) Do other people "kennel" their cat(s) at night?