We adopted a 9-week-old kitten last week, and he’s really little for his age. We’ve crate-trained dogs before, so we know what to do, but as first-time cat owners.
At night, we put him in our room in a huge portable cat kennel. It includes room for a litter tray, a bed, and to move around. He’s been sleeping well and hasn’t had any problems, but I wanted to make sure this is okay for him. Because he’s so small, I wouldn’t want to risk him getting wounded throughout the night, but I have heard online that doing this could impede his development.
Any advice is much appreciated.
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We did this with our kittens for the first several weeks because 1. I didn’t trust them to be out overnight, 2. they were too tiny to be out on their own, and 3. they pooped.
They were OK once they grew up, were more trustworthy, and learned how to use a litter box. I still do not trust them, but that is beside the point.
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Yes it’s fine as long as he getting lots of time out of it during the day.
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We never put him in there during the day because we want him to become accustomed to the house. He cannot be supervised at night.
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Honestly that sounds just fine then!
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Many cat foster parents do exactly what you’re doing. However, they gradually acclimate them to the enclosure during the day, so it is not just a scary area at night. Toys, rewards, and some play time during the day will help. Many cats like to utilize their crates/travel backpacks as comfortable nap spots afterward, making vet visits more convenient. So try to ensure that your kitty has access to it during the day when you are present.
If you want something a little larger, mesh kitten enclosures with zip-on tops are popular among cat fosters.
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@TobyFetcher They don’t need to be supervised. Keep it in your bedroom, with a litter box that you show to your kitten and a water bowl.
Cat proof by removing göass/ porcelain things that can break ( put it on the floor or just elsewhere).
Kittens and cats are social creatures and like to sleep with you 
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Make sure the crate is kept in an area that’s warm. Remember that floors are A LOT colder than higher places in the room, especially in areas with bare floors.
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Please do not make the same mistake I did. I just baby-gated the upstairs (big gate), and a tiny kitty managed to crawl over it up 12 steps before jumping off the loft landing onto the heating vent, and busting his face. Fortunately, he is fine, but I believe this one occurrence caused him to have nasal problems for the rest of his life.
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I caught a baby running across a busy road. Got in my car and she bit my thumb and leapt out of my hands and ran up inside the dashboard. I had to disassemble the dash to the firewall to get her out 
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It’s okay for a little while for safety reasons, but do keep in mind you can’t actually “crate train” a cat the same way you do dogs, nor should you.
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@FinnWagstaff That’s what our plan was. Currently, he’s so tiny that he can escape and get stuck in places easily so we don’t want him to get hurt during the night where we can’t supervise him.
We’re planning on doing it until he’s a bit bigger and can navigate the house a bit better
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I am not sure I agree. Took in a tiny feral (let the bloodletting begin) and crate trained, raised him with it. Litterbox, bed, hammock, food, and water. He still sleeps there at night, his choice. 2.5 years later, he’s still full of piss and vinegar but is very much more sociable and manageable. Now we only crate him for his safety when we have workers coming and going in the house, and he is FINE with it.
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My parents had a kitty who was crated at night as a kitten. Then, when he was older, they left the crate open following a vet visit. That night, he entered the crate on his own. They started leaving the box open, and he frequently went to sleep in it. Granted, it was in the bathroom, which was one of the warmer rooms, and he didn’t sleep in it every night, or even all night sometimes. But he obviously enjoyed sleeping in the crate!
Yes, I have done this in the past to keep a kitten safe from my toddler, who was too young to be allowed alone with small animals.
Since you mentioned dogs, one of my cats goes outside to potty much like a dog. He dislikes the litterbox, even when it is clean, and prefers dirt. If absolutely necessary, he will use the litterbox. If I am home, he yowls at the door. If he thinks I’m not hearing him, he’ll come find me and yell at me. He will go to the door and sit. He’s a really vocal boi. He practically rants at me until I take him outside. Lol!