Kitten in the dark

Question
What effect does my neighbor's leaving her kitten alone in the dark have on the kitten?  I would like to put a note on her door containing your answer.

Answer
Sally,

Personally I do not leave my animals in the dark, I tend to leave a radio or the TV on as well as leaving a light on for them. I have fostered a few cats in my time that end up becoming very fearful of the dark and will cry until they have some light. In my personal opinion I don't think it is good for the kitten's psychological well being or kitty's development. Even if I am asleep there are night lights on (which use next to no power). I have one in each of the bathrooms where the litter boxes are and one in my bedroom and in the kitchen where their food is. Contrary to popular belief cats can't actually see in pitch black conditions. Cats do however see better in dim and darkened conditions because as you may have noticed cats can expand and retract their pupils to take advantage of any light in the environment, no matter how minimal. It is kind for cats to have a radio left on and a light even if it is a night light such as the LED ones which use next to no electricity but can actually be quite bright. The age and background of the kitten should taken into account. Not everyone would necessarily agree with my opinions. If you live in an apartment and you can hear the kitten crying, you could try politely mentioning that the kitten seems anxious about being left alone in the dark. If you live in a house you could try to address your concerns politely and with tact. Bear in mind that your neighbor may be offended by the fact that you are concerned enough to address the issue with her. To be honest I think that talking with her would be a better course of action than sticking this response on her door. Try mentioning that LED night lights are reasonably priced and energy efficient, and also try to mention that her kitten might be a bit happier and more comfortable. Many of the night lights on the market come with a built in sensor which turns them on automatically when the sun starts to set. If this kitten is repeatedly left alone in the dark without human interaction you could try speaking with your local cruelty investigator to see if anything can be done at the moment to help the owner to understand that the kitten needs stimulation and socialisation. You risk starting a feud between you and her, for that reason I do think that speaking politely with her might be in order before any further action is taken. She may just not be aware that keeping a kitten alone in the dark could cause poor socialisation, psychological issues such as anxiety and sometimes behavioral problems associated with stress such as pulling out fur...I hope that this issue can be resolved with little confrontation, who knows, maybe you may get a new friend in the neighborhood. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me again.