Question
I love cats, I also work a full time job and am in the office from 11 AM till 9 PM.
I would like to get a cat, but am afraid that my absence for majority of the daytime will be a problem.
Are there problems that arise from being away from home for 10 or so hours a day when having a cat as a pet? Is there anything I can do to minimize the problems, or is it just better if I didn't get a cat for a pet?
Answer
The short answer: "Yes"
The longer version: cats are generally pretty independent creatures, but they do miss their humans especially if we're not at home during the day. If you have just one cat, be prepared to be met with demands for attention, playing, and a great deal of petting when you are home. This will be strongest after you get the cat, because it won't be sure that you're coming back until gets used to your work routine.
Some of the things you can do to help are:
- get two cats (preferably littermates). This way the cats have each other for company while you're at work. The downside is that you'll need to deal with twice as much kitty litter (at least), twice as much cat food, and twice as much mess!
- make sure there are plenty of cat toys for your cat(s).
- make sure the cat toys include things your cat(s) can destroy. It's much better that they destroy a cat toy than your furniture.
Answered By - Kate Paulk