A
female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:Hey i just bought the most divine cutest himalayan kitten, he is 2 months old and has been taken away from his mummy and daddy, and his other 2 brothers in the litter my friend and her husband took the 2 brothers! I absolutely ADORE him he is the most loveable sweetest thing i've ever experienced cuddles me at night and comes to me in the morning wants to play loves attention he's soooooooo cute. I have a pretty easy job in high tech that i go in generally work hours when i want but i still have to leave him for at least 7 hours a day and every day when i come home i see him waiting for me on the table bar! i feel sooo bad to leave him, but I think he seems okay but really is it cruel to do that? Do i need to get cat sitters? I regularly change his food bowl, water and cat litter as soon as i get up, and when i come home, plus he has soo many toys to play with. Today i couldnt leave the house and didnt get to work til 3pm because i felt so bad to leave him!! he's such a cutie. He is an indoor cat afterall no? I keep all the windows shut as i'm afriad of him running away and i leave the ac and tv on for him! I would just like to know if im being an overprotective owner, or if it really is cruel to leave a kitten at home alone? Please your answers would be appreciated!! Reply to this Question
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female
reader, Andie's Thoughts +, writes (27 August 2019):
 They are independent when they’re adults, but they need to be looked after like puppies for the first 6 months. A neighbour or cat sitter to pop in once (or twice if you can’t get back for a lunch break) while you’re at work is wise. Routines are good for pets, like children, though - so don’t keep changing your work times.
Fear mongering about letting the cat outside isn’t helpful. A large percentage of indoor cats aren’t stimulated enough because we don’t realise how much stimulation they need. That’s why outdoor access is important, even if it’s on a lead (which would need to be trained young) or in a large catio with things to climb and play with. Cats are domesticated, but they aren’t fish or hamsters - they need outdoor stimulation, unless a vet is against it because they’re disabled or ill. Get her spayed when the vet advises it, but train her with a harness and lead before then, if that’s how you’ll give her outdoor access after she’s been spayed.
I’ve done a fair bit of studying on feline and canine behaviour, so feel free to message me if you have more questions :)
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female
reader, YouWish  +, writes (26 August 2019):
 You're making me miss my cats! My second Himalayan, Samson, (Sammy), he was like a dog too! He actually came to a whistle! It was a specific whistle, but wherever he was, he would come running. He played fetch with a Nerf bullet too where I'd throw it across the room and he'd bat at it and then pick it up and run it back to me!
Enjoy many long years with your new furry friend!
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female
reader, CindyCares  +, writes (26 August 2019):
 FWIW, my vet told me never to leave alone a kitten under 4 months for more than 2 hours tops, because at that age they are too delicate and accident prone to stay alone for extended periods of time (.. and your house has to be babycat- proof , too :) . Plus, it's like with kids, if they don't get enough stimulation they don't grow well mentally. Or, they may get TOO stimulated , like by sudden noises, without a soothing human voice to comfort them, and get very high-strung. After 4 months, you can increase gradually their time alone, until when they are fully adult , around one year, given or taken a couple of months according to different breeds and individuals , they can stay alone even for many consecutive hours, cats are not dogs ( duh ) and do not crave regular human companionship. ( Cats reach sexual maturity already at around 6 months, but , precisely like it happens for humans, being able to reproduce does not mean being mentally adults, and being able to stay out of trouble :).
Nnow, that's a rather restrictive schedule, and to follow it literally ( never leaving the cat for more than 2 hours ) is impossible for most people. Nevertheless, if, without having to hire a full time catsitter, you can have a friend or a neighbour , or a hired person, to go check on the cat a couple of times while you are away, and play with it a bit, that would be very good.
Also, I never tried one myself when I kept cats ,so I can't vouch for this, , but I know people who are quite happy with cat-pheromone diffusers , Feliway and similars. It's a plug in or pump spray which reproduces and releases in the air feline pheromones, and apparently cats find it calming, relaxing and conforting. A sort of artificial paradise for cats , who will be too happily high to miss their owner :)…
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reader, anonymous, writes (26 August 2019): This is verified as being by the original poster of the questionThanks guys!!! you are all correct , he is absolutely amazing!!! i only had him a week so i was very overprotective at first but now he is fantastic, he seems absolutely fine by himself and when i get home wow the affection is adorable !!! he comes straight to the door to hug me and wants to play he is the cutest thing ever, he's so not like a normal cat he's like a dog that constantly wants to play and loves attention, thats why i was worried, but he is so independant when he wants to be! he sleeps most of the day ur right. and he cuddles me all night and we have great naps together and last night we played football for an hour he is so energetic and funny! sweetest thing i ever experienced! thanks guys!
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (25 August 2019): Go get one of his litter mates.Kittens do much better in twos.Especially if you at work all day.
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male
reader, Boris Grushenko  +, writes (24 August 2019):
 Some cats like company, others don't. Kittens are likely to prefer another kitten (or a parent around), but you'll never know whether they will get along when they've grown up.
Natural behaviour for cats is that they will seek shelter somewhere up high. If you decide to take a second cat, I would place two scratching posts (I believe the word 'cat tree' is used for the larger ones) or provide other places where they can sit and watch the world from above. And I've always heard you should have one litter box per cat and one extra. If you decide to adopt a second cat, they might become best friends but in case they don't, scratching posts and hiding places will allow them to steer clear of each other if they so desire.
Give that you have a male pedigree cat, who will probably not be neutered. I would not combine him with another male cat, not even if the second cat is neutered. Be aware that non-neutered male cats are very territorial and will probably spray to scent mark their territory. Your best option imho would be to opt for a spayed female cat.
You don't necessarily have to take a second cat. Many cats are quite happy without a cat companion. You provide food and water, toys ... these should be sufficient to keep your cat happy and healthy. If the cat can look outside and you're not living on a high floor of an appartment building, enough will be going on outside to distract your pet. Basically, this emulates what wild cats do: they hide on a high vantage point and observer their territory. If they feel the need, they will hunt - that's when the toys come in - and climb up to take a nap and look at the world again. You could consider placing a cat tree close to the window. When you come home, play with your cat: it will help him to get rid of any excess energy and he will bond with his human servant.
If there's not much going on outside, a TV could be a good idea. I know youtube has several 'cat relaxation videos'.
I don't think it is strictly necessary, but if you have the possibility to come home for lunch and spend some quality time with your feline master you'll definately have less doubts about yourself. You are providing everything a normal cat needs, stop worrying and enjoy your overlord's antics.
If your cat is unhappy, you will notice. Act upon that.
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reader, YouWish +, writes (24 August 2019):
Awww I love kitties! I grew up with two Himalayan cats (not at the same time...one and then another) who we got as tiny fuzzball kittens and had them until they lived a ripe old age (one at age 19, the other at 16).
Cats, even as young as 2 months, are getting to be independent creatures! Himalayans are among the absolute most laid-back, cuddly, ragdoll-type cats around. They need grooming for sure, but they are not high strung at all!
You have the toys, the TV, the AC on for him, and his food/water and litter are cleaned daily, and you're good to go to work! He will be okay while you are gone! Cats CAN have companions, but they are independent, solitairy animals by nature, and he won't be depressed by your working.
Just make sure there's nothing of danger he can get into, like things to swallow, such as poisonous plants he could chew, food out that could hurt him (like chocolate), ribbons or buttons he could chew on or choke on or get stuck in his digestive tract. Make sure your floors are well cleaned/vacuumed. One loose Advil on the floor he could play with or swallow could kill him, as cats are ultra-sensitive to medicine and can't have human medicine whatsoever.
He's an indoor cat, so I doubt you'll need a flea and tick collar, but if you get him one, get him one SPECIALLY for cats. We nearly killed one of our cats by putting on one for him that was made for doge, and he nearly died, started having seizures and needed to spend a week at the vets on dialysis, all because my non had an extra one that she got for her toy poodle and thought they were the same. She overdosed the cat because he can't handle that level of medicine.
Above all, don't fret over him too much! He'll pick up on your stress the most! Just be yourself and enjoy him, and he'll have a nice relaxing day stretching out wherever there's a sunbeam, mostly sleeping in the daytime, and he'll be happy to see you and ready to cuddle when you get home! You sound like a great cat owner/parent/guardian, and I don't think you have anything to worry about! Keep reading that cat material!
There's a book by Angela Sayer called Encyclopedia of the Cat. GREAT info in it!
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reader, anonymous, writes (24 August 2019): Look OP, I do applaud you for trying to do the proper thing for your kitten! I have been thru this very situation before. You are worrying far to much. GOD GAVE man, dominion over the animal kindom! Keeping the kitten indoors is wise and a blessing for the cat! Outdoor dangers are pregnancy, injury from fighting, feline luekemia virus, becoming lost or stolen, being hit by a motor vehicle, being poisoned by a hater, being shot by a hater, or even lapping up a puddle of sweet tasting auto antifreeze, which is fatal! Do not waste money on a cat sitter and confuse your cat as to who is its master, rather mistress! Your cat sleeps 16 hrs a day. As your kitten moves into adulthood, the comfort of television voices are not necessary. Air conditioning is great for kitty! Establish a window perch, with a way to get up to it, for kitty to watch the world go by. Even looking out over a field or into the woods, interests your cat, with birds, mice, squirrels, and chipmonks! You need a jute not carpet scratching post!
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (24 August 2019): I dont think youre being cruel. If you lost your job and had to rehome your kitten it would be a lot more stressful for the kitten who can sleep up to sixteen hours a day easily.
Keeping a bit of a rhythm about feeding and playing can help but your kitten feels secure mainly by smell so he will be happy in his own territory where it smells of him.
Maybe you want a cat cam where you can get a picture to your phone showing you what kitty is up to in his room eg sitting room.
Then you will see he mainly sleeps when you are out.
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female
reader, chigirl  +, writes (24 August 2019):
 Ac on is good, but TV? Hes not watching TV, he is a cat... It is debatable wether or not leaving him alone that long is cruel. Him being forced to be indoors is also something you can concider as cruel. If you can afford it, especially now when he is still a kitten, hire a cat sitter or use a daycare center.
Train him to be on a leash at least, so you can bring him outdoors. And do not remove his claws, that actually definitely is animal cruelty.
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female
reader, Andie's Thoughts +, writes (24 August 2019):
He is a bit young to go out, but it’s usually best for them to go outside when they’re old enough - at least on a lead or an aviary-style “catio”. Indoor enrichment is also necessary, but it’s good for cats to get some access to the outdoors.
Can you come home at lunch? Kittens, like puppies and children, need routines. So 7 hours is a long time in one go for his age, but changing the times you work won’t help the kitten settle.
If you can afford to, it may be a good idea to rescue another kitten (perhaps a slightly older one). If you go to the RSPCA or Cats’ Protection League, they can help you find one that gets on well with your kitten and then they can keep each other company.
I’m not going to lecture you, but rescues really are better unless a rescue won’t approve you - and even then there may be a good reason they don’t approve it. Pedigrees are also more prone to health issues than mixed breeds too, so if you do get a second, please really strongly consider adopting, as you could unknowingly support kitten farming otherwise.
Play vigorously with the kitten for 15 minutes and sit calmly for 15 minutes before work. Then leave. Same time every day. Come back at lunch to sit calmly with it for your lunch break, then back to work - same time every day (or cat sitter/neighbour if you can’t). Get home from work, 15 minutes vigorous play, then get on with your usual after-work schedule. Again with the 15 minutes vigorous play, then 15 minutes calm sitting together before bed. You can add in more vigorous play time in between after work.
Typically, cats are more independent than dogs, so don’t need as much supervision. Make sure you have a “cat tree” which is a scratching post with cat shelves for sleeping. Cats tend to love cardboard boxes too, so they can be a cheap sleeping hole and hiding place.
Gradually get your kitten used to your garden or safe outside space when they’ve been with you for 8 weeks and are used to the smell of your home, so they know where to come back to when you eventually let them outside. Make sure they have their vaccinations and are neutered/spayed before being outside unsupervised, though - ask your vet when the best time to do these are.
Good on you for caring so much! There are local cat owner groups on Facebook and I’m happy to answer some questions; I’ve done quite a bit of studying on cat and dog behaviour :)
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (23 August 2019): Cats are good on their own, while he is quite young, plenty of people have done it before. Just dont leave out toys with string or feathers as cats can choke on these if left unattended.
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female
reader, Youcannotbeserious +, writes (23 August 2019):
 Congratulations on your new addition. It's nice to see someone trying to do the best for their pet.
If this was an adult cat, I would probably say it will be fine and will sleep most of the time you are out. However, as it is a kitten, being alone for hours on end every day does not sit right with me (just MY opinion).
Could you get your kitten a playmate? It doesn't have to be another expensive pedigree kitten. At least then he will have company while you are out all day at work. Anyone who has witnessed kittens playing will know how much they enjoy this. Playing on their own is just not the same.
If you do decide to do this, either get another male or, if you get a female, remember cats can breed as early as 5 months old so one or both will need to be neutered before they get to breeding age.
Perhaps you could look for some cat groups on social media and ask there for opinions and suggestions?
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