cat people -- how long are your cats alone each day?

I'm in the middle of a bit of a kitty dilemma.

I've had my cat since I was in 8th grade. I love her to pieces, though I'm the first to admit she's skittish and not the friendliest cat in the world...

When I went to college, she stayed with my parents and she stayed again when I moved into an apartment that didn't allow cats. She's older and settled in there and very happy.

While my parents were recently gone for over a month, kitty stayed with us. She's adapted okay (took a couple weeks) and doing okay.

My parents returned and offered the option to us of keeping her. (I offered to take her when we moved b/c I really love her, but my dad declined. He's very attached to her. My parents would take her back in a heartbeat, but I guess they wanted to leave it open that we can keep her if we'd like to, since I've offered before and she was my cat first...)

One of my only reservations is the amount of time we're gone each day. I know cats are independent and sleep a lot, but weekdays, we're gone a MINIMUM of 12 hours. I mean, 12 hours is a good day. We're around on the weekends, but usually running out to be with the horses or run errands. We aren't homebodies on the weekends for the most part.

She's been fine visiting, but I have to wonder if this is fair to her to be alone in the house all day.

She hates other cats, btw, so getting her a buddy really isn't an option.

Thoughts on this? I have a few days to make up my mind. (My parents are back, but I have to really decide this weekend, I think...)

Re: cat people -- how long are your cats alone each day?

I leave my cat home all day and that's about 12 hrs+.

He used to have his brother and I'm sure that helped, but he seems to be fine.

He is an older kitty and lays around a lot and sleeps. Loves to see us when we come home and sleeps with us at night.

I feed him when I leave and he gets fed when we come home.

Whether it's fair, I don't know..he doesn't seem to be worse for it. We are also in and out al weekend.

Dogs are a whole different story.

Re: cat people -- how long are your cats alone each day?

Thanks.

I agree that having a dog for us just isn't an option right now with our schedules... though I'd love to have one.

I just wanted to see what people thought about cats. Surely, she is not suffering for it this past month.

She gets dry food, free choice (always has), so she has food and water available all day while we're gone...

Re: cat people -- how long are your cats alone each day?

Most work days - 10 hours. Some work days (about 30 times a year) - 14 hours. She does just fine.

Since she is a free feeder, dry only we will sometimes leave her 3 days and go on a long weekend trip.

She's not a sociable kitty with other animals (or other humans besides us, really...) so we went on a 10 day vacation - and had a familly member pop in 2x during those 10 days to check on food, water, and just hang out for a while.

Message edited 2/8/2008 3:30:31 PM.

Re: cat people -- how long are your cats alone each day?

I actually feel terrible about this - Our cat is alone for 12 hours. We leave the lights on by his box and in the kitchen. But he just seems lonley to me. Maybe its my hangup - but I would consider another cat.

Re: cat people -- how long are your cats alone each day?

Espresso is home for 12 hours without us there...doesn't seem to bother him a bit.
We've even done overnights with him home alone and not had any issues.

Re: cat people -- how long are your cats alone each day?

My cat Pesto is home all day by himself....for about 12 hours or more.

When I am home, all I do is see him sleep....so I dont think that when we are gone, he really misses us!!