How to know if you're ready for a cat

If you’re considering a cat as a pet, think carefully about current lifestyle and commitments. Also discuss this important decision with your family.

Here are some things you should consider:

• Young kittens need a home with an owner who is there most of the day. They need regular play sessions and lots of socialisation to become a well rounded adult who can cope with different challenges in the future
• Young kittens shouldn’t be left for longer than 4-5 hours as they need regular meals throughout the day and close monitoring. If you’re not able to feed your kitten 3-4 meals evenly spread throughout the day, look at rehoming an older cat
• Most adult cats can be left alone for a working day quite happily, although there are always exceptions
• It is important to allow your cat access to outside throughout the day so they can exhibit natural behaviour, including hunting prey. Think carefully about how you feel about this
• As a general rule we don’t advise keeping cats as purely indoor pets, they should have the choice to go outside to avoid developing frustration issues. Again there are exceptions to this
• If you work very long hours and are out of the house often, your home is probably not right for a cat at this time. Most cats require regular attention even if they have other animals for company.
• If you travel or are away a lot, think about who will care for your pet in your absence

If you’re unsure about whether you’re ready for a cat, please call 0300 303 9333 to talk through it with us.