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
• Are you financially able to provide for a cat? General cost will include food and litter but think about insurance cover and vet bills too, especially for older cats who may have conditions not covered by insurance.
• Do you have any upcoming holidays, building work or changes to the home? If so, its probably best to get these out the way first as they may cause the cat stress when settling in.
• Have you recently lost a much loved pet? There is no time restrictions on when you will be ready to bring a new cat in to the home but make sure you have given yourself a chance to grieve. A new cat will be a new character and a new friend so make sure not to try replace your previous cat and the bond you had.

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