advice before we adopt a cat

[OnlyHappyWhenEating]

Hi!
We have been wanting to adopt a cat for ages, and finally we are setting the wheels in motion... Ideally we would like to rehome an adult cat (eg >1yr) from a rescue center. But, what is worrying me, is that we both work full time ie 9-5pm, so my question is, would it be a bad idea to get a cat and leave him alone for this time? - will he stress out, or does it just depend on the cat, and maybe a bit of quiet time will be ok?- as long as we spend lots of time bonding when we are there. (we were advised not to let the cat out for the first month or so, so we will use litter trays, but we have a cat flap already)

thanks for any advice/tips!

We got our second hand cat when we both worked FT and she was fine. We did get her when we had a couple of days off mind you. She was approx 6 so fairly sedate on the whole, but very nervous which was fair enough. I know some charities wouldn't let us have a cat because we were both at work but we actually got ours from a smaller local one who were more flexible. They came to visit to ensure we weren't on a main road and had our own (small) outside space - oh and we'd thought about where the litter tray was actually going to live. Some cats may be utterly traumatised and need you there a lot but most will be fine, the charity should be able to advise and match you up accordingly. It's now 10 years since we got her and she's coped with the arrival of a dog and a child - to think some potential adopters rejected her as being too old! Hope it works out well for you.

It depends on the rehoming centre - some won't rehome cats if the house is empty all day. It seems a bit mad to me - DH works FT, I don't work at all but when DD is at school I'm hardly ever in the house. I'm either out volunteering, or going shopping, or going for a walk, or at exercise class... I'd probably be at home more if I DID work!

Talk to the rescue centre, they will match you with the right cat. Make sure when you do bring him/her home, you have a couple of days that you can spend at home - to make sure he/she settles in well, and so you can watch for any behaviour problems (scratching furniture, inappropriate litter habits) and nip them in the bud.

Enjoy your new friend!

Often rescue centres have siblings or bonded pairs looking for homes, and they'd keep each other company during the day. TBH, our cats sleep all day, but when we only had one she was a bit unhappy

Cats are solitary creatures. Will be very happy with you out all day. Mine were when we were both working FT. But if you can get a bonded pair, so much the better. If you are worried about them being destructive you can shut them in one room, at least initially. Our current cat is very loud and is locked in the kitchen (with a litter tray and blanket to sit on, though I always find her in the fruit bowl ) from bed time till we get up, so from about 11pm till 7.30am. Not much longer than a working day.

The cat will be fine and having an empty house might actually help it feel it has a territory, IYSWIM.

We got our cat when she was one and before children so she was at home all day when we were at work. She was (and still is) fine. We weren't checked at all, but they did say we ought to get a cat rather than a kitten as we were out all day.

Agree cats will be fine left all day. I'm technically at home all day, but the cat and I are never in at the same time . An adult cat will probably already be litter trained etc so it will happily sleep all day mouch around and entertain itself while you are out, and then after the first month it will come and go as it pleases with a cat flap!
Get a scratch post/climbing tree thing, and a couple of balls for it to play with, and agree take a couple of days off to bond and to show it how to go. e.g if it scratches the sofa take it off and put it on the tree etc.

Thank you so much for all this advice - it is reassuring! I am so excited to be finally getting a fury feline friend. Can't wait! I will make sure we have a long weekend when we can all bond.

x