Worried my kitten is bored

[SevenOfNineTrue]

Hi All,

I have a six month old kitten who has been with me for about 10 weeks. She was incredibly nervous and is wide eyed and jumpy at anything new so she has not gone out yet as I want to wait until she is more settled and the weather is a little better.

I worry she is bored. I have to work so am out 4 days a week for about 10 hours at a time. She has plenty of toys, she has food and water but when I come home she shouts and shouts for me to play with her with the laser pen. I play with her every day and she gets lots of love and fuss.

Should I get another kitten to keep her company? I know cats are not pack animals but it is the thought that came into my head. I am an experienced cat owner but only of older cats who are happy to sleep a lot!

I reckon another cat is the way forward, but on saying that, i'm fostering a single male at the moment, 10mos old and I've had him 9 weeks now. I'm often out the house ten hours at a time and he's adapted to my schedule, sleeping lots during the day and hanging out with me in the evening. He goes hunting round the house at night.

Cats can be pretty adaptable. Just ensure she gets attention when you get home :)

What sort of toys do you have for her to play with at home when you're out? Ours like catnip mice and their cat tower, and watching birds out the window. I can't say I've ever really concerned myself with making sure they had plenty to do though. I think they sleep most of the time when we're out.

Those ginger cats that someone posted a pic of are beautiful!

Here is my baby

She has loads of toys and I try and rotate them so she will not get bored.

We play with the laser pen (her favourite) in the evenings and when I am home as well as her other toys. She gets lots of love and fuss as well.

She's gorgeous Seven. Beautiful face.

Vim, the gingers are mine! They really are gorgeous boys. We love them to pieces!

Awh, what a cutie. I love black cats. Cats, even kittens, naturally sleep most of the day and tend to be lively in the early morning and the evening, so she's probably snoozing most of the time you're out. What's her schedule like at the weekend?

I have two cats from the same litter, I think house cats do need a buddy, my two are so close, they sleep curled up together and play together, I really think they'd have completely different little personalities if they didn't have each other

The thing is if you get another kitten (presuming you can afford it) from a different litter they often do get on and play together, but sometimes they don't and you can't really send it back - but if your house is big enough that they would have space to get away from each other if they don't get on, I would definitely consider it.

Could you put a camera up to watch her during the day? You may find she just sleeps when you're not there.

I just have the one. I could have got her brother too but they didn't really get on and to be honest I don't think she minds being on her own. I wouldn't say she gets bored during the day as if she's not sleeping or hunting she sits and looks out the window for hours on end (even when we're there). What is noticeable is when the weather is not to her liking and she has stayed in all day she becomes even more moany. Less boredom and more cabin-fever. Company might help, but if I had another like her I think they'd just wind each other up.

Cones, feathers and balls made from tin foil have been favourites with my cats. Also hair bands, but only under supervision.

I have a 6 month old indoor cat...most we are out is 7 hours and I think he probably sleeps a lot of the time! He's usually in his basket when we get in and sleeps a lot when we are home. People always tell me animals have no concept of time. I think getting another cat might upset the balance. Also if she's going to go outside she'll have plenty to do

She is gorgeous, in fact all of these cats are gorgeous.
About 20 years ago I got my first cat (a very young kitten from RSPCA) - there were no home checks etc and I was a bit vague with them about how much she'd be left alone (she was left alone a lot as my housemate & UK both worked full time & long hours). With hindsight it was not a great idea to have a very young kitten left on its own for a long time & I would probably now be on the side of having 2 if they are on their own quite a bit - I think when very young, like yours, they would be more likely to accept and play with another kitten not from their litter?
My current cat was also taken on as a kitten (stray, at 7 weeks) and we did not get a 2nd kitten as there was always going to be one of us at home with him - however I think he would have liked a playmate as he was very lively (but now at nearly 3 he is used to being the only cat and would probably not welcome a companion). My cat also now spends most of his day asleep although he does expect me to play with him (laser pointer) in the evenings. We don't have room for a cat tree but I've heard that these are good for adventurous cats who want to play & explore? Or you can improvise with an assortment of cardboard boxes, my cat adored jumping around in cardboard boxes when he was a kitten

Mine was a single kitten, neighbours said he slept in our conservatory most of the day.

At night he lacerated my hands.