Is there an ideal age to get a cat?

[octopusrus]

Eg is it always best to get them from a kitten? Or a little older?

I'm a bit worried about not being around enough to care properly for him/her on the days when nobody is home for 5-6hrs.

I'd adore a kitten as I thought there might be more chance of them being ultra-friendly if we have them from tiny!

What do you think?

Ime getting 2 dkittens leaves you with a lot less time to worry and a lot less time for them to be alone and bored!!

I have always got kittens in pairs and it really works - they can play with each other and don't get lonely.

Yes, get a pair! I always have done and it's been fine.

We got two kittens last April for that reason that we didn't want them lonely when we were out. They're brothers, thick as thieves. It's very cute when you look out and see them following each other around outside.

I love kittens. I got mine separately with a 3 year gap but if I had my time over I’d get a pair from the off.
My boys do love each other though. They play a bit rough sometimes but they always settle down together when it’s sleepy time 💕

Agreed - 2 kittens.
Just make sure they are from somewhere that socialises them well when they are young. My last four (2 sets of kittens) were from Battersea and they clearly do a brilliant job.

Having said that - my first cat was a stray who decided to move in with me (a huge grey complete tom cat - probably about 3 years old).
He was a great cat and a real character - and I suspect he was always grateful for being taken in .
So it actually probably doesn't matter that much.

I’m looking for an ultra friendly cat and was advised on here to look for an adult cat who is known to be ultra friendly, as you don’t really know what a kitten will turn out to be like. For example I have a friend who adopted two kittens a year ago, one has turned out fairly friendly (but still not a lap cat) and the other spends most of its time outdoors and just comes in for feeding.

Example op...

I work FT and my adult cat is perfectly happy. When I come home he comes to the door but has obviously been spark out as he has bed hair and is yawning

If I were to get kittens, it would always be a pair.

I’ve two cats at the moment. One aged 10, I got her when she was 2 which is a good age. Still young but not totally bonkers. The other is 9 and we have had her nearly a year now. Again, at that age she’s fairly sedate. I’d never have introduced a kitten to a middle aged cat.

Thank you for the replies! Maybe two is the way forward then, although that makes me nervous!!

Adult rescue pair? Known characters etc.

OP two are actually easier than one. But if you want a really peaceful life, I'd look for a 9 months and upwards. Far less upheaval, and a rescue charity would welcome you with open arms (everybody wants kittens and the older ones are more difficult to home).