Should I get a cat?

I live in a one bedroom flat, and I'm at work 12 hours a day. I know I am being selfish, but are there any brands of cat that don't mind being on their own all day yet are friendly and affectionate when I do come home? I am so selfish! I'm not going to get one, it's too mean. What do you all think?

Answers:
I got a moggy. I usually work at least that long (although I sometimes go home for lunch break); my kitten is wonderful to me though. Make sure that you do spend quality time with your cat - grooming and playing with him/her, and paying attention to the needs, etc., and the kitty should be OK. And s/he should have toys to play with while you are at work.

Be mindful - if you don't play with your cat in the evening, s/he, who is likely to have slept through the day, can wake you up in the middle of the night with a burst of energy. I like to tire up my cat before we go to bed. In that case he is usually content to sleep through most of the night, and has, I think, a burst of energy sometimes during the day too, judging by the position of his toys. You can, by paying attention to your cat, adjust his timetable so it suits you both, he gets enough love and care and exercise, and you profit by the companionship and also get your night's sleep.

I'd definitely advise you to get a cat. Just do it the right way (with all due care, and some research).

Oh, and either get a fixed cat, or make care to have her/him fixed - it's a health benefit, and also has some good influence on behaviour - like not trying to run away, not having the drive to spray, etc.

Good luck!

P.S. I don't let my kitten (I got him at five months) go outside, ever (I live in the centre of a large town, I wouldn't dream of letting him out on the street). He doesn't trash my flat at all, he took maybe a week to learn what he could play with, and what not, and he hasn't given me any trouble since.
no
that is all cats, butyou should probably get two kittens to amuse themselves while you are gone
Get one, at least you sound like you'll look after it. Good luck
get yourself a nice ***** and enjoy it!
Buy a cat, feed it before work, let it roam outside since cats are independent anyways, come home and give it some attention. The cat will be happy.
I think cats are always a nice pet to have but if u are at work 12 hours day i would not get it as there is no one to feed it or play with it
no...cats are a bad idea. think of your furniture
A cat would be the perfect pet for you. All cats are very independant and not messy at all. They do not require much attention but will be there when you are ready to play. Yes, get a cat. It's the perfect pet for you.
It would be best not to get one if it will be left for 12 hours a day, thats too long for it to be on it's own really. If you are determined to get one then go to the cat shelter and get an adult cat , there is no way you can leave a kitten for hours on end. If I was you I would wait until your circumstances change. Get a goldfish.
Take a holiday you work to hard!
Buy some fish their therapeutic and nice to look at, you wont feel bad leaving them
Noooooooo get a dog. They are much nicer. Cats are moggys
cats tend to be more loners the older they get
a kitten may get all crazy without you around
so you'd wanna kitty proof your apartment
i think its an excellent idea
theres nothing better than having a cat when your
single and living on your own
they take care of themselves unlike dogs
i dont think its cruel at all
plus they are really cool pets
i love mine his name is Orion = )
hope you get a cat
If you go to a rescue centre you will probably find a few cats who have feline AIDS. These cats HAVE to stay in as if there were let out they could infect other cats, as well as pick up other infections more easily.

You would be doing a very nice thing taking one of these cats in and giving them a very good home.
Cats can sleep 20 hours a day.
That's hilarios, "brands of cat", LMAO, thank you for that. No you shouldn't get any "brand" of cat
No. Get a goldfish or a couple of budgies.
If you were contemplating getting a dog, I would say that you are being selfish, but not with a cat. Cats are very independent and do not require the amount of attention that a dog would. I think a cat would make a perfect pet for the life style that you described. Just be sure to give it a lot of love and affection when you are home.
Actually puss can get along without you quite well for hours at a time. Cats keep their own counsel, so to speak. My cat comes to me on her own terms; otherwise its "leave me alone" . Yes by all means get a cat.they are wonderful, loving pets. But unlike dogs, they don't usually need to be slobbering over us all the time. Just keep her well fed and watered, have the vet check her out, and keep her litter box clean. Enjoy!
nooooooooooooooooooo
get two kittens so they can amuse each other whilst your at work
get a dog! way better than cats
All cats are different. Most cat though, become aloof. They are super fun as tots but then when you walk in they want fed and are back to their lives.

That said, they are a good choice if you are gone all day. They don't need you to keep them entertained the way a dog does. String some toys from the ceiling, leave some on the floor, a cat box and some water/food. That's it! They don't need another cat either, one is fine.

Good luck.
yes get one. they don't really care if even live there most of the time.
Cats don't mind so much being on their own, they are very aloof. But in a 1 bed. flat, think about where you will put the litter box.
There are some breads of cats that dont mind staying in but it is a tough on as cats are used to going out. Maybe you should consider going to a cat shelter and looking for an older one that has to stay in. I would say that maybe being away for 12 hours is too long. But its your choice. Dont go out and buy a kitten as they need constant attention and it would be a little unkind. If you go to a pet shelter they often can help you with ones that have to stay in with a litter tray ect, they are the best peaple for advice i was given two brothers who could not be seperated and thats the best thing i ever did as they were 3 years old when i got them and they have eachothers company but i live in a house that is miles from no with a large garden so its a little different
We have just got a kitten and I've been amazed at how attention needy it is at the moment. I think if you are going to do this you probably need to get an older cat and take a couple of weeks of work to spend with it until it's at home and able to go outside. IT will need access to outside if you don't want it to trash your house. At the moment my kitten wants to be with me the entire time, he comes and cries at me if he loses a toy until I go search for it for him, he wants to sleep on my lap or next to me in preference to anywhere else in the house, he makes his presence known by climbing up my trouser legs if I am busy doing something else. I had to give up rearranging the kitchen as he wouldnt leave me alone until I sat with him so he could sleep! Please think this over very carefully. Maybe consider a caged pet if you really want something to come home to, and get a pair so they are not so dependant on you for company and entertainment.
Hi there! As long as you keep their litter box clean and their food bowl full, and their water bowl clean (my cat likes the bowls that are like a fountain), most cats will be good to go for how long you are gone. I work 8 hours a day and both my dog and cat are fine, but they love it when I get home because they know it is play time. =) I suggest getting 2 cats though, preferrably from the same litter. Most animal shelters will sell them to you pretty cheap, or you can get them at http://www.petfinder.com and look for some in your area. Good luck on whatever you decide!
They are very good at being alone for long periods of time. A little more work and expense, but if you like them get 2. I got 2 kittens, brother and sister, and they entertain each other all day long. They get alot more exercise than one left alone all day. It is a responsibility though, and only you can know in your heart if it's right.
I think you should get a cat.They can take care of themselves the 12 hours you are working.Good luck.
Cats may love to go outside, but for their own good, keep them in.
Although cats are smart, alert and adroit, they are no matches for the many perils that await them outside. That's why the average indoor-only cat lives up to three times longer than the cat that goes outside. Consider these threats:

Disease:
Feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus are only two of the diseases that are passed from cat to cat and, once contracted, result in the eventual death of the pet. And outside cats are even more likely than dogs to come into contact with rabid wild animals.

Parasites:
Outdoor cats suffer from fleas, ticks, ear mites and worms that indoor cats are generally not exposed to.

Poisoning:
Poisons can be found in lawn chemicals, bait left out to kill rodents, auto antifreeze and other sources.

Other Animals:
Fights with other cats, dogs and wildlife often leave cats maimed or injured. And it's not just tomcats. Female cats also get into fights because the very nature of cats is territorial.

Cruel People:
Cats are often the victims of burning, tarring and feathering, and other tortures. Animal dealers may collect outside cats for sale to research facilities. Outside pets are at the mercy of the people they encounter.

Traps:
It is estimated that over 100,000 cats are caught in traps each year. Those who aren't killed may suffer for days before being released and often lose limbs fro the injuries.


Traffic:
Most outdoor cats die prematurely from auto accidents. It is a myth that cats are "streetwise" about cars. No matter how alert a cat is, it is no match for a fast moving vehicle.

Pet Overpopulation:
Unaltered cats allowed to roam and mate at will account for millions of the cats that must be euthanized each year because there aren't enough homes for them. Allowing unaltered animals outside is irresponsible and at the root of the terrible pet overpopulation problem.

Cats can be completely happy inside if you provide them with toys, good care and most importantly, lots of love and attention. If you have a kitten, start it out right by never letting him or her outside. Older cats that are used to the "great outdoors" can make the transition to being indoor cats with time and attention. Spaying and neutering cats will also help you keep them indoors.

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