MyRagdollCat.com

When fate handed me my first three kittens last year, I was working ten hour shifts, which meant I was away from home almost 12.5 hours each day.

Yes, in the ideal world, no child/kitten should be left along for that length of time. But, times require we do things that go against the rules.

What helped me out was that I had three, so while I was not there, they did have each other to keep them busy. I got them at one day of age, but even at that age, they were left along for that amount of time each day but they survived because I though the situation through and tanked them full of food just moments before leaving and did it again the instant I got home.

Today, they are all very healthy and love me as if I was their maternal mother. And while I am a man, I don’t mind being referred to as a mother to my kittens, as in their eyes, I was and am still their mother.

For just one kitten, I would ask around and see if I could find a sitter, and if not, see if I could find someone that could check in on it regularly.

Kittens do need stimuli, and they can get it from a lot of areas. You can leave a radio on in one room, (voices work wonders in calming a cat down when stressed) but I would recommend it be talk radio and not a music station as some music can upset cats as it also does humans.

Another remedy would be to get another kitten, so they could "sit" each other while you were gone.

It’s doable, but you need to think it out and do what is not only best for you but also best for the kitten.

Hope this helps,

Kittens should not be alone that long because they need to be socialized, especially a people oriented breed like the Ragdoll. I would hire a pet sitter or drop the kitty off at a friends house while you are away, or get one who is an adult and will be less needy.

My instinct is to say no. No cat will be happy alone that long. But, here’s some things you could do if you decide to try it: get two kittens, instead of one, so they’ll have each other, and leave them with people as often as you can. Plus, when you are home it will be very important to give them a lot of attention.

It’s not good to get a kitten and then just abandon it for hours a day. It needs to be with you everyday for a good while for it to bond and trust you. It will be very scared at first as it is new, and by leaving it alone it might unsettle it further. You could either adopt an older cat if you have no other pets which may like the peace and quiet, or if you can handle it get two kittens [siblings] and they can play together so they’re not lonely.

Bad idea!
How would you like to be left all alone for 8 hours a day?
Also, he/she might tear up your house/apartment/wherever you live.

When I got my kitten (mixed breed), he was alone for at least 8 hours a day. He’s 3 years old now and just fine (although since then I’ve acquired a dog and another cat so he’s no longer alone).

Cats are generally pretty independent. You might want to limit access to one room with food, water, and a cat box for a while. My older cat had some trouble remembering where the cat box was for about a week.

Get her/him a scratching post and some toys. There are a huge variety of them out there. Get a selection and see what she likes. My cats love paper grocery bags and cardboard boxes. Really cheap and they provide hours of entertainment for them (and me). When you are home, spend as much time as you can playing with her/him.

Also, cats sleep most of the day (and night actually), so chances are she or he will curl up and sleep until you get home.

8 hours a day is fine! Jeez, some people on here I’m guessing don’t work because most people work 8 hours a day. Cats sleep for 16 or more hours a day, during the daytime when you are gone. Your kitty will most likely just sleep all day. Kittens will cry a lot when you first bring them home but they get over it in a week or two after they adjust to the new environment. Make sure you keep the new kitten in a safe place while you’re gone for the first few weeks – such as confine him/her to the bedroom with litter box, food and water. Leave plenty of toys and a scratching post too.

You might also consider getting two kittens together (littermates is best) if you can take care of two. They will keep each other company. If you get opposite sex be sure to spay/neuter ASAP so you don’t get inbred babies!

This is a bad idea. No cat should be left alone so long. They need to have some company–even if it’s company they don’t particularly like. My cat always lived with other cats and dogs when I lived at home but when we went to college it was just the two of us and her personality changed drastically. She was very moody and seemed angry with me all the time. A couple of months later I adopted a grown dog from the shelter. I was worried she might get angrier still. When I brought the dog home I introduced the two of them and she smacked the dog right in the face to show that she was the boss. Immediately following that incident she was back to her old self. Just like that! Clearly she was upset about being alone when I was in class. Even though she hated that dog, she enjoyed having someone else around–they both did.

Please get two kittens instead. It will truly not be any more work than dealing with one kitten. Plus, they will have each other to play/nap with while you are gone. You can still build close relationships with both of them when you return and you will have more well-adjusted companions.

Also, unless you are set specifically on purchasing a Ragdoll breed, why not adopt 2 kittens from a shelter? You will save a ton of money as well as two precious little lives.

If the kitten is under 6 months old, its best to adopt 2 kittens rather then one to be alone all day. If you can only have one cat, then I suggest you adopt an older adult cat that’s neutered/spayed (kitten(s) should be too by 3-4 months old).

If you get one from a reputable breeder, they will neuter/spay before you get them. And many times they have older adult cats (2-4 yrs old) that are retired from show and cost less then kittens would. Or you could adopt a Ragdoll look-a-like from your shelter.