Will my cat be OK if she's home alone all day?
This is something that every new cat owner will eventually have to ask. At some point, you'll probably have to leave your cat alone while you go off to work or school.
She won't mind being left at home, just as long as you make sure she has enough things to stimulate and amuse herself with in your absence.
Every day, millions of cats are left at home as their owners head off to work. These cats will spend their hours alone sleeping and playing which might sound like a great way to live.
However, it's been proved that some cats can, and do, become bored. So what can you do to make sure your cat's enjoying herself while you're away? It's as simple as providing the right toys and possibly making simple alterations to your house by moving a few things around.
The sort of things you can do include:
Mounting mirrors in the areas where kittens play. This is not only amusing for the kitten, but it also helps with her social interaction.
Choose toys that stimulate active, entertaining play, such as weighted balls that roll in unpredictable directions and rubber chew toys in different shapes and textures.
Rotate the toys you leave with your cat, so that she has "new" toys every day.
Provide your cat with shelves, ladders and climbing poles, to give her a choice of different heights, temperatures and light.
Cats also enjoy exploring large plastic cubes and boxes.
Cats like companionship, so consider having a second pet, if you're going to be leaving your cat alone for extended periods of time.
Leave a radio, or television on while you're out, to keep your cat company. Install a cat flap, so your cat has access to an enclosed outdoor run or garden.
If confined indoors, make sure your cat has access to a window, or patio door, so that she can see outside.
Use wooden, or canvas-covered posts and bell ropes to satisfy your cat's natural scratching behaviour and to keep her claws in good condition.