After YEARS of begging to get a cat, my parents finally gave in! I'm so excited! I know having a cat requires time and responsibility, and I'm ready for that. But I've got just one problem folks: TIME! I have school from 7:30am-3pm PLUS after school sports until 5pm. I get up at around 6am-6:30am and go to sleep around 10:30pm-11pm, not including the occasional late night cram sessions where I go to bed at about 2:30am-3am. SO WHAT DO I DO?? I want to get a newborn kitten, but I don't know how to make time. I was thinking I could spend 10-15 minutes hanging out with the cat in the mornings and then really play with him/her after school between the time I get home until bed time. I can do my homework in between, that's no problem.

My dad is the only one home on the weekdays and I guess he can watch out for the cat. I mean, I would be the one primarily taking care of him/her (feeding/changing water in the morning, cleaning the litter box, playing with him/her, etc.) but my dad could watch out for the cat during school hours. My dad is pretty lazy, though. He really just watches TV all day, only moving to eat and use the bathroom. (He's disabled; partially paralyzed on the left side, bad eyesight and no peripheral vision. He can do every normal thing like a fully functional person though, just with a bit more effort.) He goes out sometimes too, and he always picks me up and drops me off at school. So the cat would be pretty much alone for about 9 hours and approximately 30 minutes everyday except for weekends and holidays.

Is this wrong? I feel terrible at the thought of leaving a new kitten alone for so long. But I just want to know if it really is such a big problem. It's not like the cat would go outside and play around out there, because I wouldn't want him/her getting lost, especially so young. I'd give him/her lots of toys and multiple scratching posts to pass the time, but seeing as he/she would be a strictly indoor cat, the routine might get boring. But I have heard that cats sleep for hours and hours.

Is this a problem or is it okay? Can I leave my soon-to-be new kitten alone for 9 1/2 hours every weekday? Tell me what you think, and sorry this was such a long post. Thanks in advance!

Cats are ok on their own for long hours. And if they are indoor only, they really are fine to never be outdorrs. They don't know what they are missing. Mine like to look out the windows and maybe sit in my lap on the deck but they just think it's perfectly normal to live inside because they don't know any different. And mostly what they would be looking for during the day is some company or a lap to sit on which your Dad can provide without getting up from his chair. When you first bring the kitten home, I would probably confine it to one room with it's litterbox and food/water when you're away. Just until it gets a feel for it's new home. When they are old enough to leave their Mom (8 weeks or older) they are usually already pretty well used to a litterbox (unless they are feral or barn raised). I saw your post about Citykity and I don't think you can do that with a kitten that small or she might fall in and drown. Personally, I don't want a cat using my toilet. I prefer a litterbox and it's more natural for the cat to use. But that's up to you.I have three for company for each other but cats are pretty independent so one is fine. Just be sure that you understand the expense of a cat. There will be vet visits for vaccinations and the neuter/spay visit. The first year is the most money. After that, unless they get sick, you just have one annual check-up with booster shots. But it really doesn't sound like you have a whole lot of free time for a pet. I'm wondering why you want one? And also consider that a cat lives 15 to 20 years. What are your plans when you graduate school and what will happen to the cat?

MaxandAllie is right. A cat is a huge responsibilty, and it should be yours, not your father's. I am away from home for at least 10 and a half hours, five days a week, and I have "homework" too from my job. Plus I have a 4 year-old son who lives with me 3-4 nights a week. With all that I still make time to feed, play with, and clean up after my two fur-babies. But my cats are what I enjoy devoting my spare time to. When I get an invite to go out after a long day, I say "No, I have to go feed my kitties." because that is what I would rather do anyway. They are how I relax and I truly enjoy having them. Don't get me wrong, I do still go out sometimes, but only once in a while, and rarely unplanned, because I would rather go home to my fur-babies after a long hard day. Is this really what you want? Do you want to give up hanging out with your friends and stuff like that? Maybe you should consider waiting to get a cat until you have fewer things going on.

I too would say wait. A cat deserves your attention and it would get pretty bored. you might also consider 2 kittens to play with each other while you are away.

Since you don't have a lot of time, you should consider getting an older kitten or cat from a shelter. As mentioned above, you are making a 15-20 year commitment. You and your parents need to consider this. I think you can make it work if you entire family is on board. It's great that you are asking question.

You seem really responsible, juggling everything you have already, and the fact that you are concerned enough to ask is a credit to your character. Maybe you could wait until school lets out for summer break, then you can get your kitty. That way you have some time to get use to the responsibility and you get a feel for what owning a cat is really like. Then when school starts next year, kitty will be older and a little more independent. Then you can figure out if you can still do school and extra curriculars or if you something will have to give. I'm generally not the most responsible person on the planet, and I am really busy, but I'm a great cat owner because I love them so much. You sound really excited and anxious to get one, so I bet you will love them a lot too and will do just fine.