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Considering a cat: what age can be left alone for 12+ hours daily?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

hello, my names Nicole and i was thinking about getting a cat/kitten. but i wanted to make sure if i would be able too. im not talking about money wise, ill be able to finacially take care of cat/kitten. (like with food, shelter and vaccinations.) i just want to know if there is an specific age i should focus on? i am active military, i dont travel a lot only with in 2 years. but i stay away from home for 12+ hours. so my question is, would i be able to leave them only for that long? or should i

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on March 19th, 2018

Hello Nicole. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Great question!

Yes, you can leave a cat for 12+ hours on it's own. I would not recommend doing this with a kitten but an adult cat you can. It sounds like you would be a great home for an older cat. There are many, many older cats in shelters that need homes. I would recommend one that is 5 years or older.

Hope this helps. Best wishes!

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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