Can a cat be happy alone if I work late and get home by 6 PM?

It is perfectly find to have one cat even if you are going to be gone for hours. Many cats are single animal households. If you want to get another cat you can try to make sure they still get along but they may not even interact with each other while you are gone. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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!

Many people do leave cats unattended with plenty of food, water and a clean litter box. Most cats will do fine if it is only for 24 hours. You may also ask a friend to stop by and check on them. Make sure the house is cat proofed so they can't get into anything. Do realize there is some risk if there is something for them to get into that they shouldn't. I hope this helps.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! 6 hours is not too long so you should be fine. However, to make it more enjoyable for her, I recommend you consider getting toys for her to keep her entertained. Best of luck!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I think it might be best to hold off on getting a cat until your job changes and you are home more. I wouldn't suggest leaving any animal for that many days every week. There would be lack of bonding and what if the cat gets sick while you are away. You would have to pay someone every week to come daily to feed the cat and clean the litter box. Personally I recommend waiting. I wish you the best!

It sounds like this is not an easy situation. Some cats will not like being kept inside while others adjust easily. You won't know until you try. There are some things you can do which can benefit any cat (a bored cat and a cat adjusting to a new life style). Here is a great article about cat's instinctual needs: https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-every-cat-needs-a-place-to-climb/ Use a Feliway diffuser, set aside 30 minutes a day for vigorous play (really get him moving) and switch the food to Royal Canin Calm. Try feeding him out of a food puzzle. Hide food for him to find. Provide a stand or resting place by a window so he can look outside. You may also try clicker training him for positive behavior. Here is a link about training cats: https://www.petcoach.co/article/can-i-train-my-cat/ Most cats response best to combination therapy. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Your cats will probably be ok for a week as long as they have plenty of food and water and lots of litter boxes to use. However, if it is possible I would recommend having someone come by and check on them at least once and maybe clean the boxes.