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Breed for Single Cat Household...Ragdoll?

5K views 18 replies 12 participants last post by  spotty cats 
#1 ·
Hi, I'm looking at getting a kitten later this year and am concerned about leaving the kitten at home alone while i'm away from home working 8.15am-5.30pm. I've done alot of research re: best suited cat for a single person, working full time for an apartment (indoor only) and the Ragdoll and Russian Blue breeds keep coming up. Can anyone share their experience with having a kitten/cat and working full time and what worked for you (especially with the Ragdoll breed as that's what I'm leaning toward)? I realise an optimal outcome here would be to get two to be buddies and keep each other company, however I can afford only one cat knowing that I can completely cover any costs (vets/insurance/food etc etc) and for 2 I'd be streching the budget too much. I keep going back and forth between thinking I couldn't get a cat because it will be too lonely, and then thinking that other people do it all the time and the cats get used to it. I want to know I am able to care properly for a kitten before delving in...any pointers and opinions will be appreciated :)
 
#2 ·
Can you possibly get a older rescue that is used to being alone?

Or you need 2 kittens if you work full time, esp with raggies, in fact most breeds! :)
 
#3 ·
I'd look at getting 2 kittens if they're alone so much. They really need their playmates as kittens.

Either that or an older cat - breeders sometimes have older cats they're trying to re-home so you could still look for one of those breeds if that's what your heart is set on. Of course though, there are plenty of rescue cats that are desperate for homes :(
 
#4 ·
I think I'm trying to put my head in the sand, I know the answer here is get two, but I still kept hoping. I really like the idea of having a kitten and bringing it up from when it leaves mum. I'll have to have a rethink. I'm sure I'll be able to get an older cat and love it just as much, I just wanted the kitten stage as well. I think I'll go visit an animal rescue and check it out, I mean, once I'm smitten it won't matter the age.
 
#5 ·
If you get a pair of kitties from a shelter, that'll save quite a bit of money compared to going to a breeder. There are so many lovely cats at shelters needing homes, and all ages turn up.

Ninja's an only cat, and she gets unhappy if she's left alone for too long on a regular basis. Now that she gets to have human company almost 24/7, she's far happier.
 
#6 ·
Hi and welcome!

There are lots of "older" cats in rescues that are really still kittens at only a couple of years old. A lot have also been identified as being suitable/preferable to be an only pet.

You will fall in love and still have lots of playful fun :D

Good luck with your search and keep us posted!
 
#7 ·
Mine were one when I got them from the rescue centre which is a perfect age (IMHO) to be able to leave them but still enjoy the daft playfulness . I do understand the desire to want them from kittenhood and see them grow, and there is a small part of me that feels sad sometimes that there's a part of their lives I've missed out on, but that is nothing compared to the great feeling of having taken them from rescue, giving them a loving home and seeing them blossom.

It would be impossible to be any more smitten than I am so I wouldn't worry about that :)
 
#8 · (Edited)
Allow me to put the kybosh firmly on the Ragdoll idea. Bobby was 9 years old when I got him, retired stud, used to living in a pen. No sooner had he settled with me than he began rushing to the window every time he heard a cat, but he also became increasingly anxious if I went out. His fur gets full of static when he is stressed and I was at my wits end, sometimes I couldn't even touch him. First we tried getting one rescue cat and despite the fact it didn't work because she was not sociable, he calmed down. Once we got Molly, problem solved instantly. Not a cat to have alone, in my opinion.

I had a moggie who was a one-cat-household cat, and another moggie who was perfectly happy alone and also perfectly ok with another cat moving in. That cat however, also a moggie, as soon as his companion begins to get old, starts looking around the neighbourhood for a new friend to be ready to move in. He did it when our old girl died and now this friend is showing her age he's at it again.
 
#9 · (Edited)
It all depends on the cat, ultimately.

I also think an adult rescue may be better- some need to go as only cats due to bad experiences with other cats/ bullying/ stress.

However, do keep in mind that many rescues- sadly- will not rehome to people who want them as indoor cats :( I don't know where you are but there is catcoonz on here (Oxford area, I think...) and cats galore (Wolverhampton) who would be happy for their rescue cats to be indoors, so may be worth looking into.

Or, perhaps a retired stud/ queen if you're wanting a Raggie. There's also the Ragdoll rescue groups :)

Ragdoll Rescue | Ragdoll Cats Rescue

Ragdoll rescue and rehome help to rehome and rescue ragdoll cats

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Also, I understand your want for a kitten. I was the same when my Molly died. I had my heart set on a kitten- when the time was right- but adopted a 4-year-old! It hasn't affected our bond at all- in fact, I've never had a bond as strong with any animal as I do with my Spooks :)
 
#10 ·
Yes, I met Ninja when she was four, and have bonded incredibly strongly with her. We suspect she now slightly prefers me to my partner R, even though he's had her since she was a (rescue) kitten of four months. There is so much more to an cat than the cute-fluffy-kitten stage, adorable as that is. And they stay playful into adulthood, you know. You should see Ninj streaking up the carpet tiles we put on the side of the wardrobe in order to get a treat we've put at the top, and then getting onto the bookcase next to it, surveying her domain, and leaping down again.
 
#11 ·
My boy was about 4 months when I took him in and he's perfectly settled as an only cat. I work full time and as long as he gets some attention before and after work he's happy. He needs less entertaining from me now he goes outside for a few hours each day too.

Of course he is a very grumpy antisocial young man who hates cats, dogs and most people so I wouldn't base your decision on him ;)
 
#12 ·
Haha, you guys rock! Got to admit it didn't take long to 'let myself' be convinced to get an older cat, thanks for the replies. I'm in Australia, and I really don't know what the animal welfare situation is around my area, but they do have regular adoption days for kittens/cats advertised in the local paper so I'm fairly sure, like lots of places, there are alot of cats in need of rescue. Am so excited, I've been a renter for 20 years, and now that I'm finally getting my own place the very first thing I want to do is get a feline companion. Even though it's a few months out I'm already buying bits and pieces online (toys mainly), I'm going to have a full 'cat box' by the time I move. I turn 40 next year, and can't wait to be the 'old' cat woman :w00t:
 
#13 ·
However, do keep in mind that many rescues- sadly- will not rehome to people who want them as indoor cats :( I don't know where you are but there is catcoonz on here (Oxford area, I think...) and cats galore (Wolverhampton) who would be happy for their rescue cats to be indoors, so may be worth looking into.
I've never heard that before, that rescues prefer not to rehome to indoor only. I'll need to look into that too. I may be wrong, but in Australia cats aren't very well looked on roaming as they kill too many of the natives (birds!), I guess that's why I assumed that indoor only would be a good thing.
 
#15 ·
I've never heard that before, that rescues prefer not to rehome to indoor only. I'll need to look into that too. I may be wrong, but in Australia cats aren't very well looked on roaming as they kill too many of the natives (birds!), I guess that's why I assumed that indoor only would be a good thing.
Ah, I see! Sorry, I didn't realise you were in Aus! My links aren't very useful in that case! :eek: :p

Good luck in finding your cat/kitten! :)
 
#16 ·
I've never heard that before, that rescues prefer not to rehome to indoor only. I'll need to look into that too. I may be wrong, but in Australia cats aren't very well looked on roaming as they kill too many of the natives (birds!), I guess that's why I assumed that indoor only would be a good thing.
You won't find shelters here turning you away for wanting indoor only, and I think it was NSW that one council recently made a law regarding roaming cats.

Enclosures or harnesses to take them outside safely are hugely popular.

If you still want a Ragdoll I can put you in contact with a friend who might have an adult or older kitten for a single home.
Otherwise I'd look for a private rescue over the bigger well known ones, you should be able to google for one, and many are on facebook too.
 
#18 ·
If you still want a Ragdoll I can put you in contact with a friend who might have an adult or older kitten for a single home.
Otherwise I'd look for a private rescue over the bigger well known ones, you should be able to google for one, and many are on facebook too.
Thanks for this offer...I'm still a few months out yet but will PM you closer to the time if that's ok :)

I've googled local rescues and have come up with 2 specifically Northern Rivers, say they like to rehome within a 100km radius of Ballina which is my area, I don't know whether they're private or not. The cats up for adoption currently are fostered so I'm thinking that would mean private. I found it so sad to read all their little bios, and when I skipped a cat I felt sorry for it and had to go back and read it's story. I read alot of cat bios last night!! I was amazed at how many 'teenage mums' that were abanonded either pregnant or found with their litter :nonod:
 
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