Emergency Cat Rescue

Hello Everyone. This is my first post here so I'm a bit excited.

Situation: So my neighbor have a cat that he wants to drop off the animal shelter. He doesn't want to but a family member apparently died so he's going back to the US. Now, I know that the shelter is jam packed with animals and chances are that it can be put down.

Course of action: I decided to adopt the cat instead of him putting it on the shelter. I want a cat for sometime now but I'm still in Uni and I'm not planning to get one for the next year and a half so this is really unexpected.

Problem: I live in an apartment and I'm taking summer classes. My classes starts at 7:30 am to 6:00 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, my classes starts at 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. I can go home for lunch 2 times a week max. I also want to mention that the cat is around 10 mos to 1 year old Scottish Fold (I think). 

Questions: Is it okay to leave the cat for that long? How can I keep the cat preoccupied without him destroying the house or being lonely? I can ony keep a single cat at the moment because of tight budget but I'm fully capable of providing his needs.

For those who can give an advice would be much appreciated. Thank you

Your cat will be fine if left alone all day Many people are away from home for 12 -14 hours or more a day for work and / or school and other activities. Just be sure to have some food and water left out and lots of safe toys. Safe toys are things like plastic balls and catnip toys. Don't leave out toys that have long strings or jingle bells that may fall off and be ingested.

Be sure to cat-proof your home as much as possible: no dangly blind cords and other string-like items, put all medications and household cleaners behind secure doors, put the toilet lid down, don't leave food out on the counter as some people foods are harmful to cats, keep the trash can lid secure, etc.

Just found this that may be helpful: http://www.thecatsite.com/a/how-long-can-you-leave-your-cat-alone-for

When we got our first cat, he was home alone for around 11 hours each day. He didn't really have too many problems with it, but eventually we got him a young playmate to enjoy so he wouldn't be alone. They now spend the day cuddling and playing together.

CalebSerr said:

 
Hello Everyone. This is my first post here so I'm a bit excited.

Situation: So my neighbor have a cat that he wants to drop off the animal shelter. He doesn't want to but a family member apparently died so he's going back to the US. Now, I know that the shelter is jam packed with animals and chances are that it can be put down.

Course of action: I decided to adopt the cat instead of him putting it on the shelter. I want a cat for sometime now but I'm still in Uni and I'm not planning to get one for the next year and a half so this is really unexpected.

Problem: I live in an apartment and I'm taking summer classes. My classes starts at 7:30 am to 6:00 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, my classes starts at 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. I can go home for lunch 2 times a week max. I also want to mention that the cat is around 10 mos to 1 year old Scottish Fold (I think). 

Questions: Is it okay to leave the cat for that long? How can I keep the cat preoccupied without him destroying the house or being lonely? I can ony keep a single cat at the moment because of tight budget but I'm fully capable of providing his needs.

For those who can give an advice would be much appreciated. Thank you

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They usually sleep most of the time... Also, scottish fold arent teh most lively breed around.  Although a standard advice is try to get them a pal whom they can play with...   Re mentioned catnip toys - careful there.  True, they play glade with them.  But may perhaps get too excited too...  Try out at first, and none big dosages.

Yes cats are ok being alone...and all of the above mentioned is sound advice...the most important I believe is cat proofing your home...cats are extremely curious and will get into whatever they can!!! With blind cords cut them so l they aren't making a loop...animals and children have been known to get caught up in those and strangle themselves...as far as food chocolate onions and garlic are extremely toxic...there are more and you can google them...even the powdered versions of those are bad...catnip is ok in small doses until you know how your cat will react...we have feathers lots of balls catnip and non catnip mouses...and we have found that our cats love very simple toys...also about feeding...some cats are constant eaters so see what he does with his food...if uou leave a whole bunch of food out and he doesn't stop eating it he can make himself sick...so do a test run...cats are very easy animals to take care of and they are great companions....oh and did you clear it with your apartment complex. ..some places have rules and deposits for animals...and you don't want anything to happen...so clear it with where you live as well...ok be blessed and if you can please upload a pik and welcome to the catsite...[emoji]128008[/emoji][emoji]128049[/emoji]

I'm thinking from the post that the neighbor is in the same complex, so all you would need to do is alert the office that the cat is moving in with you.  There may be an additional deposit. But it's worth it to have everything aboveboard and legit.

Your cat will spend the time when you are gone doing "cat chores."  The majority of the cat chores will consist of cat naps.  They do sleep, for the most part, 18+ hours a days, in naps, with play, eating, exploring, and using the litter box crammed in the awake periods.  Don't worry if you can't handle more than one cat.  Although many of them enjoy company, they are not dependent on it in the way dogs are.  Dogs are pack animals.  Cats, once weaned, separate and set up territories that they defend with violence against other cats.  He'll be fine on his own.

If there are, and I rather doubt this, any lilies in your apartment, GET RID OF THEM!  They are so toxic to cats that cats have died after licking lily pollen off of their paws.