How am I doing (is everything ok with my baby)?

I'm really not sure how to phrase my question and Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m not really sure this is the place to post it. I'm just looking to gain some reassurance that things are ok with my cat and that I'm there enough for her or to learn that Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m not and get some insight.

I have a 10 month old female cat (kitten). She is tortoise in color and named Casey. She is the most beautiful cat Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ve ever seen and sheâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s the craziest cat Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ve ever known. I've had her since she was 5 1/2 months old. She's my only pet and she seems very attached to me. To the point that when I get home from work or sometimes when I get up in the morning that she'll meow constantly until I play with her (or she gives up). It has been a long time since I have had a kitten, but it seems like she wants to play a lot, she even drags her string to my bedside so when I get up Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ll know she wants to play.

So, I usually play with her for 10, 15, 30 minutes at a time twice a day and she seems to want to play longer. I'm really kinda concerned that she is lonely and/or doesn't have enough stimulation/attention. The weird thing is sometimes when Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m playing with her, she doesnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t seem very interested in playing, but yet she continues to meow like she wants to do something. Sheâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s not really a lap cat and doesnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t like to be picked up, so I canâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t pick her up and put her in my lap.

I work Thurs through Mon, 2pm-11pm. When I get home, I usually have a snack, watch some TV, and play with Casey (for 15-30 min) till I head to bed around 12:30am. I usually get up around 8:30am, have breakfast, play some with Casey, then 4 or 5 times a week, I go for a bike ride (on a 18 speed) for 1.5-3 hours. 2 of the times that I ride my bike are on my days off and are usually the longer rides.

That's pretty much my schedule. I, of course, go out and do various other errands and such. I'm a single guy, but my girlfriend comes to visit almost every weekend.

So, am I providing my little girl enough attention? Could she be lonely? I really, really do not want to get another kitten. I tried one for a weekend and it near about killed me (and Casey... she was ticked). I've also thought about a dog because I would really love a dog, but I live in an apartment and I'm not sure I'm home enough for a cat, let alone a dog.

Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]d appreciate any advice or thoughts. Maybe Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m just being a little paranoid and this is normal behavior for a 10 month old kitten, but I do want to do good for her.

~C

My first question is "Is she spayed?" Spaying her will tone down her temperment. But I suspect she is spayed, otherwise you would be talking about her behavior in heat.

She is pretty young, more than likely missing her siblings and her mom. You are her substitute family and when you aren't there, chances are she is lonely. There are so many kittens in the world, it is always my first reaction to say to people "Please adopt another one." But only do this, if you can afford to offer the same quality care and time committment that you can offer the one in your life now. If you can, than a playmate is the answer. But prepare yourself for no sleep! LOL Kittens love to zoom about at night when the owners are in bed.

You can set her up with alternate things to entertain her. A fish tank, a hamster in a very secure cage. I know one gal who brought in a land tortise for her cat, the two get along quite well. You can get her a cat condo, or cat exercise gym such as Feline Furniture Company offers- there is a coupon on our coupon page in the Shop section of the website for one of their units. You can make a ball bin out of a large cardboard box and a few ping pong balls. Cats chase those for hours.

You didn't mention weather she is spayed or not. If she's not spayed, that could be why she meows so much. If she is, it could be that she's just a vocal kitty. Some cats like to talk. There's also a possibility that something is bothering her, and it may be medical. It's sounds like you give her plenty of attention, so I don't think it has anything to do with that.

Yup, she's spayed. I had that done as soon as the vet told me she was old enough (around 6 months).

Well, I did think about getting a 2nd cat, but I just can't handle it. It's not so much a finacial thing as it is dealing with no sleep and Casey. I already brought home a 10 week old for a weekend and while I know they are not going to get along for a little while, Casey was ticked. To the point of pooping on my rug and rubbing it in. Also, as Hissy mentioned, the kitten kept me away all night. So, I really can't see getting another cat. I think part of the problem is that the only way to separate the cats was to keep the kitten in my bedroom and Casey out. That means a hyper kitten jumping on me all night long and a ticked off Casey stuck outside the room she spends the night in behind a closed door.

So... It sounds like I'm probably doing ok as far as playing with her and giving her attention, it's just that she's a little lonely. How about a dog? Don't they sleep at night?

~C

Well, you could put the kitten in your bathroom. And if it were an older kitten, about 5 or 6 months, it might not stay up too late if you played with her for a bit beforehand. If you do decide on the dog (which takes almost more work than a kitten) make sure it's a puppy so your cat won't feel so threatened. And has she had a checkup? Cause it could be a medical thing.