New cat pawrent couple worried about new kitty being alone in small apartment for 12 hours a day, internet pacifies their fears: 'Part-time parents are better than shelters'

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Briana Viser • Writer and Editor
Nov 21, 2025 6:00 PM EST

It's easy to worry these days. With overexposure and inundations to information, misinformation, and all sorts of conspiracies online, it's more than easy to let the imagination wander to dark and fearful places. Especially when it comes to being a new pawrent to a furry feline, the pressure can build and drive you crazy. Take the couple in the story below – they haven't even gotten a cat yet, but they're already more than worried about their hypothetical baby. 

The couple has a small apartment – 40m² to be exact, and they work long shifts, all day. They leave the house at 7 am and don't get home until 8 pm. They both claim to have grown up with cats, and now that they're moving in together they want to get a cat of their own. They start worrying about the day to day, and how a cat will manage to be at home all alone all day. The internet comes in with wholesome advice for the couple, stating that a warm home is always better than a shelter. 

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  • 01

    Is a cat going to be okay if left alone every day ?

    Kitten
    via 大 董 from Pexels / Canva

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    I've had cats my whole life and so has my girlfriend. We recently moved in together and obviously we are looking forward to adopting a cat.
    via u/Jotaseph-
  • 03
    However, I'm worried that the cat won't be okay during the day if we are not here. I'm afraid it
    via u/Jotaseph-
  • 04
    could either get bored/unhealthy (even though idk how) because of our absence.
    via u/Jotaseph-
  • 05
    Indeed, my work gets me to leave the apartment at 7:30 AM and I come back at around 8:00 PM.
    via u/Jotaseph-
  • 06
    My girlfriend is looking to switch jobs so we don't know what her new schedule would be, but it's
    via u/Jotaseph-
  • 07
    Baby kitten
    via 大 董 from Pexels / Canva

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 08
    probably going to be the same thing (at least if we take the worse case scenario)
    via u/Jotaseph-
  • 09
    Therefore, could we hope to have a cat? Would it have a healthy, happy life even though at least that's what I feel like - we won't
    via u/Jotaseph-
  • 10
    be there most of the time? We do know how to take care of cats since, as I mentioned, we both had some during our lives. I am
    via u/Jotaseph-
  • 11
    just worried it wouldn't be as happy as it could be with us. Also, we live in a less than 40m² apartment. Therefore idk if we
    via u/Jotaseph-
  • 12
    could have a pair of cats, since I don't even know if that this amount of space is enough for one.
    via u/Jotaseph-
  • 13
    Could anyone please enlighten me so as to how the cat could react? How those absences every
    via u/Jotaseph-
  • 14
    day could affect it? Or tell me if I am just being absolutely paranoid by trying to wish for the best for said future cat?
    via u/Jotaseph-
  • 15
    Ellehcar95 I don't agree with anybody discouraging you from getting one. Shelters are
    via u/Ellehcar95
  • 16
    overfull. People are dumping cats to fend for themselves, at least here in Florida. The shelters are euthanizing like
    via u/Ellehcar95
  • 17
    Small apartment
    via Ruan Jordaan from Alamy / Canva

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 18
    crazy. So what's better: a cat with food, a warm home, and part-time parents, or more cats being euthanized
    via u/Ellehcar95
  • 19
    due to people reluctant to get a cat for fear they won't get sufficient attention? Better some attention and a
    via u/Ellehcar95
  • 20
    good home vs euthanasia. I'd look at it that way!
    via u/Ellehcar95
  • 21
    greykitty1234 I adopted a cat when she was about three years old. People bypass the slightly
    via u/greykitty1234
  • 22
    older kitties. I left the house at 7:00, home around 6:00 pm. Home weekends.
    via u/greykitty1234
  • 23
    She was fine. She met me at the door, very often. I made sure to give her attention morning and night, without fail. And she was fine. She lived til age 19.
    via u/greykitty1234
  • 24
    I wouldn't get kittens, but an adult, even a senior, all good. in my book. Especially if you really don't travel much the rest of the time.
    via u/greykitty1234

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