I like cats. And I hate dogs. I grew up with 4 cats and enjoy having them around. But for some reason I have it in my head that people think a single guy with a cat is weird.
Actually, typing this out, I realized that I don’t really care what people think about me having a cat (I changed the title before I posted). So now my question would be, I’m at work and/or commuting for 12 hours a day. Is that still okay to have a nice cat as a pet?
Any single people here have a cat?
I had a cat when I was single and gone almost that long most days. He was absolutely fine.
Yeah. You’re weird. 
I kid.
A cat is probably the best pet choice for you. My cat’s sleep at least 10hrs everyday. But, boy when they are awake, let me tell you!!
Good luck on finding a nice one. So many cats in shelters. Breaks my heart.
Cats are great pets for people who are out a lot. Just make sure they have food, water, a clean litter box, and entertainment, and they will be fine.
The best form of entertainment is a second cat. From personal experience, I would advise getting two kittens at the same time, or at least following what are supposed to be the most compatible combinations - adult and kitten, male and female. It’s a bummer getting a second cat and discovering that #1 and #2 are incompatible
It’s no big deal. The cat likely sleeps 3/4 of the time you’re gone anyway. As long as you’re giving it a reasonable amount of attention when you’re able (and sometimes that’s not even necessary), there shouldn’t be anything to worry about. And of course make sure there’s food and water available when you’re gone. My spouse and I both work 8-10 hours a day, and the cat doesn’t seem to care. It’s standing at the doorway as soon as it hears the garage door open waiting for its daily dollop of soft food. In the evenings, the cat demands lots of attention (from the spouse, not me), but all cats operate differently. We’ve had other cats that have said, “Thanks for the food. Think I’ll go take another nap now.”
For longer term jaunts, we leave it alone for two consecutive days and nights every few months. We just put big bowls of food and water out. I don’t feel comfortable leaving it alone any longer than that. Boarding makes me uneasy, especially if it consists of the cat being kept in a “kitty condo” (essentially a cat carrier). Cats should be free to roam about.
Short version – I wouldn’t worry about it unless you see signs of retaliation when you get home. I’ve never experienced that, but I’ve heard of it happening.
I am definitely thinking about a shelter cat. I volunteered at one for a couple of weeks and saw a nice cat named “Fred” that still pains me to this day because I didn’t adopt him 
I’m cool with that. I had cats all my life before I left home. It’s pretty funny when I meet some cats that friends own and can immediately hold them and my friends say “OMG nobody can hold my cats!”
This is a great idea, thank you. I’ll have to think about that. Two kittens would be pretty awesome I think.
A year ago I got two littermate kittens. Two cats is IME an excellent choice, and if you get a bonded pair of adults, so much the better. The local animal shelter is offering a buy-one-get-one-free deal right now on cats over a year old. My understnding is this kind of thing happens frequently at shelters. Of course at the shelter you are “adopting” not “buying.”
TLDR: Two kittens are in fact awesome.
My 2 littermates are inseparable most of the time. They have fussies rarely. As bossy as my boy, Bear is, I don’t think an unrelated cat would tolerate it. Meeko is just so laid back and forgives him of all faux pas.
They’ve just turned 3yo. It’s been an amazing, exciting, frustrating time. I wouldn’t change anything about it…erm…most days;)
Giving Hilarity an upvote here. 
We adopted a pair of brothers (littermates) a few months ago. They were 4.5 months old when we got them – essentially just entering their “teen years.” The folks at the humane society where we found them said that the two of them were, in fact, bonded to each other, and that the staff there had hoped to be able to adopt them out together.
They adore each other, and play together all the time, but they also quickly bonded with us, as well. While there are many days when either my wife or I are home with them all day, they’ve had to be alone for the day a number of times, and they’re just fine when we get home.
I’ve adopted littermates before, and it’s a great idea. They knew each other from Day 1, and were generally happy together. There were no tense times while they got to know each other, in other words.
Cats are quite capable of being alone for extended periods. I’ve left for the weekend, making sure that my guys have plenty of (dry) food and water, and clean litter, and returned two days later. They’re fine, and their only complaint is that they didn’t get their daily treat (they get a few “Temptations” treats per day). Naturally, I rectify that shortly after I return.
A cat won’t mind too much that you’re home 12 hours a day. For them the preferred time period to spend with you is however long it takes to open two cans of cat food.
Yep, our current cats were littermates adopted from a rescue. The rescue, in fact, required anyone adopting a kitten to take multiples unless there was already another young cat in the house. Twist my arm! I said.
You have clearly never met my cat. If she had it her way I would be home 24/7, preferably in bed. I have tried explaining that if she expects me to be home more she needs to buy a winning lottery ticket but I’m not sure she believes me.
The woman who used to catsit for us (once they needed meds, we had to board them – it’s not that she wasn’t willing and capable of medicating them, it was that she’d never be able to find them at medicine time) calls Temptations “kitty crack.”
We’ve adopted three pairs of littermates over the years. IMO the boys were the best pair – they were good friends. Both sets of girls, while somewhat close as kittens, pretty much ignored each other when possible as adults. AIUI that’s kind of the nature of the Tribe of Tiger.
Are you sure she’s not a dog?
My Nikki is the same way, Nava. I started working from home, and now she assumes I’m available for scritches 24/7 and gets visibly annoyed when I’m clacking away on the keyboard, because I have to actually work.
Another vote for a pair. Absolutely nothing beats littermate kittens. But if you’re going to be gone half the time YOU won’t get to enjoy the kitten part all that much before they become just another pair of bonded adults. Unless there is something burning in your soul that needs kittens (and I wouldn’t judge that, I have 5 cats right now because I’m a kitten junkie) you might consider just cutting to the chase and rescuing Gilligan & Skipper from the pound.
As far as being a Cat Guy, you’re absolutely right to not care what other people think. You don’t need to sacrifice your dignity to gain the approval of others like some dog. Dog people will steer clear of you, and cat people will be drawn to your general bearing of “Feedmepetme or fuck off, I really don’t care which.” Seriously. I never knew actual happiness as an adult until I killed my inner Shep and went full cat.
Another vote for “who gives a hacking furball what other people think”
I’m a guy, and while I like dogs and would have one from a few select breeds as a pet, I prefer cats, by a wide margin. Get the cats.
Dog person: How shall I fuck off, oh Lord?