Dear Fancy,

My family is planning on adopting a kitten sometime in the next few weeks. We are a family of six people, with four children. My sisters and I are in high school, and my younger brother is in elementary school. We are very involved in extra-curricular activities, and my dad travels a lot for work also. My question is, will the kitten miss out on bonding time with us, if we are busy after school for a couple hours? I read somewhere that cats learn the schedule of their household. Is this true? Thank you very much for your help.

– Busy Cat Owner


Dear Busy,


Congratulations on the imminent arrival of the new leader of the household.

My short answer is: Two hours a day, don't worry about it. In fact, the kitten may relish the quiet time. We do sleep a lot, you know.

Now for the longer answer. Adding a kitten to your family is the beginning of a 50-50 cooperative venture between humans and kitty. Well, more like 60-40, with kitty getting the upper paw. Cats do tend to fit into the schedule of the household, but only up to a point! A kitten's natural rhythms and needs are similar to those of a baby: sleep, eat, play, repeat a few times each day. Kitty will do his best to adjust to human household cycles, but there are some aspects to being a cat that are fairly non-negotiable. Let's look at this more closely:

• Kittens need lots of playtime. One advantage of having young kids in your household is that they may have the stamina for extended and frequent play sessions with kitty—although supervise at your discretion. Playing should build kitty's skills but above all should be fun. Invite kitty to play but never force him. Reward him with praise and/or petting when he executes a nice move (cats appreciate praise) and give him some tasty food after a play session.
• Cats tend to grow close to their human family. If you've all been out of the house for a while, expect a kitty to greet you at the door when you return. Give him an enthusiastic greeting back; let him know you missed him and that he's a special guy. Indulge him in some play and food if that's what he wants (and he probably will).
• Remember what I said about babies? Kittens don't usually sleep eight hours each night. Play with kitty before you go to bed and then give him a snack. Leave some toys here and there for kitty to discover during the night. Often cats like to sleep with their humans. If a furry feline in your bed keeps you awake, make or buy a perch near your bed that overlooks the yard. There's a good chance kitty will sleep there, near his humans but not literally on top of them.
• Make sure the kids know that kitty needs peace and privacy when he's napping and using the litter box.

Fancy