I've been dreaming of adopting a Birman for ages now to keep me company and to give all my love to. Their dog-like personality and beauty really appeal to me. The thing is, I'm usually out from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. Can he cope with being home alone in my flat if he has a big cat tree and plenty of toys, and if I give him lots of attention in the evening? I’ve ruled out getting a kitten as I’m worried they’d be too miserable, but I'm scared it might be too much for an adult too. It's been a childhood dream of mine to have this breed, but I'd rather choose a different one than see him getting depressed.
Could anyone who knows these cats well help me out? Thanks in advance!
Translated from French
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Be careful with them being lonely—I'd definitely advise getting two.
Eight months ago, I took in a Birman cross who had started having accidents because she was left alone too much. I also don't think her previous owners played with her at all (she doesn't actually know how to play)...
I've got three cats now, and the toileting issues stopped straight away; it has never been a problem at my place.
Keeping one on its own is a bit of a risk because Birmans are sensitive cats and they really don't like being lonely.
Hi there,
Birmans are generally quite calm cats. I used to have one and she slept loads. I was out of the house for about ten hours every day, and she didn't seem to mind it at all. If you can afford it, having two cats is better as they keep each other company – as long as they get on well, of course!
Hi there,
When I first got my kitten, I was away from home a lot, sometimes for up to 12 hours a day. I’d make time in the mornings to look after her by setting my alarm earlier, and then I’d spend a good hour playing with her in the evening.
I don’t think my kitten was unhappy at all; despite not being a pedigree, she’s very affectionate and a bit like a dog, following me everywhere around the flat.
That being said, I can tell you that an adult cat is much calmer and doesn’t need as much dedicated playtime. Nowadays, I mostly work from home, but even when I’m around, Kiri sleeps from 1 pm until 10 pm. Some mornings she wants to play, other times she’d rather just sit by the window.
To answer your question, if you’re willing to put the time in, getting a young kitten isn't a huge problem. If you’re able to, why not adopt two? (Granted, two pedigree kittens will be quite pricey ^^ but what about one pedigree and one moggy? If they’re young, they’ll settle in together easily). Having two kittens can really help keep them from getting bored when they're on their own.
Besides, I think you might struggle to find an adult pedigree anyway (unless you look for a retired breeding cat).
Good luck with your search!
