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I would suggest getting 2 cats, so they have someone to play with all day. 2 cats are not really that much more work than 1 (you have to scoop one box regardless, so scooping 2 isn’t so bad). I really, really wish we had gotten another kitten at the same time we got our cat so she had a playmate.

I come home at lunch most days, and notice that my cat is better behaved and friendlier on the days either I or my husband come home at lunch, rather than the days when we’re both gone 8-6. Cats are social creatures and like human interaction, so the more you can give them, the better.

When you first get your kitten, its recommended that you keep them isolated in one room or small portion of the house for a few days, so they get familiar with their new surrounding and feel safe and not overwhelmed. We kept our kitten in our guest room for a few days, until she was ready to really venture out on her own, and then restricted her to the main floor of our house for about a week.

There’s some great info online about how to “kitten-proof” your house (they can, and will, get into very small spaces!!) and also info about which plants and items are poisonous to cats. I would also recommend reaching up on teaching kitten to play without their claws and without biting – we didn’t do this, and our cat is not good about playing without her claws out. It’s something else I really wish we had read up on when we first got her – I just assumed cats knew to play without their claws.

Have fun!!

Cats are fine by themselves for long periods of time. My last two cats were kittens when they came to my house and they did just fine. We got Raven on a Friday night and spent time with them all weekend. Monday we went to work, got home and there was Raven - hanging out on the couch. That bugger used his claws to climb up to get comfy.

@MrsBrewer: we ended up putting soft paws on Raven because he loved our shoes. They worked great and it helped that we started early because he got used to us holding him and working on his paws. We don't have issues clipping his nails anymore b/c of that. I don't believe in declawing kitties.

i had two sister cats from the time they were 6 weeks old. they were the best of friends until a year or two, but then they became enemies. so having 2 cats is no guarantee they'll keep each other company. but i think most kittens that grow up together tend to be friends. maybe my cats were just weird.

i was not a cat person either until one adopted me (our neighbor's cat just moved in) and converted my entire not a cat person family. your husband will come around i'm sure.

Very exciting! I love kitties.

When we got our first cat, my biggest regret was not getting a second one at the same time. The shelter encouraged us to do so but my husband was a little nervous about getting a cat in the first place since he never grew up with pets. I work from home so I was able to care for a kitten without any problems. Looking back, if I didn't work from home, I would have felt bad that the kitten didn't have company during the day. They definitely go through separation anxiety the first few months and this is where a second kitten would have been nice.

Fast forward eight years later, and we had to make our cat solely an indoor cat due to a large feral cat population in our new neighborhood. We could tell he was depressed- he begged to go outside to play and hunt and he gained weight from laying around all day. We decided to adopt a second kitten of the opposite sex, hoping that a kitten would keep him active and less bored. Our older cat took it very hard. It's been 9 months now and the older cat still can't stand the younger cat. If he is feeling playful, it's awkward to watch him try to play with the younger cat. He gets overstimulated and hisses, which sends mixed signals to the younger cat. They dont cuddle and they fight over who is going to sleep with us every night. My husband and I still regret not getting two kittens at the same time.

We have two cats and they are mortal enemies as well. My husband who was not a cat person was converted when we moved in together. My cat was used to being the princess on the block. For my birthday last year my husband rescued a kitten from a coworker who was going to put a box on the side of the road. Needless to say Bootsy (said princess above) did not appreciate Thor's insistence on WWF style play. Chaos ensues every day (throw a Jack Russel in the mix - we love animals).