Getting a Kitten as a PGY1

Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
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nervousbreakdown247

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Hey guys! Starting as a PGY1 this June (congrats to all those that matched as well). I’ve been thinking about getting a kitten in the first few months of residency, once I find my groove and settle into my new place.

I was curious about opinions or advice from those that did this themselves. I’ve had a cat with my family before and absolutely adore them. I’m slightly worried about leaving it alone for 10-12 hours a day while I’m on inpatient months. I alternate between inpatient and speciality inpatient/clinic so my hours tend to be 12 hours one month then 8-10 the following.

I have debated getting two kittens to keep themselves company while I’m gone but worried about the extra work!

Thanks for the advice ahead of time!
 
nervousbreakdown247 said:
Hey guys! Starting as a PGY1 this June (congrats to all those that matched as well). I’ve been thinking about getting a kitten in the first few months of residency, once I find my groove and settle into my new place.

I was curious about opinions or advice from those that did this themselves. I’ve had a cat with my family before and absolutely adore them. I’m slightly worried about leaving it alone for 10-12 hours a day while I’m on inpatient months. I alternate between inpatient and speciality inpatient/clinic so my hours tend to be 12 hours one month then 8-10 the following.

I have debated getting two kittens to keep themselves company while I’m gone but worried about the extra work!

Thanks for the advice ahead of time!
Click to expand...
Get a bonded PAIR 6 months plus .

you want 2, to keep them occupied , and 6 months plus because they are more independent.

don’t live a young kitten (less than 6 months) alone for so long . It can get in trouble and something might happen .
 
Also 2 cats are easier than 1 because they will keep each other busy. TRUST me on this one .
Go to a shelter and get a bonded pair of cats . If they are older it’s great too . Might be even better because you will already know their personalities . Don’t be afraid of adopting adult cats .
 
M&L said:
Get a bonded PAIR 6 months plus .

you want 2, to keep them occupied , and 6 months plus because they are more independent.

don’t live a young kitten (less than 6 months) alone for so long . It can get in trouble and something might happen .
Click to expand...
Would I be okay getting one kitten on its own that’s over 6 months? I was reading online saying that I can get a ~4 month old one and leave it on its own as long as the apartment is kitten proofed essentially. What’s your take on this?

Appreciate the response as well!
 
M&L said:
Get a nice big climbing tower from chewy . Com (cheap and the best ) and set it near the window . This will keep them busy for hours .
Feed wet and dry food (wet is crucial for cats).

get those carton scratchers that you put on the floor . Cats love those usually .
Click to expand...
Also, I would absolutely be getting a climbing tower for it and plenty of toys to keep it occupied! And of course, the wet food is essential (and occasional treats haha)!
 
M&L said:
Also 2 cats are easier than 1 because they will keep each other busy. TRUST me on this one .
Go to a shelter and get a bonded pair of cats . If they are older it’s great too . Might be even better because you will already know their personalities . Don’t be afraid of adopting adult cats .
Click to expand...
My only concern with getting an older cat would be that it isn’t going to be as friendly or playful since it would’ve grown out of that stage. I have no issue getting one around a year old, especially since it’ll be okay to leave alone at that point, but don’t want to miss out on the kitten stage!
 
nervousbreakdown247 said:
My only concern with getting an older cat would be that it isn’t going to be as friendly or playful since it would’ve grown out of that stage. I have no issue getting one around a year old, especially since it’ll be okay to leave alone at that point, but don’t want to miss out on the kitten stage!
Click to expand...
My cat is 4.5 years old age he is just as playful As a kitten .

you will be a full time resident - get an adult cat (2 cats). Kittens need attention and time invested in them that you don’t have. Look, are you looking for a toy to play with or an animal ? Cat is a responsibility for 15-20 years . Are you committed to love it and give it a forever home ?

if you are just looking for a kitten to play with there is nothing wrong with it, but maybe volunteering at a local animal rescue is a good idea . They always need ppl .
 
nervousbreakdown247 said:
Would I be okay getting one kitten on its own that’s over 6 months? I was reading online saying that I can get a ~4 month old one and leave it on its own as long as the apartment is kitten proofed essentially. What’s your take on this?

Appreciate the response as well!
Click to expand...
I think you're fine getting a younger kitten. We adopted a 3 month old kitten when I was an M2. They are pretty low maintenance and I don't think the age will make a difference, particularly if you are getting 2 so they can keep each other entertained.
 
I adopted a ~2yo cat as a PGY-1 and it was the best decision I ever made - she's one of the best things I've done for my mental health in residency.

As someone who's had kittens before, I very much wanted a cat in the 1-2 year range - agreed that they're more independent and less likely to get into significant trouble while you're away. Kittens need A LOT of supervision. Plus they'll know things like how to use the litterbox already. Also agreeing with those who said "older" cats aren't less social - my girl picked me out at the shelter and has been glued to my hip from day 1. She hates me being gone for work - especially 28h shifts - but she can handle it, especially since she has gravity feeder & water bowls. It just means that she complains to me/tells me about her day when I get home.

If you're going to get 2 cats, you absolutely need to get a bonded pair. My two cats at my parents house were adopted at different times, and they tolerate each other most of the time but occasionally get into serious fights that would be really dangerous if not supervised. I didn't find a bonded pair at the shelter aside from young kittens, so I just adopted the one cat, and that's been okay, too.
 
M&L said:
My cat is 4.5 years old age he is just as playful As a kitten .

you will be a full time resident - get an adult cat (2 cats). Kittens need attention and time invested in them that you don’t have. Look, are you looking for a toy to play with or an animal ? Cat is a responsibility for 15-20 years . Are you committed to love it and give it a forever home ?

if you are just looking for a kitten to play with there is nothing wrong with it, but maybe volunteering at a local animal rescue is a good idea . They always need ppl .
Click to expand...
I really appreciate your advice with this! I’ve had a family cat before and I think I’m just so used to the idea of getting a kitten and raising it it’s entire life that I forgot how long they live. I absolutely will take care of the little guy (or girl) for it’s entire life without a doubt!

I appreciate everyone else’s responses and personal experiences! I think the best decision for me is to get one thats at least a year old so it’s learned more independence and can handle me being gone! I’m going to visit multiple shelters when I move in a few weeks and see which one(s) I find myself bonding with the most at that time!
 
I have 2 cats. Highly recommend 2. They keep each other company when I’m not around and my wife and kids are away. Cats are pretty easy, as they sleep most of the time and can take care of themselves for the most part. They are a great stress reliever too after work.
 
Matthew9Thirtyfive said:
I have 2 cats. Highly recommend 2. They keep each other company when I’m not around and my wife and kids are away. Cats are pretty easy, as they sleep most of the time and can take care of themselves for the most part. They are a great stress reliever too after work.
Click to expand...
Thoughts on 3 cattos? 🤔
 
Highly recommend a bonded pair since having a friend is much more entertaining than an endless amount of toys. I used to worry about my kitty soooo much when I was gone for long days until I got my second one. Now they love each other and cuddle together and I worry much less when I'm at the hospital for long hours. I wish I had just gotten two right off the bat that were siblings because so many of them don't get adopted together after they're already bonded and its sad. Good luck!
 
For someone who is just planning to get a pet and is a bit nervous about the time needed/ability to be home, I can understand just getting one and seeing how it goes. Plus with two, you may feel twice as guilty not being around as much. Humane societies and shelters will often tell you if any of their cats are more an "only cat" personality so you can get one who likes not having to share you with another cat 🙂.
 
I'd recommend getting 2 cats so they have company while you're away. Also while wet cat food is best, I'd recommend getting an automatic feeder with dry food periodically throughout the day and then feeding wet food at night or in the morning. Free feeding is just asking for obese cats but the automatic feeder allows them to maintain a good feeding schedule. They have plenty online that are difficult for them to break into- look at the reviews.

Rotating through toys is also a good way to keep them entertained. Have a container full of toys and each day swap out toys.
 
scubascuba said:
I'd recommend getting 2 cats so they have company while you're away. Also while wet cat food is best, I'd recommend getting an automatic feeder with dry food periodically throughout the day and then feeding wet food at night or in the morning. Free feeding is just asking for obese cats but the automatic feeder allows them to maintain a good feeding schedule. They have plenty online that are difficult for them to break into- look at the reviews.

Rotating through toys is also a good way to keep them entertained. Have a container full of toys and each day swap out toys.
Click to expand...

This depends on the cat, the same way it does with dogs - my cat's always had food available 24/7 and has had no weight issues (she's actually on the skinnier side). Gravity feeders are great for this, especially with longer rotations.

I feed my cat mainly dry food, with occasional wet food as a treat, and that works well for her.

Also, as others have alluded to - I'd either get a bonded pair if you for sure want 2 cats, or just get 1 and plan to stick with the 1. Cats generally don't like to share their other territory with other cats, so introducing a new cat later down the line takes a lot of patience and care. I'd love to get a second cat, but I don't think I'd have the time to do it properly, and it's not fair to my current cat to put her through that if she wouldn't even enjoy the company.
 
Definitely not true that older cats aren’t as playful. I have no idea how old my current cat is - they think he was somewhere between 5-7 when I got him, and he was found on the street with no ID or microchip so nobody actually knows how old he was. Unfortunately some awful people declawed him and abandoned him outside before he was picked up, and the vet thought he’d been out there for a while. Their age estimation puts him at somewhere between 9-11 now since I’ve had him almost four years, if his age was right in the first place.

We play ALL the time. Chasing shadows is his favorite game so he’s cheap to play with - no toys required. I just turn a light on and wiggle my finger around and he goes nuts chasing my shadow on the floor. It’s real fun when I brush my hair in front of the bathroom mirror, too - I’ll see the reflection of him launching himself halfway up the door in the mirror while he chases the shadow of my arm. It’s hilarious. I got my previous cat as a 2 year old (we thought). He had been a feral as evidenced by his ear clipping - they do that when they trap, neuter, and release - and once he figured out I was alright, he played with me the whole rest of his life before he died of cancer around age 10.

One thing I have noticed is when you get an older cat, they know exactly what you’ve done for them (at least in my experience). The cat my family had while I was growing up we adopted as a kitten, and he was more independent and aloof. My cats that were both adults when I got them? I couldn’t pry the previous one off of me with a crowbar and the current one wants to be so close to me he will try to climb up on my chest and slide down into my lap... and he curls up facing me while in my lap, so he can look at me and know I’m still here with him. I have always loved cats but I had no idea they could love people *this* much.

The previous cat loved me and being inside so much that when I took him over to visit my parents, I’d just open the car door, they’d open their garage door and the door to their house, and he’d run straight from my car right inside. I’d leave the front door open bringing groceries in and he’d just watch. He had zero desire to ever be outside again. I swear they know exactly what’s going on when you adopt them as adults, and they are so grateful. It’s so rewarding.

Anyway, I’m getting all sappy. But don’t be afraid to get adult cats. My adult rescues have been the world’s best cats.
 
Last edited:
M&L said:
Get a bonded PAIR 6 months plus .

you want 2, to keep them occupied , and 6 months plus because they are more independent.

don’t live a young kitten (less than 6 months) alone for so long . It can get in trouble and something might happen .
Click to expand...
LOL, this thread showed up in my email, and I wandered over from the vet board to say exactly this.

I'm a vet student who already had a couple of cats and acquired 3 more (3 adoptions and 1 inherited from a parent who could no longer care for him).

Dad's cat was older (probably 8ish) and super easy. Chills quietly all day when I'm gone, easygoing with the other cats but would be fine alone, really happy to cuddle when I need it after a rough day but then back off when I need to study or sleep. The downside is that he hadn't been "maintained" all that well and required some very expensive dental work when I took him on.

Second was a kitten. She was adorable and loving and playful... and horribly difficult. She had the freedom to nap all day and was so excited when I got home each evening that it was hard to do anything. I had a lot of nights where she'd wake me up 4 or 5 times knocking things off shelves, and I love her... I just cried a lot. Having raised a lot of kittens, I've had a lot that were like this and a lot that weren't, but you don't really know what you're getting until you have it. She's finally turned one and settled into a routine, and I'm so relieved I can't even tell you.

Third cat was about 10-12 months, give or take. Ironically, he was returned to the shelter twice for being "way too active." No idea what was wrong with those people. He's delightful. Incredibly playful, but also cuddly, rather sensible, and lets me sleep through the night. This is the age where behavioral problems start to really surface, so definitely do all the stuff you discussed - these aren't adults, but generally more desperate for homes and easier to deal with as an owner.

Be honest with yourself about what you can handle and afford. The cute kitten stage is very brief, so don't be afraid to look older - life can be a lot easier, and realistically, it's not that long before you have a full grown cat anyway. To me, that tends to be the best part.
 
nervousbreakdown247 said:
Hey guys! Starting as a PGY1 this June (congrats to all those that matched as well). I’ve been thinking about getting a kitten in the first few months of residency, once I find my groove and settle into my new place.

I was curious about opinions or advice from those that did this themselves. I’ve had a cat with my family before and absolutely adore them. I’m slightly worried about leaving it alone for 10-12 hours a day while I’m on inpatient months. I alternate between inpatient and speciality inpatient/clinic so my hours tend to be 12 hours one month then 8-10 the following.

I have debated getting two kittens to keep themselves company while I’m gone but worried about the extra work!

Thanks for the advice ahead of time!
Click to expand...
I got a pair of siblings at the beginning of Med school at 12 weeks. I would literally never get another single cat again. They love each other, have each other to play with and snuggle with during long hours. As someone said above it absolutely is less work! Since I got my pair two of my other friends and classmates also got siblings and feel exactly the same! Can’t recommend it highly enough!
 
I have a cat and have these:

www.litter-robot.com

The Best Self-Cleaning Litter Box - Join 1.5M+ Users

Litter-Robot is the highest-rated automatic litter box. Enjoy cutting-edge technology and smart cat health insights. 90-day in-home trial. 1-year warranty.
www.litter-robot.com www.litter-robot.com

Amazon product ASIN B08CXP42X3
petlibro.com

Buy Automatic Pet Feeder for Dog and Cat - Petlibro

The Right Amount at the Right Time: Save Time, Stay Close. Pets need love, attention, and care. The Petlibro Automatic Pet Feeder helps take care of your pet with customizable meal times and portions.
petlibro.com petlibro.com


Litter bag change and add litter weekly
Water fill about every week or two (maybe longer, but my cat drinks a ton)
Feeder refill every 2 weeks or so.
Feed wet food and treats by hand

It's a total breeze. I can leave for 3 or 4 days at a time without real worry. I have an amazon cam set up to see the feeder to make sure it's still working the whole time when I'm gone...plus since the feeder is wi fi I can give extra food whenever (to test that it's still working).

I have a co-worker cat lover who I can always contact to go check on things if I am worried that something could be wrong when I'm out of town.
 
Dral said:
I have a cat and have these:

www.litter-robot.com

The Best Self-Cleaning Litter Box - Join 1.5M+ Users

Litter-Robot is the highest-rated automatic litter box. Enjoy cutting-edge technology and smart cat health insights. 90-day in-home trial. 1-year warranty.
www.litter-robot.com www.litter-robot.com

Amazon product ASIN B08CXP42X3
petlibro.com

Buy Automatic Pet Feeder for Dog and Cat - Petlibro

The Right Amount at the Right Time: Save Time, Stay Close. Pets need love, attention, and care. The Petlibro Automatic Pet Feeder helps take care of your pet with customizable meal times and portions.
petlibro.com petlibro.com


Litter bag change and add litter weekly
Water fill about every week or two (maybe longer, but my cat drinks a ton)
Feeder refill every 2 weeks or so.
Feed wet food and treats by hand

It's a total breeze. I can leave for 3 or 4 days at a time without real worry. I have an amazon cam set up to see the feeder to make sure it's still working the whole time when I'm gone...plus since the feeder is wi fi I can give extra food whenever (to test that it's still working).

I have a co-worker cat lover who I can always contact to go check on things if I am worried that something could be wrong when I'm out of town.
Click to expand...
How often do you have to change, clean, and empty that litter robot thing?

I was using the cat genie when I owned a house and while it occasionally misfired and baked a piece of cat poop that made a terrible smell the actual maintenance was once every 2-3 months which was incredible. Planning on going back to that when I move this year but considering alternatives. Right now I'm using a crystal liter system with the pet safe box which is fine, it goes 2 weeks without needing to be touched for two cats until there's a noticeable smell, but then it has to be completely changed and scrubbed every two weeks which is painful AF. Didn't have space in my current place for something bigger and didn't have hook ups for my cat genie unfortunately.
 
@Lem0nz I usually change the bag underneath out weekly (one cat). If they made the compartment underneath larger it would obviously go longer without a change. I also top off the litter at the same time. The whole process takes about 3 minutes. I also have a normal 'emergency' regular litter box beside the robot. My cat's good at understanding the concept and always uses the robot unless it gets tripped up...in which case he knows to use the emergency box.

I considered the cat genie. That's good to know about the complete change every 2 weeks. The litter robot doesn't need that. I'd say once per year it's a good idea to empty out the litter and clean the whole box (mine's due come to think of it). However, as the litter is used up and dumped into the chute and receptacle underneath, you just add more new litter to the top part to just top it off. (I do this weekly when I change the bag out like I said). There is a line in the inside of the apparatus that tells you how high the litter level should be, so I just add to bring it up to that line. So it's continually cycling litter through in essence when you look at the big picture of how it works.
 
If you’re not willing to spend $250 on a litter box, it’s still not that big of a deal. I clean it out before bed every night. If I have to be gone for a night for call or something and my wife can’t do it, I just do it the next day. It’s not a big deal. And I have 2.
 
Dral said:
@Lem0nz I usually change the bag underneath out weekly (one cat). If they made the compartment underneath larger it would obviously go longer without a change. I also top off the litter at the same time. The whole process takes about 3 minutes. I also have a normal 'emergency' regular litter box beside the robot. My cat's good at understanding the concept and always uses the robot unless it gets tripped up...in which case he knows to use the emergency box.

I considered the cat genie. That's good to know about the complete change every 2 weeks. The litter robot doesn't need that. I'd say once per year it's a good idea to empty out the litter and clean the whole box (mine's due come to think of it). However, as the litter is used up and dumped into the chute and receptacle underneath, you just add more new litter to the top part to just top it off. (I do this weekly when I change the bag out like I said). There is a line in the inside of the apparatus that tells you how high the litter level should be, so I just add to bring it up to that line. So it's continually cycling litter through in essence when you look at the big picture of how it works.
Click to expand...
The two week thing is for my generic petsafe crystal litter. The cat genie you never had to touch/take out waste because it got pumped into the washer outlet and it was like you described, add some granules every 3-4 weeks, run a maintenance cartridge to clean it once every other month, and actually physically clean it once every other year. The cat genie was science at its pinnacle and absolutely amazing. The only down side was when it washed itself it air dries with hot air and if a cat turd got stuck or wasn’t completely scooped out it... well, it baked it and made a god awful stench. But if you had it in a well ventilated room that was closed (like a laundry room) it was absolutely amazing and you never had to touch cat poop/pee/litter ever again.

Don’t get a cat genie and hook it up to the toilet. I did that for a year and that was kind of gross to flush liquified cat excrement every time you wake up in the morning.
 
Adopt, don't shop!! And you can most def get kittens, but they can be more work than anticipated with their zoomies and energy. If you're looking for company, 2 bonded adult cats (~1 yr old) will do the trick!!! But please please do not just get one. My s/o and I had one cat and he just seemed sad and would always wait by the door when we came home from rotations. When we got a second cat, his quality of life seemed to improve significantly.
 
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