How Much Attention Do Cats Need?

Cats are known to be low maintenance. They’re naturally independent, making them better at caring for themselves.

However, this creates a misconception that it’s easy to take care of felines, and owners won’t have as many responsibilities. Although these are partly true, you need to remember that they still need care, love, and attention.

That said, how much attention do cats need? Do they need a lot, or can they survive with little to no supervision? Do all cats need the same amount of attention? This is what we’re going to walk you through in this article.

How Long Can Cats Go Without Attention?

According to vets, a cat can safely go through a maximum of 24 hours without attention. This is considering that all of their necessities are readily accessible throughout the unsupervised period. This means having enough food and water, a clean and functional litter box, toys to play with, and likes.

Some say cats can also be left alone for two days, but this isn’t usually recommended. This applies even if you leave them necessities or think they have an overly independent personality. You will be pushing your cat’s limits if you don’t give them their daily supply of attention for more than a day. They will also be more susceptible to loneliness.

For a good reference, a household with a single cat can only leave them be for 24 hours max. The setup about leaving cats for two days will only work if you have two cats or more since they will be able to get attention from their other animal companions.

Attention Requirement: Indoor Cats vs. Outdoor Cats

The main differences between indoor and outdoor cats lie in their social levels and overall nature of personality.

The former tends to have a closer relationship with their owner since they will be together more. This is most especially if they are the only animal in the household. The latter can be more outgoing since it has more chances to communicate with others outside their own space.

That said, indoor cats will need more attention since they are less likely to interact with other animals or form feline packs outside their home. They can also be more prone to loneliness if left alone.

On the other hand, outdoor cats are less likely to need excessive attention from their owners because they lean more on their need for exploration.

How Much Attention Do Cats Need Per Day?

How much attention do cats need? There is actually not just one answer to the question. The average would be 30 minutes per day, but this won’t always be the case. You have to take factors like their personality, nature, and age into account.

Since we have discussed the role of a cat’s personality and nature in the previous sections, let us now move on to how a feline’s age will affect its attention requirement. This is also a vital factor to take in because their needs will vary according to how old they are. To better understand the connection, below is an overview:

Young Kittens

A cat will need the most attention you can give during its kitten days. It doesn’t matter what breed they are or if they are born to be indoor or outdoor cats in the future.

The main reason behind their excessive need for attention and care is a simple fact that they are young. This means that they are prone to injuries, accidents, and in the worst cases, death. Some kittens also die without any particular reason. A syndrome called “fading kittens” was even coined to deduce this phenomenon.

To add, kittens that were separated early from the mom cat will need even more attention compared to those with a motherly feline. You will have to prepare your utmost dedication because they will need more than just constant playtime and cuddles.

All in all, kittens from one day to three weeks old will need your full attention. If they don’t have adult cats as companions, then you shouldn’t leave them alone, even for an hour. You will have to observe if they’re in any kind of physical discomfort or sickness. You also have to assist them with exercising, more frequent vet visits, and training even after the three weeks.

Adult Cats

When it comes to adult cats, this is the time when we start to depend on their nature and personalities to know the amount of attention they’ll need.

More affectionate cats will tend to be clingier. They will want more attention from you, so you will need to check on them throughout the day. Some will find 30 minutes enough, but dependent cats will unlikely find a half-hour bonding to be enough. This is most especially if you’re staying inside together.

On the flip side, cats that don’t have physical touch as their love language and those that aren’t that social will need minimal attention from their owners throughout the day. Usually, they will also be the ones to initiate it when they feel like it.

Older Cats

Senior cats usually don’t have that much energy to engage in heavy playtime sessions, but they will still need an adequate amount of attention, say, about 15 minutes per day. Spend this time to balance your old cat’s lifestyle between exercising, having fun, and relaxing with you. Avoid letting them run out of short-span activities so that you can prevent issues like obesity and loneliness.

There are some times when an older cat may not be in the mood to interact at all for the whole day. If this happens, simply staying with them will be enough to show that you’re acknowledging their presence.

Either way, you can rest assured that they won’t need as much compared to when they’re kittens. It’s because, in this stage, they already know the basics like how to groom themselves, how to eat solid food, drink other fluids apart from milk, and likes.

How Can You Tell If Your Cat Needs More Attention?

If your cat needs more attention, they will usually be the ones to make the first move. They may make extreme movements like a fake yawn or make loud sounds like regular meows, hissing, and growling. They may also scratch things until they feel like you see them. They may also just plop down on your lap without notice and start to ask for belly rubs or scratches.

What Types Of Cat Breeds Need More Attention?

Sphynx and Siamese cats are the two most known breeds when it comes to having a high attention requirement. Persians, Ragdolls, and other exotic breeds also belong in this category. If you feel like you’re someone who can’t adhere to attention-related needs, then you can opt for rather independent cat breeds like Russian Blues and Maine Coons.

Final Thoughts

So, how much attention do cats need?

On average, your cat will need around one hour of constant attention each day. Some will only need 15 minutes before wanting to be left on their own, while some will want more than 30 minutes.

You need to take your cat’s behavior and personality into account to know exactly how much attention they want to have. Some breeds are communicative, so you won’t find it hard to know if they need more. The feline’s age, breed, and nature will all play a big part in the best way to care for them.