Should I get cats considering my/their living conditions?

ClarissaWAM — Mon, 26 May 2008 12:39:54 -0800

Cat lovers! Please tell me whether it is reasonable for me to get (a) cat(s) with the layout / options I have, or whether I should just abandon the idea for now. I have recently bought a fairly small (~40sqm) top floor flat in a converted Victorian house (UK). I really really miss having cats, but I would also never get pets if I can't offer them acceptable living conditions. So I need your impartial advice. Here's the deal:

* I work 7hrs/day and am mostly home when I do not work (I live 5mins from work). I do travel, but usually only for long week-ends, and I have people willing to look after the cat(s) during those times.
* I have a lounge and a bedroom so 2 cats could get away from each other, but not that far away (they would still hear/smell each other).
* they would have access to the roofs of the whole block. Our family cat used to love the roofs, but she had unlimited access to ground-floor-outdoors too. (I have known cats with roof-access-only, but roofs aren't exactly a "going wild & running around" environment, so I dunno.)
* there is the possibility of letting them out the front door, but coming back in would be reliant on someone opening the door for them. Could I condition them to know I will be back from work at [time]? (ground-floor-people may be willing to open door if they hear miaowing but no guarantee, esp. over many years where tenants will change)
* lastly, assuming I fulfil cat-conditions, should I get one or two cats?

Thanks for any input. Please do tell me I'm insane/cruel/selfish if you think so and I shall get guinea pigs instead. (for them the flat will seem huge!)

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Should I get cats considering my/their living conditions?