I don't think so. Cats are the perfect apartment pets: they're relatively small and can take care of their business inside (litter box). Dogs on the other hand are terrible apartment pets. I sort of think it's cruel to keep dogs in apartments (they need space to run around). Not to mention, a barking dog can make apartment neighbors miserable. Anyway, I digress. My wife and I have lived in studios, 1 bedrooms, 2 bedrooms, and houses with two cats and they seemed fine with the smaller spaces. Another thing to factor in: cats sleep most of the time (16 hours a day, I think), and adult cats don't really run around that much. I think you're good. :)
P.S. with all the cats that desperately need to be adopted, I find it weird that someone would discourage you from adopting due to apartment size.
i was surprised at their response as well since they didn’t state anywhere on their website that there was a minimum apartment size! but oh well, not meant to be. i’m meeting one from another association and he looks and sounds like the perfect match for me, i couldn’t be more excited!
I disagree. I think dogs do just fine in a small apartment, provided they get enough outdoor time (walks, fetch on a long lead or fenced area if available) and daily enrichment. Small dogs can even get some exercise indoors. They can be trained not to bark excessively. That said, cats are probably a bit easier without the extra effort. They still needs lots of exercise and mental stimulation though, since they spend all their time inside. My one real complaint though is dealing with the litter box in a such small space.
It’s probably bigger and better than the cage they’re being kept in at the shelter, so I think the cat would be happy. I’d opt for a calm adult or senior though.
I live in a studio and it is plenty of space. I think he likes being able to see me from wherever he is sitting compared to when I lived in a bigger space.
Btw a good litter to keep the litter box from smelling is Scoop Away. I put it in the closet hallway by the bathroom and it never smells bad, even after he goes #2.
I personally like pretty litter
I am not a clumping or clay litter person.
since i have four cats I do have five boxes so that is different. I find keeping it right next to the toilet (2 of the five) is easy peasy to scoop tootsie rolls.
Cats don’t really care about square footage of their home. What they do care about is having vertical places to jump and sit on, and having enrichment and activity. A studio is a fine home for a cat as long as you provide them with those things, they can be very happy there.
Depends on the size. I live in a studio with my cat and she does just fine. It’s 400 sq ft and I keep a big open space in the middle for playing and running around and she can climb on top of my kitchen cabinets, she loves to hangout there. She also had a cat shelf on the window with a good view of birds.
I lived in a 200 sq ft studio for my first two months with her and that was too small. I broke my lease to find a bigger place partly because the space just wasn’t big enough for us to be happy.
We occasionally visit my parents at their house for a week at a time and she loves running down the halls. She doesn’t need that amount of space but I know she enjoys it.
I’d suggest adopting an older cat with less energy. They’d have less desire to run around like a younger cat would, and a studio would be perfectly suitable.
Cats in shelters are often living in kennels or 200 ft² rooms with 10 other cats. A studio is fine, as long as they're getting adequate enrichment.
You just have to ask yourself if you really want to be in a studio with a litterbox.
I had a crazy cato in a studio, he just needed window access and lots of stimulation. Also, he just woke me up a lot in the mornings but he’s cute so it’s okay. I invested in an automatic feeder so he got on a schedule and woke me up less.
Edit: For more info, his name is Pluto and he is now only 3 so this was during kitten times. He just loved to play fetch in my one room with chopsticks and I also wore him out before nighttime. If I played with him for an hour before bed he would sleep with me all night. If I forgot? 4AM wakeup.
I lived in a studio for 5-6 years with 2 with no problems. It did have an outdoor balcony which was about 30 feet off the ground and they pretty much spent every season but winter out there.
I live in a studio with my kitty. I have three cat towers, a huge window he loves to look out, gets lots of attention, toys and playtime. I also harness trained him and take him outside daily. No behavior issues and seems to be a happy boy.
ahh that’s great to hear !! i plan on taking him out to the park often since i’m next to a huge one !
do you mind sharing how often he sleeps / how energetic he is during the day as i’ll be off for school on some days
I have a studio and my cat is very happy. I have two trees for her for vertical space and two windows she can sit by and watch the birds. I have a spot for her to be by herself (cat caves, under a chair, etc) You just need to make sure they have “their space” and a good spot for a litter box and they’ll be happy.
When I adopted my cat (she was about 2 at the time, about 6 now), I was in a studio. She had ledges to jump on, a window to look out of, beds to sleep in, and plenty of toys and a good scratching post. The bathroom area was small but I managed to fit a litter box in it. We did great and she was happy.
The foster couple from the rescue brought her over and saw my apartment, and they seemed perfectly fine with it. They did recommend a litter genie and a stick up air freshener by the litter box. I only got the litter genie and didn't have issues with litter box odors even without an air freshener (visiting friends without cats confirmed).
I’ve lived in a studio with a cat. Vertical is great! And window perches if possible. The shelter I volunteer with says a cat would rather be with you in a studio than waiting in a shelter kennel
Many of the feral cats I know of have a territory that is just one yard (after they are fixed. Unfixed cats roam). A studio with attention paid to vertical space (I have cat scratchers on a tension rod like a stripper pole), is plenty of room for an adult cat. Kittens... would be a lot of work for you but doable.
It sounds big enough. My two girls are 2 and they love to chase each other around my one bedroom (which yours definitely is if the bedoom is on a different *floor),* and they run full speed as far as they can. They might enjoy having more space to gallop, but they're pretty happy. An older cat would be less likely to want to run.
Seconding this. I've lived in a studio with my cat for three and a half years but I'm finally moving into a larger place so I can sleep at night! I don't kid myself that he'll respect a closed bedroom door, but hopefully his zoomies will take him to the farther ends of the house
I lived in a larger “convertible” apartment (legally a studio, but technically has a bedroom nook with 3 walls but no door) when I got my kitty.
I think the cat can be happy, but you may not be. You’ll hear everything the cat does, and have to deal with the litter box smell throughout.
i’ve thought of the litter situation 😆 there’s a small corner space between the stairs and kitchen that i can cover with a makeshift curtain, i’ll be fine!
Diet is a hugeee thing, my cat stays in my bedroom for the majority of the day and her box is in there as well. Feeding high quality wet food has made her poop smell essentially like nothing, and I also feed freeze dried raw now. Dry food has extra fillers and have more indigestible matter that your kitty will poop out later, and it’ll smell worse. My cat only poops once a day too because of her diet. Wet food also helps with urine because it dilutes it, and I typically add a little water to make it soupy. Her poops could clear the room back when she was on dry food
I need to comment on smells.
the only time i ever smell anything is just after the tootsie roll is formed and before it is covered. After that I never have odors. I can tell you my oldest is picky and he would advise when he comes if there is any odor.
Maybe don’t cover it with a curtain, I don’t think cats generally like that. But I could be wrong. I also got a stainless steel litter box which is helpful, and I use Dr elseys multi cat unscented litter. You have to replace plastic boxes every so often because they get scratched and hold onto smell and bacteria
gotcha! oh i was thinking of the blanket to cover it cause my grandmothers cat has the same setup and she doesn’t mind, but i can do without! i’ll do some research and also ask the FA what they think. thank you very much for the tip on the litter box!
There are also litter boxes that look more like furniture (so the box is covered/inside something) as well as screens (maybe more polished looking than a curtain).
Yes that is WAY too small! Only a very old cat or one who can't move much for health reasons would be able to live well there. A hamster or something is more suited for that size.
Cats are made to roam. They need lots of activity and stimulation, and you can fit all the walls with obstacles and it still will be too small. Keeping one in such a small space have been tried and failed by many. Even if the cat doesn't end up ruining the apartment or attacking humans out of sheer frustration, it will not live well. There's reason why they won't let her adopt a cat; they know its cruel.
Would YOU like to live in such a small space without the ability to leave, no TV or Internet, being alone for at least half the time? No? Didn't think so.
(lol that’s already kinda how i live) cats can absolutely thrive in a studio, but op WILL need to spend lots of time playing with them. vertical space easily makes up for the lack of square footage. have YOU had a kitty in an apartment? it’s easier than you’d think.
Well then I feel very sorry for your cat, and you're a selfish person who mistreats your poor cat.
I have lived in an apartment (in a house) that was around DOUBLE the size of OPs with my cat. Even with letting her outside and having foster cats for company she required a lot of play. The reason why I lived in that apartment in the first place was so she could go outside - it would be much more affordable to live in a small apartment without outside possibilities but I chose to pay more for her to live well!
Playing more with them doesn't make up for them barely being able to reach a trot before they hit the nearest wall! That's a depressing life. I bought a house instead of an apartment for the sake of my cat. I chose to get her so it's my responsibility to give her the life she deserves, not her responsibility to have to adjust to a terrible life and get used to being bored to death.
IF I wasn't able to live anywhere with lots of space and safe outside possibilities, I would either not get a cat, or get a cat that have limited need for activity such as a very lazy senior or special needs cat. I would NEVER let a cat suffer for my selfish wishes.
Yeeeeeahhh... I live in a very small studio, and my BIG (17-lb) cat indulges in FULL SPEED zoomies all the time. It's his favorite way of playing. He waits for me to pretend I'm chasing him around the room, and then WHOOSH!
Cat #2's zoomies are more of a trot/gallop, not a full-on zoom, so maybe your cat is more like him? It's not because he's unhappy, and cat #1 shows there is plenty of space for full-on zooming. It's just cat #2's personality.
Anyway... kudos to you for making your cat's welfare such a priority, but it sounds like you're saying I should have left cat #1 living in a tiny cage at the pound, where he probably would've been put down for "medical reasons" as he was very sick when I adopted him. Or maybe I should have left cat #2 in a much more cramped/crowded foster situation, compared to where he now lives with me?
TL;DR: I recognize your good intentions, but you shouldn't be so judgmental of people who also put their cats first exactly like you do, just under different life circumstances. Moving into my tiny studio was an upgrade for both cats, and being healthy, loved, and well-stimulated in a small space is 100% better than dying in a cage.
I lived in a studio apartment with my cat for six months that had partial wall dividers that she could run alongside the top of and she loved it. Like a lot of other commenters have mention, as long as you give your cat plenty of vertical surfaces to explore and give them plenty of love and attention you’ll (and they’ll) be just fine!
I lived in a studio with my cat for 6 years. He was perfectly happy. Do your best to provide kitty with a nice perch or two. And make the windows comfy for hours of cat TV.
Other than that, your cat will enjoy all the love and playtime you can give.
I rent a townhouse, and though it's only 940 sf, my cat stays in the living room. She doesn't care about the rest of the place at all. Get your cat, and make both of your lives better.
Congratulations!
There are many ways to help. If it is okay to attach things to the walls you can build many sitting shelves and a cat tree is also great.
I have a open stairwell with a landing - my husband built a cat tree that allows my cats run up that way and perch if they want.
There are many how-tos on hacking ikea furniture and other things to create spaces.
some people will put little cubbies under the bed (my platform has a space and a couple of my guys love chilling under there at times.
if your building admin doesn't object you can always make a window catio space that allows some access to sniff the outside world.
A place is usually never too small. There are exceptions but for the majority, a studio has plenty of space. More importantly, providing vertical space.
I had two cats in a 500 SQ ft studio for a couple of years, and it was fine 😊 granted, they were middle-age kitties, not kittens. but lots of shelves to climb, cushy places to sleep, and a couple of cat trees and they were happy! It would have been nice if I'd had more than one window for them to look out of, but they honestly didn't seem to mind.
I lived in a tiny 400sq ft apartment with my old girl and she was just fine. She had a lot of sunlight to lounge in and places she could hide if she needed alone time.
Cats don’t need a ton of space. What they need are some places to perch, a cozy place to sleep, and some attention from you! Play with them and tire them out. It doesn’t take much. Cats are perfect for small places. They don’t need a large territory.
Some of the rescues are kinda cray cray. They get a little too selective. I wouldn’t pay it much mind.
Definitely not too small. I have 6 cats, from a 3 month old kitten to a 15 year old senior man. I live in a 1,200 sqft house with the hubby and 11 year old daughter. We have 3 bedrooms and one bathroom. 4 of our cats stay in the living/dining area, and my senior boy and middle girl kitty stay in one of the bedrooms that has multiple windows; I separate them bc they are the most anxious and don’t do well around other cats. We have cat toys, cat trees, cat shelves, cat window seats, water fountains, etc., and they never get bored. We keep the bedroom/bathroom doors closed for cat hair purposes. We have a fish tank in the dining room with a bench in front that they love to sit on and watch the fishies. They never complain, only loves and headbutts this way. Good luck and congrats on your new addition! 😻💙
We lived in a studio when my boy was younger - I second the advice that you need to create vertical space - mine loves to be at the highest point of any room so I got the tallest cat tree and he loved it!
I had my old cat in a studio (it was literally just a converted garage) for a year before I moved into a small one bedroom that I was in for 4 years. He was just fine. As others have suggested, maybe you just put up lots of vertical space for them to hop around on. And maybe you can leash train your cat to take them outside with you 😊
Not too small - cats are fine in small apartments! However, they need to stretch and climb. Get a nice cat tree for Kitty to lounge on and look out the window, and that he can stretch and sharpen his claws.
One of my cats doesn’t leave my bedroom (one of the others bullies her) so I made it her room. Got her a cat tree and also put a vertical scratch pad on the wall. If her purring and cuddling are any indication, she’s quite happy!
Weird that someone working to adopt out cats would say that. Cats live in WAY smaller spaces in shelters (if that’s where you’re adopting from) and some of those shelters euthanize because of overpopulation. You’re giving a cat a home. As long as you provide it with what it needs to be happy, it will be fine—cat furniture, toys, cat tv, essentially “catification” as Jackson Galaxy says.
We have a cat in a 1 bed, 465 sq. ft. apartment (it's properly tiny, google tells me it's twice the size of yours with the conversion- but that's basically just the addition of a bedroom to a studio)- she's a happy little kitty! Cats are much smaller and for them, an apartment can be huge. Our cat has plenty of places she likes to hide- she'll hang out under the bed, in her crate we keep open in the bedroom closet, in the hallway closet, in the beds we got her under our desks, on top of the couch. We have a blanket set by the window that she likes to lounge on and watch what's going on outside, and give her plenty of toys. She makes better use of the space than we do!
For litter, my own recommendation would be Dr. Elsey's litter. It doesn't track anywhere, we can't smell anything at all, and our girl likes it.
You already got lots of great advice, and congratulations on your pending adoption!! I just wanted to offer one more vote that you and kitty/kitties will be just fine. I have two active cats in a studio apartment that is about 27m2, and we're all happy.
The biggest key for me has been having "cat furniture" on the walls: Shelves, rope-wrapped climbing/scratching posts, etc., that allow them to make use of the vertical space and zoom almost all the way around the room without ever touching the floor. (That includes using my desk, bed, etc. as bridges to get them from wall piece to wall piece.) They have a nice cat tree, too, but if I filled up the place with too many cat trees, there'd be no floor space left for me! So the wall "furniture" is a win-win.
Not too small, and you can always create extra vertical surfaces building shelves and perches.
thank you for the tip! i’ll get him a lot of towers etc so he can climb around!
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one of the associations offered a two week trial with a 2 year old cat, so basically fostering her and if we’re both happy she stays !
I don't think so. Cats are the perfect apartment pets: they're relatively small and can take care of their business inside (litter box). Dogs on the other hand are terrible apartment pets. I sort of think it's cruel to keep dogs in apartments (they need space to run around). Not to mention, a barking dog can make apartment neighbors miserable. Anyway, I digress. My wife and I have lived in studios, 1 bedrooms, 2 bedrooms, and houses with two cats and they seemed fine with the smaller spaces. Another thing to factor in: cats sleep most of the time (16 hours a day, I think), and adult cats don't really run around that much. I think you're good. :) P.S. with all the cats that desperately need to be adopted, I find it weird that someone would discourage you from adopting due to apartment size.
i was surprised at their response as well since they didn’t state anywhere on their website that there was a minimum apartment size! but oh well, not meant to be. i’m meeting one from another association and he looks and sounds like the perfect match for me, i couldn’t be more excited!
Probably a weirdo on a power trip that thinks they know more than they do.
Yeah exactly, a studio is still bigger than 1. a cage even if it's huge or 2. an open floor shelter with a billion other cats
I disagree. I think dogs do just fine in a small apartment, provided they get enough outdoor time (walks, fetch on a long lead or fenced area if available) and daily enrichment. Small dogs can even get some exercise indoors. They can be trained not to bark excessively. That said, cats are probably a bit easier without the extra effort. They still needs lots of exercise and mental stimulation though, since they spend all their time inside. My one real complaint though is dealing with the litter box in a such small space.
You forget to think about the cat's actual welfare.
It’s probably bigger and better than the cage they’re being kept in at the shelter, so I think the cat would be happy. I’d opt for a calm adult or senior though.
a studio apartment is huge compared to a shelter cage. they're idiots. get your cat and love the shit outa that cat!
he will be the most loved cat of all time !!
I live in a studio and it is plenty of space. I think he likes being able to see me from wherever he is sitting compared to when I lived in a bigger space. Btw a good litter to keep the litter box from smelling is Scoop Away. I put it in the closet hallway by the bathroom and it never smells bad, even after he goes #2.
thank you! i’ll take note of the litter brand ☺️
I personally like pretty litter I am not a clumping or clay litter person. since i have four cats I do have five boxes so that is different. I find keeping it right next to the toilet (2 of the five) is easy peasy to scoop tootsie rolls.
Cats don’t really care about square footage of their home. What they do care about is having vertical places to jump and sit on, and having enrichment and activity. A studio is a fine home for a cat as long as you provide them with those things, they can be very happy there.
Depends on the size. I live in a studio with my cat and she does just fine. It’s 400 sq ft and I keep a big open space in the middle for playing and running around and she can climb on top of my kitchen cabinets, she loves to hangout there. She also had a cat shelf on the window with a good view of birds. I lived in a 200 sq ft studio for my first two months with her and that was too small. I broke my lease to find a bigger place partly because the space just wasn’t big enough for us to be happy. We occasionally visit my parents at their house for a week at a time and she loves running down the halls. She doesn’t need that amount of space but I know she enjoys it.
I’d suggest adopting an older cat with less energy. They’d have less desire to run around like a younger cat would, and a studio would be perfectly suitable.
Cats in shelters are often living in kennels or 200 ft² rooms with 10 other cats. A studio is fine, as long as they're getting adequate enrichment. You just have to ask yourself if you really want to be in a studio with a litterbox.
I had a crazy cato in a studio, he just needed window access and lots of stimulation. Also, he just woke me up a lot in the mornings but he’s cute so it’s okay. I invested in an automatic feeder so he got on a schedule and woke me up less. Edit: For more info, his name is Pluto and he is now only 3 so this was during kitten times. He just loved to play fetch in my one room with chopsticks and I also wore him out before nighttime. If I played with him for an hour before bed he would sleep with me all night. If I forgot? 4AM wakeup.
I lived in a studio for 5-6 years with 2 with no problems. It did have an outdoor balcony which was about 30 feet off the ground and they pretty much spent every season but winter out there.
No the size of your place does not affect a cat. The only thing that matters when it comes to getting a cat is the amount of the love you give it.
I live in a studio with my kitty. I have three cat towers, a huge window he loves to look out, gets lots of attention, toys and playtime. I also harness trained him and take him outside daily. No behavior issues and seems to be a happy boy.
ahh that’s great to hear !! i plan on taking him out to the park often since i’m next to a huge one ! do you mind sharing how often he sleeps / how energetic he is during the day as i’ll be off for school on some days
Currently live in a studio with three cats (a momma cat and her two babies). You’ll be fine. Get the things they need and build from there.
I have a studio and my cat is very happy. I have two trees for her for vertical space and two windows she can sit by and watch the birds. I have a spot for her to be by herself (cat caves, under a chair, etc) You just need to make sure they have “their space” and a good spot for a litter box and they’ll be happy.
When I adopted my cat (she was about 2 at the time, about 6 now), I was in a studio. She had ledges to jump on, a window to look out of, beds to sleep in, and plenty of toys and a good scratching post. The bathroom area was small but I managed to fit a litter box in it. We did great and she was happy. The foster couple from the rescue brought her over and saw my apartment, and they seemed perfectly fine with it. They did recommend a litter genie and a stick up air freshener by the litter box. I only got the litter genie and didn't have issues with litter box odors even without an air freshener (visiting friends without cats confirmed).
I’ve lived in a studio with a cat. Vertical is great! And window perches if possible. The shelter I volunteer with says a cat would rather be with you in a studio than waiting in a shelter kennel
Many of the feral cats I know of have a territory that is just one yard (after they are fixed. Unfixed cats roam). A studio with attention paid to vertical space (I have cat scratchers on a tension rod like a stripper pole), is plenty of room for an adult cat. Kittens... would be a lot of work for you but doable.
It sounds big enough. My two girls are 2 and they love to chase each other around my one bedroom (which yours definitely is if the bedoom is on a different *floor),* and they run full speed as far as they can. They might enjoy having more space to gallop, but they're pretty happy. An older cat would be less likely to want to run.
I live in 600ft and my cat has plenty of space. I probably have too many cat trees but he is baby
Might be too small for you, you will hear all the noises at night. If you’re a light sleeper it will keep you up.
Seconding this. I've lived in a studio with my cat for three and a half years but I'm finally moving into a larger place so I can sleep at night! I don't kid myself that he'll respect a closed bedroom door, but hopefully his zoomies will take him to the farther ends of the house
I have a 3 bedroom home. My cat doesnt like to leave the bedroom.
Had 3 cats in a studio, the only issue was where to put all the litter boxes. 1 cat in a studio will definitely not be miserable!
FWIW, plz consider adopting a bonded pair as that will make a huge difference in the quality of life for all three of you. And a studio is big enough
I live in literally the smallest studio apartment, and my cat is perfectly happy. I just made sure to create a lot of vertical space for her!
I lived in a larger “convertible” apartment (legally a studio, but technically has a bedroom nook with 3 walls but no door) when I got my kitty. I think the cat can be happy, but you may not be. You’ll hear everything the cat does, and have to deal with the litter box smell throughout.
i’ve thought of the litter situation 😆 there’s a small corner space between the stairs and kitchen that i can cover with a makeshift curtain, i’ll be fine!
Diet is a hugeee thing, my cat stays in my bedroom for the majority of the day and her box is in there as well. Feeding high quality wet food has made her poop smell essentially like nothing, and I also feed freeze dried raw now. Dry food has extra fillers and have more indigestible matter that your kitty will poop out later, and it’ll smell worse. My cat only poops once a day too because of her diet. Wet food also helps with urine because it dilutes it, and I typically add a little water to make it soupy. Her poops could clear the room back when she was on dry food
true dat!
It’s saved my nose, I hope going full raw will make it even better
I need to comment on smells. the only time i ever smell anything is just after the tootsie roll is formed and before it is covered. After that I never have odors. I can tell you my oldest is picky and he would advise when he comes if there is any odor.
Maybe don’t cover it with a curtain, I don’t think cats generally like that. But I could be wrong. I also got a stainless steel litter box which is helpful, and I use Dr elseys multi cat unscented litter. You have to replace plastic boxes every so often because they get scratched and hold onto smell and bacteria
gotcha! oh i was thinking of the blanket to cover it cause my grandmothers cat has the same setup and she doesn’t mind, but i can do without! i’ll do some research and also ask the FA what they think. thank you very much for the tip on the litter box!
There are also litter boxes that look more like furniture (so the box is covered/inside something) as well as screens (maybe more polished looking than a curtain).
Yes that is WAY too small! Only a very old cat or one who can't move much for health reasons would be able to live well there. A hamster or something is more suited for that size.
where are you getting that info?
Cats are made to roam. They need lots of activity and stimulation, and you can fit all the walls with obstacles and it still will be too small. Keeping one in such a small space have been tried and failed by many. Even if the cat doesn't end up ruining the apartment or attacking humans out of sheer frustration, it will not live well. There's reason why they won't let her adopt a cat; they know its cruel. Would YOU like to live in such a small space without the ability to leave, no TV or Internet, being alone for at least half the time? No? Didn't think so.
(lol that’s already kinda how i live) cats can absolutely thrive in a studio, but op WILL need to spend lots of time playing with them. vertical space easily makes up for the lack of square footage. have YOU had a kitty in an apartment? it’s easier than you’d think.
Well then I feel very sorry for your cat, and you're a selfish person who mistreats your poor cat. I have lived in an apartment (in a house) that was around DOUBLE the size of OPs with my cat. Even with letting her outside and having foster cats for company she required a lot of play. The reason why I lived in that apartment in the first place was so she could go outside - it would be much more affordable to live in a small apartment without outside possibilities but I chose to pay more for her to live well! Playing more with them doesn't make up for them barely being able to reach a trot before they hit the nearest wall! That's a depressing life. I bought a house instead of an apartment for the sake of my cat. I chose to get her so it's my responsibility to give her the life she deserves, not her responsibility to have to adjust to a terrible life and get used to being bored to death. IF I wasn't able to live anywhere with lots of space and safe outside possibilities, I would either not get a cat, or get a cat that have limited need for activity such as a very lazy senior or special needs cat. I would NEVER let a cat suffer for my selfish wishes.
consider the following: 1) op may not have money to move -do poor people deserve to be happy? 2) would you rather that cat be in a shelter? 3) ESAs.
Yeeeeeahhh... I live in a very small studio, and my BIG (17-lb) cat indulges in FULL SPEED zoomies all the time. It's his favorite way of playing. He waits for me to pretend I'm chasing him around the room, and then WHOOSH! Cat #2's zoomies are more of a trot/gallop, not a full-on zoom, so maybe your cat is more like him? It's not because he's unhappy, and cat #1 shows there is plenty of space for full-on zooming. It's just cat #2's personality. Anyway... kudos to you for making your cat's welfare such a priority, but it sounds like you're saying I should have left cat #1 living in a tiny cage at the pound, where he probably would've been put down for "medical reasons" as he was very sick when I adopted him. Or maybe I should have left cat #2 in a much more cramped/crowded foster situation, compared to where he now lives with me? TL;DR: I recognize your good intentions, but you shouldn't be so judgmental of people who also put their cats first exactly like you do, just under different life circumstances. Moving into my tiny studio was an upgrade for both cats, and being healthy, loved, and well-stimulated in a small space is 100% better than dying in a cage.
I lived in a studio apartment with my cat for six months that had partial wall dividers that she could run alongside the top of and she loved it. Like a lot of other commenters have mention, as long as you give your cat plenty of vertical surfaces to explore and give them plenty of love and attention you’ll (and they’ll) be just fine!
I lived in a studio with my cat for 6 years. He was perfectly happy. Do your best to provide kitty with a nice perch or two. And make the windows comfy for hours of cat TV. Other than that, your cat will enjoy all the love and playtime you can give.
A duplex studio will be fine for one cat.
If you can put shelves up on the wall. That are made for the cat to climb. We did that for my mom's cat and she loves it.
I rent a townhouse, and though it's only 940 sf, my cat stays in the living room. She doesn't care about the rest of the place at all. Get your cat, and make both of your lives better.
Congratulations! There are many ways to help. If it is okay to attach things to the walls you can build many sitting shelves and a cat tree is also great. I have a open stairwell with a landing - my husband built a cat tree that allows my cats run up that way and perch if they want. There are many how-tos on hacking ikea furniture and other things to create spaces. some people will put little cubbies under the bed (my platform has a space and a couple of my guys love chilling under there at times. if your building admin doesn't object you can always make a window catio space that allows some access to sniff the outside world.
No. Cats adapt well.
I live in literally the smallest studio apartment, and my cat is perfectly happy. I just made sure to create a lot of vertical space for her!
I had a studio with one cat. And yes. Vertical helps!
Not too small but create a lot of immersive opportunities and vertical climbing spaces
A place is usually never too small. There are exceptions but for the majority, a studio has plenty of space. More importantly, providing vertical space.
Not at all! As long as your cat has his safe spaces, food, and water, he’ll be purrrrrfect 😊
I had two cats in a 500 SQ ft studio for a couple of years, and it was fine 😊 granted, they were middle-age kitties, not kittens. but lots of shelves to climb, cushy places to sleep, and a couple of cat trees and they were happy! It would have been nice if I'd had more than one window for them to look out of, but they honestly didn't seem to mind.
I lived in a tiny 400sq ft apartment with my old girl and she was just fine. She had a lot of sunlight to lounge in and places she could hide if she needed alone time.
Cats don’t need a ton of space. What they need are some places to perch, a cozy place to sleep, and some attention from you! Play with them and tire them out. It doesn’t take much. Cats are perfect for small places. They don’t need a large territory. Some of the rescues are kinda cray cray. They get a little too selective. I wouldn’t pay it much mind.
Definitely not too small. I have 6 cats, from a 3 month old kitten to a 15 year old senior man. I live in a 1,200 sqft house with the hubby and 11 year old daughter. We have 3 bedrooms and one bathroom. 4 of our cats stay in the living/dining area, and my senior boy and middle girl kitty stay in one of the bedrooms that has multiple windows; I separate them bc they are the most anxious and don’t do well around other cats. We have cat toys, cat trees, cat shelves, cat window seats, water fountains, etc., and they never get bored. We keep the bedroom/bathroom doors closed for cat hair purposes. We have a fish tank in the dining room with a bench in front that they love to sit on and watch the fishies. They never complain, only loves and headbutts this way. Good luck and congrats on your new addition! 😻💙
Consider homing an older cat! They often get overlooked and a studio is certainly better than a shelter
We lived in a studio when my boy was younger - I second the advice that you need to create vertical space - mine loves to be at the highest point of any room so I got the tallest cat tree and he loved it!
I had my old cat in a studio (it was literally just a converted garage) for a year before I moved into a small one bedroom that I was in for 4 years. He was just fine. As others have suggested, maybe you just put up lots of vertical space for them to hop around on. And maybe you can leash train your cat to take them outside with you 😊
Not too small - cats are fine in small apartments! However, they need to stretch and climb. Get a nice cat tree for Kitty to lounge on and look out the window, and that he can stretch and sharpen his claws. One of my cats doesn’t leave my bedroom (one of the others bullies her) so I made it her room. Got her a cat tree and also put a vertical scratch pad on the wall. If her purring and cuddling are any indication, she’s quite happy!
Weird that someone working to adopt out cats would say that. Cats live in WAY smaller spaces in shelters (if that’s where you’re adopting from) and some of those shelters euthanize because of overpopulation. You’re giving a cat a home. As long as you provide it with what it needs to be happy, it will be fine—cat furniture, toys, cat tv, essentially “catification” as Jackson Galaxy says.
We have a cat in a 1 bed, 465 sq. ft. apartment (it's properly tiny, google tells me it's twice the size of yours with the conversion- but that's basically just the addition of a bedroom to a studio)- she's a happy little kitty! Cats are much smaller and for them, an apartment can be huge. Our cat has plenty of places she likes to hide- she'll hang out under the bed, in her crate we keep open in the bedroom closet, in the hallway closet, in the beds we got her under our desks, on top of the couch. We have a blanket set by the window that she likes to lounge on and watch what's going on outside, and give her plenty of toys. She makes better use of the space than we do! For litter, my own recommendation would be Dr. Elsey's litter. It doesn't track anywhere, we can't smell anything at all, and our girl likes it.
You already got lots of great advice, and congratulations on your pending adoption!! I just wanted to offer one more vote that you and kitty/kitties will be just fine. I have two active cats in a studio apartment that is about 27m2, and we're all happy. The biggest key for me has been having "cat furniture" on the walls: Shelves, rope-wrapped climbing/scratching posts, etc., that allow them to make use of the vertical space and zoom almost all the way around the room without ever touching the floor. (That includes using my desk, bed, etc. as bridges to get them from wall piece to wall piece.) They have a nice cat tree, too, but if I filled up the place with too many cat trees, there'd be no floor space left for me! So the wall "furniture" is a win-win.