Some breeds are perfectly fine with being left alone for extended periods of time but others are not – is the Siamese cat a breed that can be left alone for long periods of time or not?
Can Siamese cats be left alone? A Siamese cat can be left alone but should not be without company for more than 8 hours and ideally, it should be less than this. They are a very sociable breed and can show signs of separation anxiety if deprived of company for too long.
Some people buy a cat and, after a few weeks of ownership, they come to realize that the whole cat-ownership experience isn’t what they had previously imagined due to the requirements of the particular cat they decided to buy.
So, it gets returned, sent to a rescue home, or worse. The very fact that you’ve decided to search for this means you’re probably the right type of owner – let’s see if this particular breed of cat is the right type of cat for you…
How long can you leave the Siamese cat alone?
It’s difficult and perhaps not fair to put an exact time to this as each cat is different. However, the Siamese cat shouldn’t be left alone for long periods of time.
Certainly, if you have a 9-5 job that’s going to mean you’re out of the house for this amount of time (plus commuting) then this is too long to stay away from them. There are many other breeds of cat that will suit your lifestyle better.
So, how long can you leave the Siamese cat alone for? Even after just a couple of hours, a single Siamese cat can start to show signs of separation anxiety.
A prolonged lack of stimulation can lead to health problems so this should not be taken lightly. The Siamese cat is not the right cat for you if you just want a bit of company around your home now and again. The Siamese cat is right for you if you want to add a new member to your family.
Make it easier for them
If you absolutely have to leave the house for a few hours then there are a few things you can do that can help them from becoming too stressed whilst waiting for you to come back.
The Cat Cave
The first thing is to make sure they have lots of toys. In fact, if you have enough space (and the money) then have a dedicated room just for them. It can be like a cat’s adventure park. Lots of cat trees, scratching posts, hammocks and toys. Lots and lots of toys.
Music
Something we do on the odd occasion is put the radio on quite low if we have to go out. To be honest, I’m not sure if it works but I believe they like a constant background noise. It’s not exactly a substitute for you but it may help to keep it company until you return.
A companion
Actually, I don’t think this should be considered after you realize you have to leave them alone for a while again but should be considered before you buy them!
This isn’t the case for all cats but the Siamese does like to have company. If they can’t have you then perhaps you should get them a friend to play with. This is best thought about and discussed when they are kittens as they are more likely to bond if introduced at a young age.
Siamese Cat Personality
The Siamese cat, as you may already know, is an incredibly sociable breed of cat. They have their own personality traits, almost a combination of the best bits from several breeds, rolled into one.
The Siamese thrives off interaction, whether that’s with people or other cats (if there are others they should be other Siamese or other similar breeds) – the more the better.
Ideally, though, this breed of cat should be kept with another Siamese. They are far from lazy and from the moment they are born to their end of days, they will want to play.
If they don’t get this interaction, daily, they will become depressed. If this is the case then they may sleep for longer periods and they have also been known to just stop eating until the interaction returns.
The Siamese is very vocal and will play fetch with things you throw (and some you don’t) without any training. Many have been known to accept water.
I’m not sure if they actually like it or not and it usually requires a bit of training/bribing. They can, however, become quite relaxed and even appear to enjoy the occasional bath.
Are all cats the same?
Not only are no two breeds of cat the same but no two cats within the same breed are the same! So, it’s difficult to generalize but some traits do usually persist through the breed.
The point here is that some breeds of cat are more tolerant of being left alone than others. You see the same behavior in dogs and come to think of it, us!
The Siamese cat is not a breed of cat that does well when left on its own. A key requirement to its welfare is stimulation – and a lot of it.
Is the Siamese cat different from other cats?
Just ask their owners 🙂 Yes, the Siamese is different from other cats. The distinctive personality of this breed really seems to set it apart from others.
There is a few that share some of the traits, for instance, several will play fetch and are also playful. There are none that combine all of them in such a way as the Siamese does.
Living with Siamese cats isn’t always easy and takes a certain type of owner. Many breeds are relatively easy to look after. As long as you feed them and give them somewhere safe to sleep, they will do their own thing.
This alone is not enough for the Siamese though. Without interaction from (ideally), another cat of the same breed and also stimulation and interaction from us they can sink into depression quickly. This can actually lead to health problems in a short amount of time.
So, yes – the Siamese is different from other cats in so far as they have different requirements of their owners.
How independent is the Siamese cat?
All cats are independent, to a degree and some more than others as has probably been made clear in the previous section. The difference with the Siamese is not that it can’t be independent it’s that it doesn’t want to be independent.
Some people take this breed for walks outside without a leash. Actually, some people even question whether this breed should go outside at all. I can tell you exactly the answer to this here (opens in a new window).
They will, with a bit of early training, follow you and it helps if you have another, well-trained cat also. There aren’t many breeds of cat where this could even be considered!
If I took my two Maine Coons out for a countryside walk, away from our home – they’d just wander off. I certainly don’t think they’d follow me!
Conclusion – can the Siamese cat be left alone?
Hopefully, it should be clear to you that the Siamese is not a cat that should be left alone for a long period of time. It is a good thing you have done this research as I said at the start of this article.
Of course, occasionally you won’t be able to get around this but if you know that because of your work and schedule you’re not going to be around for most of the day, please consider another breed of cat. There are many out there that may be more suitable for you.
I should also add that there’s a fantastic scientific paper that suggests that domestic cats simply do not need their owners – which is a fascinating read if you have 30 minutes. If you’d like – check it out here (opens in a new window).
However, if you know that someone will be around your home for most of the time then there is no better cat than the Siamese and you will certainly not regret adding one to your family!
As you obviously love the Siamese cat, why not check out these 17 Interesting Siamese Cat Facts and also, have you wondered Are Siamese Cats Mean?