i've never had a pet completely dependent on me and me alone, and i've never had a pet cat. but i want one. so...
do they cost a lot to care for?
would it be mean to get one as i work 6 days a week and am only really home to sleep and eat. i don't want it to get bored and lonely.
how do you stop a cat from running away when letting it out?
what else do i need to know?
what other questions should i be asking?

let it outside during the day. get it used to it by sitting outside with it @ first & taking it back in. if you keep feeding it, it will not run away

my cat isn't too expensive to care for, maybe $25 a month? i spend more money on litter than anything else. vet bills are the most expensive thing. mine is an indoor cat and i work a lot but she seems to be ok. i think she just sleeps all day while i'm gone.

Insurance might be a good idea. Vet care can be expensive. Also, especially if you're going to allow the cat to roam free outside, make sure you neuter it - male or female. Particularly male cats can stray far and risk a lot when looking to mate and you don't want to keep feeding your female cat birth control pills increasing the risk of udder cancer (it's prob not even called that in English). It's so f-ing irresponsible to let cats wander freely making - in the long run - thousands of homeless, new cats. Their reproductive system is just way too efficient. Male cats aren't even that expensive to neuter.

Also, try to remember that a cat - if lucky - can live for 15-20 years. It's quite the commitment. They're also carnivours as in they need certain proteins only found in meats, they're not omnivorous like dogs. The stuff you feed it shouldn't be cheap, store bought mostly vegetable filled crap unless you're opting for damages to the cats health down the line (I'm saying this as a veggie myself so nothing against that walk of life, but as a human I of course have a choice. Cats don't).

It's not that much more expensive to have 2 cats instead of 1, in which case they can keep eachother company providing they get along. However it might make it more difficult to get someone to take care of 2 cats should you ever want or need to get rid of them or go travel for instance.
A cat sleeps something like 16 hours spread out over the day though, so when you're gone it might just sleep the time away.

Most important though. Don't take my word or any random forum members for that matter. Read up on cats. Use different sources and be critical. It's a life you'll be responsible for, know your stuff.

I think that's what I can come up with for now.

You should get your cat fixed even if it's an inside cat. Just in case.

I also suggest you get a cat from a shelter.

Cats are weird creatures. Some are super nice, and others are fucking bitches for no reason. My cat is the spawn of Satan.

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