(Video in comments)

I’ve been thinking about getting a cat for the past 3 months or so, but my main concern is whether it would actually do well in my living situation.

I’m 18 and in my final year of high school. I don’t have a normal bedroom, my living space is a fully finished, spacious basement that I spend most of my time in. It has good natural light, but the window views are limited (3/4 windows mostly face a fence/side of the house, and one has a decent view of trees/sky).

If I do get a cat, it would mainly stay in the basement with me since that’s where I am mostly when I’m home. I’d still bring it upstairs occasionally if it’s comfortable, and I’d also take it outside on a harness on nice days. I’m at school from about 8:00–2:30 currently, and once I start working after graduation it would likely be a similar or slightly longer schedule. I also have a family member who agreed to spend time with the cat if I’m out for longer periods.

I’ve already thought a lot about setup (litter placement, food/water, beds, climbing areas, etc.), but I want to make sure the overall environment is actually suitable.

My main concerns are:

- Is a mostly basement-based environment okay for a cat long-term?

- Would the limited window views be a major issue for stimulation?

- Is being alone during school/work hours too much? (this is my biggest concern, I don’t want the cat to be bored or unhappy)

- Are there any other important things I might be overlooking?

I just want to make sure a cat would have a good quality of life before I make the decision.