Hi everyone. I need some advice.

A few days ago I adopted a 3-month-old kitten. His name is Yuma, and he is honestly a wonderful kitten. He's sweet, gentle, playful, and I already feel attached to him.

But since bringing him home, I’ve been having a lot of anxiety. The problem isn’t feeding him or cleaning the litter box. What scares me is the feeling of being responsible for another living being for the next 15+ years.

I’m 22, living alone, and I really value my independence and personal space. I always imagined having a cat, but I think I imagined not the kitten stage.

The confusing part is that I really like Yuma. Thinking about returning him makes me sad because I would miss him, but imagining my old life back also feels like a relief.

I’m afraid of forcing myself to “push through” and realizing months later that I actually can’t handle this lifestyle. 

For someone who had similar kind of problem: 

1. Did you experience this kind of anxiety at the beginning?

2. Did it get better as your kitten grew up?

3. How do you know if it’s normal adjustment anxiety or a sign that you’re not ready for a pet?

Please let me know 🥺

Raising a cat alone