Gabstar,

Get two kittens, preferably siblings - already used to each other. (It
doesn't matter if they're both males provided you exercise discipline,
reward them with a cat-biscuit everytime you catch them "being good"
with each other.) When cats have had enough sleep they will let off
energy in whatever way they can. A sole cat will focus on your
furnishings: but two cats will play with each other. Note: spoilsport
humans say "No!" every time cats wrestle, equating it to "fighting".
Let them "fight". If you exercise good discipline and routine, you'll
find them curled up beside each other sleeping 10 minutes after they've
had a bout of wrestling!

As for your busy road, you are just going to have to keep your fingers
crossed. Do all you can not to accustom your cats to cars and engines.
Cats are naturally wary of big moving vehicles. Keep them that way.
For instance, don't be frightened to let them be scared by a car coming
up your driveway. That way, they'll hopefully keep away from that busy
road.

However, I suggest you limit their outdoor time, even when they're
grown. For the first six months, keep them inside. They'll learn this
is home, the safety zone. After that take the kittens out for brief
walks in your walled garden. React negatively if they seek to go beyond
it, they'll get the message that you don't like it, but of course, they
WILL venture afield anyway. Even when they're a year old and you start
to let them have time outside unaccompanied, limit their outside time to
a fixed period everyday. Cats LOVE routine. They'll respect it. It
sounds like you're both out working each weekday, so when the cats are
grown their outdoor adventure should start soon after you arrive home.
But with dark evenings you'll have a bit of a problem. It'll be easier
in the summer.

Yes, some people keep their cats continually indoors, but if you do that
you really do have a responsibility to go to considerable lengths to
make your indoor environment a cat paradise. Firstly, keep no-go areas
to a minimum. In our house just one of the two kitchen worksurfaces is
completely no-go - when we're around (of course, they're up there in the
middle of the night or when we're out). Our cats are allowed absolutely
everywhere else in the house, even when guests are with us - a cat will
jump up onto a sofa-back and then up onto a high bookshelf, peering down
at the humans. If you give indoor cats this freedom to enjoy the
indoors they'll be happy. Give them special structures too though: like
a tree-trunk that goes from floor to ceiling, bound with sisal rope all
the way up. Even if you clip your cats' claws each week (to minimise
damage to you, them, and the furnishings) they'll still be able to whip
up and down that tree trunk. Go further than this if you like and
attach some horizontal planks high up: give them aerial walkways and
things. By doing all this, your cats will be really fulfilled inside,
and if you do it artistically it can all look very attractive!

Lastly, treat a cat with discipline, respect, and LOVE and even the
mangiest bad-tempered most-revolting-puss-in-the-shelter will transform
into an absolutely loving creature that will be eager to snuggle under
the duvet with you at night!

Cats are wonderful creatures. We love ours to death and that love is
returned dozens of times each day.

Ellie.