Bonded cats splitting up: How to handle their separation anxiety?

They will likely adjust, however they will need a lot of TLC and it will take time. They will be very sad and will miss their companion. I think, however, that time will heal and they might do ok. The cat which is not going into a multicat household will have more serious problems as she will be very lonely. He will need very much attention and love and likely will search for the missing kitty. Try not to separate them if you can somehow manage. or find a new home that will take both of them.

I think it's wonderful that Atilly has become so close with your friend's cat. It's impossible to know exactly how they'll respond to this separation. Some cats don't seem to notice a difference at all after moving away from a friend or losing a housemate, whereas others go through a fairly notable grieving process. I think that having the cats gradually spend less time together would be helpful, but this would mean keeping them in entirely separate areas so that they can't see, smell or hear one another. I don't know if that is even feasible for you. You can also try using calming pheromone diffusers (Feliway is one brand) for both Atilly and her friend as you move, as pheromones may help to minimize some of their stress from this change. Cats are generally pretty adaptable, so I would wait until a week or two before you leave to begin having them spend less and less time together. Best of luck with your move!

That's a tough situation for you both to be in! In my opinion, I think it would be best splitting the cats. While it may be tough at first for them to be apart, the stress of moving them back and forth between homes would be even more stressful. They would adjust easier to having separate homes than be moved around all the time, and if either become lonely, you can get another cat to keep your cat company. Another option is one of you take both of them for good, but that may not be feasible. I hope this helps!

I can imagine it will be really hard for you to leave your cats, especially Jack! Yes, there are calming agents you can use. I recommend Feliway. It's a plug in diffuser that releases pheromones that help calm down cats. You can pair that with a Sentry calming collar, which also release pheromones when in contact with his skin. Your cats should be ok, they do adjust when their owners go on holiday for a bit. I would recommend as well leaving notice with your vet that your roommate has permission to seek veterinary treatment for them just in case something happens while you are gone. You also may want to have some funds set aside too in case of emergency. I hope this helps!

Yes, another cat may help Sugilite with her separation anxiety, and if you can afford the cost of another cat, it may be worth looking into getting her a companion. If you do get another cat or kitten, you will have to slowly introduce them to each other. I will give you the method I recommend for introducing new kittens to the home, and it works for adult cats as well :-) Take the kitten, and put her in her own room with her own food, water, and litter box. Keep the door closed, and for a few days, feed them both treats on other side of door so they associate each other's smell with a good experience. Then let the other cat in the kitten's room while the kitten is in a cat carrier. They can smell each other, but not be in contact. If either becomes upset or show signs of aggression, remove the second cat from the room, and try again later. Praise them when they interact appropriately. When they are interacting well with each other through the carrier, you can let the kitten out of her room, and see how she interacts with the other cat. Praise them when they interact appropriately, and separate them with any sign of aggression or upset. I would get a cat tree with lots of shelves to give the cats vertical space to get away from each other. I would keep the kitten in her room when you go out until they are comfortable with each other.

I recommend you put some Feliway diffusers in your house and do some environmental enrichment for her. Usually these two things help. https://www.feliway.com/us/Products/FELIWAY-CLASSIC-Diffuser thedrakecenter.com/materials/environmental-enrichment-indoor-cats  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AejmrLa_Cs4

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question. Breaking up is really hard to do, and it can be hard on pets. No, I wouldn't take him back, he's bonded to you. It just takes time to adjust to a new home, and if you want, you can get him a companion for your home. Just give him time. When my ex and I broke up, he didn't take the dog who was super bonded to him. She sat by the front door for a long time waiting for him to come home, but she got over it, and was happy and loving life with me. I just gave her extra love and attention during that transition time. It will be ok, trust me. I hope this helps!