Should bonded cats be split when owners move to separate homes?

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!

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.

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. They will probably be very lonely. Give both of them extra love and attention, and I would set up Feliway in both the places the cats live. This is a plug in diffuser that release calming pheromones that can help with things like anxiety from separation. If one of them is really stressed, that cat may need to see a vet in order to get medication to help. Typically, they do adjust over time and do okay, especially since it's only temporary. I hope this helps.

I think you should definitely take the cat who is very bonded to you with you to uni. I don't think he would do well without you around if he's very attached to you. The outgoing one will likely do ok without you, and he can adjust to not having the other cat there. The other option is to take them both! I hope this helps.

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!

Hi there, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I would decide based on how bonded Cinder is with the other cats, and what would cause the least amount of stress for her. If she is not particularly bonded with the other two cats, then it could be best to move her first and let her scope out the new house while it's still quiet. However, if she is bonded with one or both of the other cats then it's best to move them at the same time so she doesn't suffer additional stress from being separated. I also recommend using Feliway Classic diffusers in the new house for the first several months (you may need several diffusers to permeate the whole house, depending on the layout) to help decrease the cat's stress. Finally, I would add that if you still have a lot of general moving to do (if your boyfriend is moving in first and so there will be several weeks to months of boxes and "stuff" getting moved around) then I'd wait to move the cats. Changing the layout of the house causes additional stress, so it's best to have the new house as put together as possible before adding the cats. Hope this helps!

Certainly moves can be stressful for some pets and a breeze for others. They are all unique individuals just like people. Also like People, some cats meet each other and get along instantly, other ones take some time to warm up and some have personality clashes always. Discuss your concerns with your daughter. You must make the right decision for Moosh depending on his temperament. It likely will not be a problem that the other cat is male as long as they are both neutered (for the kitten when it is old enough). I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.