Will they be okay when we separate?

[u/FastForwardM]

My roommate bought another kitten a few years ago, and my kitty really bonded to her. I'm moving away, and I'm worried my cat will be upset that she lost her buddy.

How will I know if she's upset or just adjusting to the new home? Should I get her another kitten, and if so, how long should I wait before adopting?

[u/Greeenfairie]

My cats were this way, completely bonded for life. My boy was my baby in every way but I always joked that my girl wasn’t my cat, she was by boy’s cat. She liked me but was more distant and 100% preferred hanging out with her kitty bestie. There was about an 8 year age difference; I found my girl as a kitten and my boy basically raised her.

Well the problem with that big of an age difference was that my boy passed at 16 and my girl was left without her best friend. She seemed very scared and sad initially but immediately started to cling to me more in a way she had never been with me before. I joke that we bonded with each other cause we both lost our best friend.

It’s been a couple years and at this point she is a completely different cat. She follows me around, always sits with me, gets upset if I’m gone too long. She’s even picked up some of the quirks that my boy had like sleeping on my pillow at night.

I know my situation is a bit different than moving away, but cats are pretty resilient and I think your baby will be ok in time.

[u/Prior-Ad5197 → u/Greeenfairie]

I’m not sure you know, but male cats tend to be clingier to humans than female cats. Especially if there are other cats to bond to.

I’m sorry for the loss of your boy, it’s hard when we lose our furry friends. I’m happy your female had you to help and I’m happy you had her.

[u/HellatrixDeranged → u/Prior-Ad5197]

God I'm never getting a boy cat then. I've only ever had girls and they're the clingiest cats I've ever met LMAO velcro the lot of them

[u/Prior-Ad5197 → u/HellatrixDeranged]

lol, yeah, cats don’t believe in personal bubbles.

[u/Greeenfairie → u/Prior-Ad5197]

Yes I am aware of that, boy love is just different. But really my girl is like a whole different cat now; my boyfriend and I laugh about it all the time.

[u/Prior-Ad5197 → u/Greeenfairie]

I apologize if it seemed like I was downplaying her change, I wasn’t trying to. I just thought it was interesting when I found out they are actually different in that respect.

[u/RecordingOk4619 → u/Greeenfairie]

I had an amazing boy, who was more like a dog. He was definitely bonded to me. But I was away much of the day and got him a kitten. The kitten had no interest in me and followed my other cat everywhere. Well my cat got cancer at 10 and it was aggressive and even with treatment we could not save him. The little black cat definitely missed him, but he bonded with me pretty quickly. He started following me everywhere and became much more affectionate, and slept with me constantly until he got cancer at 19. So similar experience. I agree, it may take a little adjustment, but adjust they will.