Should I bring my 10 year old cat with me?

[Natasha 2129]

So im in need of some advice. I moved out of my parents home about 2 years ago but left my two 9 year old cats behind, a brother and sister (not really bonded but they do like copying each other and they do sometimes comfort each other). I really bonded with the boy but due to college and work and my landlords not accepting any cats I couldn't keep him with me. I'm finally in graduate school for the next 6 years and was hoping to bring him with me. However, my friend really needed help with fostering a kitten for a year and I said yes to taking care of the kitten. But the kitten would be moving in before I could bring my 9 year old cat here (my parents live 3 hours away from me). Would introducing my cat to not only a new kitten but a new place at the same time be a good idea? If anyone has tips for helping him adjust that would be great. Or should I just leave him with my parents? My parents like him so that's not an issue and he'll be with his sister.
Sorry for the long post im just conflicted.

 

[rubysmama]

Hello and welcome to TCS. First off, can I just say "wow" at 6 years of graduate school !!! Good luck.

As for your kitty situation, my gut answer is to leave the 9 year old male cat where he is. Even if he's not super bonded with his sister, they aren't enemies either, so he would likely miss her if he came to live with you. Or, she might miss him. And you've been gone 2 years now, so he's used to your absence.

Plus, at 9 years old, I'm not sure what he'd think of suddenly being in a new home, with a kitten! Younger cats are more likely to accept another cat/kitten than an older one. And, since the kitten would be there first, it would be your male cat who was the newcomer, which could be stressful for him.

So since he's happy where he is now, and your parents are fine keeping both cats, I think leaving things the way they are would be the best idea.

If you really wanted 2 cats, or just a companion for your new kitten, it would probably be best to adopt a 2nd kitten around the same time you bring the 1st one home.

Oh ... just reread your message, and see you're going to be fostering the kitten for a year. So you aren't adopting it? That could actually make things even more complicated, assuming your older cat eventually bonded with the kitten, and then the kitten left after a year. So again, I think with the 2 nine year old cats, it would be best to leave things as they are.

 

[Natasha 2129]

Hi thank you for your response. Honestly leaving him might be for the best. It's just hard since I still miss him but it's definitely not fair to him to thrust him into a new environment with a new kitten

 

[ArtNJ]

Splitting up the 9 y.o.'s might have a bigger affect than you would think. Our first two cats were rescued off the street together as young kittens. Look nothing alike so who knows. Anyway, Blackie was super bonded to Bandit and would cry if he wasn't around. That faded over time, but Blackie always had a connection to Bandit. It was never mutual though! Bandit...well, he did play with Blackie, but one had the sense that he was always like "Oh, you again? I remember you . . . . I think? Hmm? A little wrestling? I guess I can squeeze that in before nap." And yet when Blackie died, Bandit instantly became *much* more affectionate with us, a permanent change. I just think that they get more benefit from each other than we realize you know?

 

[Purr-fect]

Honestly leaving him might be for the best. it's definitely not fair to him to thrust him into a new environment with a new kitten

You have answered your own question.

It should always be about what is best for the animal.....not us....thats a tough pill to swallow, but that is true love.

You will miss your boy.......but can take comfort in knowing you did the right thing.

And you can foster a kitty who needs a home in the meantime. Win, win.