My son left for college and now his cat seems very sad.

[KittieMomX2]

Help please! Mr. Ollie just lays around, doesn’t want to play with his sister, wanders room to room crying out and looking for my son. I’m really at a loss on how to help as I am grieving my son moving out too. Any advice?

 

[Kris107]

You obviously can't take your son's place, but what did Mr. Ollie and your son do together? Play? Play with a certain toy? Cuddle somewhere or in a certain way? Maybe you can do some of those things with Mr. Ollie so the absence isn't as prominent. What does Mr. Ollie like in general? Play motivated? Food motivated? Keeping him busy with things he likes should help too. It's just like humans - we do better when we keep busy.

 

[Furballsmom]

Hi
Did your son leave behind any clothing that hasn't been washed yet? Make a nest for Ollie with that in his favorite napping spot.

Also you might consider Cat Music. Additionally, if you can, take him for rides in an enclosed pet buggy to give him extra mental input/stimulation.

 

[maggie101]

When I came back from being gone for 10 days my very emotional cat was fine. All her toys were still on the floor,same food,nothing changed. Her daughter played with her food still fed 3x a day

 

[FeebysOwner]

Hi. I agree that you kind of need to mimic the routine Mr. Ollie had with your son. And, if your son played with both cats together, try that too. You could try to set up a Skype call with your son and have Mr. Ollie there to see his reaction. If he pays attention, you might do that occasionally, so Mr. Ollie knows your son is still alive and well and is just not home right now. As mentioned above, worn unwashed clothes of your son's might be a comfort to Mr. Ollie.

 

[KittieMomX2]

These are great ideas! They did a lot of cuddling so I will try that. I did keep two shirts (unwashed) for him and placed in his bed. He has been sleeping with them.
I was able to coax him out of the room for some play time today so I’m hopeful. I’ll update soon.

 

[di and bob]

It takes about a month for a mama cat to quit looking for her kittens when they leave, so it will take at least that long for Mr. Ollie to feel better and accept your son has left. There is really not much you can do except to pay him a little more attention for now, and try to get his mind off of it. Poor little guy!

 

[Kwik]

Poor Mr.Ollie.....2 yrs ago I was in the hospital for a week,I was married then but my cats are very attached to me so made videos calling out" Ma's home as I do whenever I come in from outside & call each kitty by name which really gets their attention and talking to them as I always do in my kitty loving baby talk voice and just like Everytime I go out the front door I say" be good babies" and leave them each treats...

When my cats would look for me my ex played the different videos and they'd come running when they heard " Ma's home" watching the video intently. .... Then at the end he gave them treats....then they would nap

Maybe you can ask your son to make a couple of videos for MrOllie so he can hear your son's voice and hear what he's used to hearing to comfort him while you pet him - this way you have that tool at your fingertips & don't have to call your son at what may not be an opportune time

 

[BellaBlue82]

I used to travel a lot, and while our cats love us both they missed me dearly when I was gone. I'd be gone for a week or two at a time which was particularly rough sometimes.
Hubby would actually call me on the phone and put me on speaker to talk to the cats. I know it sounds sooo silly, but it helped! They would get 15 minutes just with me. I know that might be a little embarrassing for your son, but if he gets some alone time somewhere that might help Ollie know he's still loved by his humans.

 

[maggie101]

Help please! Mr. Ollie just lays around, doesn’t want to play with his sister, wanders room to room crying out and looking for my son. I’m really at a loss on how to help as I am grieving my son moving out too. Any advice?

Just beaware,if he fed her earlier in the morning than you get up earlier. the cat may start meowing for food earlier. They can tell time! I have to go to bed earlier now

 

[game misconduct]

you can do face time or video calls with your son so the cat can hear and see him i have an egyptian friend that did that weekly with her family back in egypt her cats remembered her when she went back after college. when i was trapped in the hospital last feb.i did video calls with gf and graycie each night graycie knew my voice and kept poking her nose at gf phone .you could leave a pile of your sons dirty clothes out he will probably sleep on them cause he knows the scent.but i think your probably missing your son more than the cat is.

 

[Meowmee]

Poor Ollie, I like the idea of doing face time and videos with your son etc. Also give him lots of love and special attention, you can heal each other into getting used to your son leaving for school.

 

[maggie101]

Though if you have android you cannot do face time. Maybe things have changed ged

 

[Kwik]

Though if you have android you cannot do face time. Maybe things have changed ged

The androids have a videochat option though-