Moving, need advice on whether to take my cat with me?

So to put this whole question into context;

I'm currently moving out of my parent's house, and am living with my boyfriend and his family. Their house and where I work is only a fifteen minute drive from where my parents live. My boyfriend and I are planning to be moving about 6 hours away, however. This won't happen for months at least, but it is an eventuality.

My cat is 8 years old, and she'll be 9 on May 5th. Her name is Jinx, and she's a tabby/bengal mix and I've had her since she was less than a year. While she's also bonded to my parents, she's the closest to me, and my parents have always reported behavioral differences whenever I'm away. She meows incessantly at them, regardless of whether she'd fed, watered, been played with, been cuddled, been let outside, and had the litter box cleaned. She'll also sleep on my bed when I'm away, and doesn't do that so often when I'm home. So basically we've come to the conclusion that she just misses me a lot, and so bugs them. 

She even runs up onto the front deck almost every time I drive up the driveway and park, and she'll either sit and wait for me, or run out to my car and jump in when I open the door.

There are two dogs at my parent's house, both small terrier mixes (one is 7, the other is 3, both female). All three get along and are allies (most of the time). There have never been any other cats in the house since Jinx arrived. 

My parent's house is on 3/4 acre of land, and Jinx is both an indoor and outdoor cat. She's allowed to come & go as she pleases (bathroom window is left open nearly every day), and spends a good portion of her time outdoors so long as it's weather permitting, although she also spends a lot of time inside napping. This is well outside of city limits and as I stated before, a fifteen minute drive to the nearest town. She's used to vehicles and avoids them, but she's never been in a city environment before.

So, to my question... Take her with me, or leave her? 

With my plans to move 6 hours away, that will put me in a city. A very, very big city. I'll end up working all day like I do now, but it will just be me and my boyfriend in the apartment.

Jinx is used to a routine where she's allowed to roam free through the neighborhood, and go in & out of the house all day, and she's accustomed to my parents being home before me most days, as well as being around the little dogs. 

If I were to leave her at my parent's house, like she is now, I would get to see her MAYBE every few months, and only for maybe a few hours. Right now, and for the past week, I've be able to visit with her every few days, and will continue to do so while my boyfriend and I still live close. 

On the flip side, if I were to take her with me, I'd get to see her every day, but she'd be cooped up in an apartment (I don't know that I'd feel comfortable with her going outside, even living in the suburbs). Plus, I'd be at work all day and she'd be completely alone. No dogs, likely no neighborhood to roam and other cats to harass, no parents coming home before me or popping in on their lunch breaks, nothing that is comfortable and normal to her.

My parents think it would be best to leave her at their place. And I am leaning towards that... But I really, really need some outside opinions. I don't want to be selfish and take her with me and have her be miserable. I dote on her so much and she's pretty much my child. But I also worry that if I leave her she'll become depressed. (I'll also become depressed... WAHH)

I also apologize for the novel. 
 

It doesn't take long to resettle a cat. Mine stays under the bed for 2 days. I force him to stay in for 2 weeks. During this time he plays every trick he knows to get outside, crying, staring longingly outside windows. Stomping (yes he stomps) and trying to dash btwn my legs. I let him out for the first time. He strolls around for a few minutes, has a spook or 2 and then strolls back in. He's moved 3 times. But to answer the subtext of your question I know from experience that if you are wishing to change your cat from an outside cat to an indoor cat then a house move is the purrrfect opportunity.

The change from outdoor to indoor cat might not be that difficult.  Some cats take to it very well.  My Wesley was indoor/outdoor for about 9 years until I moved to an apartment and he was fine with the change to indoor only.  And he'd really enjoyed the outdoors so I'd been very worried.  I also adopted Polly at age 7 who had been indoor/outdoor all her life and she too made the transition to indoor only with no difficulty.   That's just my experience - I know not all cats take to indoor only life. 

Is there any possibility of a trial run?   If she was absolutely miserable,you could always take her back to your parents house.  True, it's a six hour drive but if you had to take her back, maybe someone could meet you half way? 

Also, since she would be alone while you worked, could you adopt another cat so she'd have someone to play with?

No contest, take her with you. Cats can live indoors happily as long as they're given enough vertical space, mental stimulation and emotional attention. They're extremely adept at adapting, even if they might throw a fuss at first since they hate change. But when push comes to shove, they will adapt.

The city is a dangerous place. Unless you have a good reason to let her out without supervision on a leash, she is much safer indoors. No matter how used she is to vehicles, all it takes is one careless driver or one mean kid with a bag of stones.

Cats don't see a house the same way we do; if they have plenty of spaces to climb, hide and explore, a 600-sqft apartment is "big" to them. Wall shelves, cat trees, boxes with holes cut in them, homemade "mazes". And of course, lots of playtime and attention when you're home from work.

Take her with you.

FhiCat said:

 
No contest, take her with you. Cats can live indoors happily as long as they're given enough vertical space, mental stimulation and emotional attention. They're extremely adept at adapting, even if they might throw a fuss at first since they hate change. But when push comes to shove, they will adapt.

The city is a dangerous place. Unless you have a good reason to let her out without supervision on a leash, she is much safer indoors. No matter how used she is to vehicles, all it takes is one careless driver or one mean kid with a bag of stones.

Cats don't see a house the same way we do; if they have plenty of spaces to climb, hide and explore, a 600-sqft apartment is "big" to them. Wall shelves, cat trees, boxes with holes cut in them, homemade "mazes". And of course, lots of playtime and attention when you're home from work.

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yep. cats think in terms of cubic feet. 

I don't envy you having to make a decision like this, it's a tough one.
I think you should leave her where she is.

I know from experience that you can quite easily make an in/out cat an indoors cat but I don't think that is the issue here.

There's no doubt that you would make your new apartment as comfortable as possible for her if you were to take her with you as you clearly love her like crazy but I think she would be lonely being on her own all day.

She has your parents and her doggie friends for company where she is.

Just my opinion. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

I would also leave her, because of her age, and because she is so used to her routine.  But then I would perhaps adopt another cat, if I could provide the time and care that it takes with any living arrangements.

Only you can really decide what is best for your cat.  She seems very happy with your folks, and may just want to live out her days with them.

Very tough decision, deciding on what is best for your cat.

Good Luck.   

Normally I would say take her with you no ? But Bengal isn't just a cat. Have you considered talking to a breeder about the change in habitat on her? I've moved my 8 year old from place to place and they adapt. My son moved and left his siamese with me no problem. A Bengal that makes huge vertical leaps and is a hybrid wild/domestic into an apartment from free roaming I'd talk to a breeder and do what's best for her in the long term.

I would leave her with your parents. Moving is a lot of stress for a cat, and they have a really tough time with anything in their environment changing. You could move and leave her on a trial run - if she is miserable with out you, then consider taking her to live with you . But my strong feeling (from my experience) is to leave her where her home is.

Jan Berry said:

Normally I would say take her with you no ? But Bengal isn't just a cat. Have you considered talking to a breeder about the change in habitat on her? I've moved my 8 year old from place to place and they adapt. My son moved and left his siamese with me no problem. A Bengal that makes huge vertical leaps and is a hybrid wild/domestic into an apartment from free roaming I'd talk to a breeder and do what's best for her in the long term.

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my first instinct was take her with you.  my male manx was an outside cat for 10+ years and we transitioned him into an apartment with little trouble.  but once i read this, i thought about the habits of bengals and think this might be a good idea.  if jinx has a lot of bengal-like habits, she may miss the ability to jump around and run like mad.  and if you'll be in an apartment, cats can bother other tenants; they yowl and run around (if you've ever lived under cats, when they run back and forth it sounds like an elephant stampede).  i know where i live it's hard to find places that will rent to you with cats and often charge a larger deposit and additional monthly rent.

Margd said:

 
The change from outdoor to indoor cat might not be that difficult.  Some cats take to it very well.  My Wesley was indoor/outdoor for about 9 years until I moved to an apartment and he was fine with the change to indoor only.  And he'd really enjoyed the outdoors so I'd been very worried.  I also adopted Polly at age 7 who had been indoor/outdoor all her life and she too made the transition to indoor only with no difficulty.   That's just my experience - I know not all cats take to indoor only life. 

Is there any possibility of a trial run?   If she was absolutely miserable,you could always take her back to your parents house.  True, it's a six hour drive but if you had to take her back, maybe someone could meet you half way? 

Also, since she would be alone while you worked, could you adopt another cat so she'd have someone to play with?

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As long as I'm able to find a place that accepts cats, but I think a trial run will definitely be my first choice.

I'd rather try and see if she adapts well, than not give her a chance at all. And it would be about a 12 hour trip total, but I'd be willing to drive the whole way there and back if it means her being happy. 

She's never had another cat around her. Sure, the neighbor cats, but they're around sporadically and she usually seems to tangle with them.

I'm not sure how she'd react to another cat actually living with her, or if she'd accept them as a companion. I guess I'd just have to try it to find out.

Thank you for your response!

marian100 said:

 
It doesn't take long to resettle a cat. Mine stays under the bed for 2 days. I force him to stay in for 2 weeks. During this time he plays every trick he knows to get outside, crying, staring longingly outside windows. Stomping (yes he stomps) and trying to dash btwn my legs. I let him out for the first time. He strolls around for a few minutes, has a spook or 2 and then strolls back in. He's moved 3 times. But to answer the subtext of your question I know from experience that if you are wishing to change your cat from an outside cat to an indoor cat then a house move is the purrrfect opportunity.

Click to expand...

Good to know. Thank you!

FhiCat said:

 
No contest, take her with you. Cats can live indoors happily as long as they're given enough vertical space, mental stimulation and emotional attention. They're extremely adept at adapting, even if they might throw a fuss at first since they hate change. But when push comes to shove, they will adapt.

The city is a dangerous place. Unless you have a good reason to let her out without supervision on a leash, she is much safer indoors. No matter how used she is to vehicles, all it takes is one careless driver or one mean kid with a bag of stones.

Cats don't see a house the same way we do; if they have plenty of spaces to climb, hide and explore, a 600-sqft apartment is "big" to them. Wall shelves, cat trees, boxes with holes cut in them, homemade "mazes". And of course, lots of playtime and attention when you're home from work.

Click to expand...

Thank you for your input. I'd definitely have to look into getting her a cat tree if she does well with a trial run in the apartment first.

Be sure to put your cat tree where she will have a view from a window.  Not near a door, so that she's not presented with the option of 'protecting' the apartment when people come to visit.  You want the new behavior to one that relates to letting her have her own 'outside' kind of space where she can have a great view of what's going on and be relaxed and play.

There's a show called 'My Cat from Hell' with Jackson Galaxy a wonderful cat behaviorist, he focuses on everything from your type of move to cats who have gone postal or have serious health issues that haven't been diagnosed.  The show has lots of tips for 'catification' of your  home to make her comfy in a new space.  It's on Animal Planet and the internet.

I also have my bed side table in front of a window with the blind raised about 6" for cat tv.  There are lots of little things you can do to make her have own space which will help her adjust more quickly.

If you see that she seems be adjusting but is not quite there, then it may be time to consider a companion for her.

I hope things go great with your transition!

Hello there druids !

I’m currently in a similar situation to yourself and was wondering what you decided and how Jinx coped with the situation ?

Kind regards
Jordan