Kitten having 2 home

Hello,

I just got my first kitten 2 weeks ago. He is about 13 weeks old, very relaxed and loving.  My boyfriend and I are currently living in different apartments while I finish up school.  We would love to have our cat live at both our places and maybe spend a week at one and a week at another and so on but we are not sure if the cat will be okay with it or if it will be okay for the cat? we would keep litter boxes food etc at both places.  Please let me know if anyone has prior experience with this or any thoughts. Thank you!

-Julia

Territory is ultra important to cats. I can't see how constantly moving between two apartments would cause anything but stress to your little guy. Cats are NOT dogs. The best thing would be to choose one apartment (ideally the one where someone is home the most), and let him live there. I know it'll be hard on whichever of you doesn't get to live with him, but it won't be forever and is definitely the best option from his perspective.

Columbine said:

Territory is ultra important to cats. I can't see how constantly moving between two apartments would cause anything but stress to your little guy. Cats are NOT dogs. The best thing would be to choose one apartment (ideally the one where someone is home the most), and let him live there. I know it'll be hard on whichever of you doesn't get to live with him, but it won't be forever and is definitely the best option from his perspective.

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Let's say the cat's scent was at still lingering a week after. Won't he recognize it's his domain?

Or the moving every week, is stressful, and the scent won't even matter?

I still think it's too much of a disruption for a kitten. You have to put his needs first.

I agree that most cats hate riding in a car or moving residences, however, I thought I'd mention that while I was in Petsmart yesterday I noticed a women strolling around with a cat in her shopping cart.  We are all used to seeing dogs in the pet store but this was the first time I had seen a pet cat.  I was checking out right behind her and the clerk couldn't help but comment on how well behaved her cat was.  I overheard her say that this particular cat loves riding in the car.  His brother will not tolerate it.

Just proves that each cat is different with regard to their comfort level and change.  I'd say give it a try.  You'll know with the first visit if he is going to tolerate the moves.

Dandila said:

 
I agree that most cats hate riding in a car or moving residences, however, I thought I'd mention that while I was in Petsmart yesterday I noticed a women strolling around with a cat in her shopping cart.  We are all used to seeing dogs in the pet store but this was the first time I had seen a pet cat.  I was checking out right behind her and the clerk couldn't help but comment on how well behaved her cat was.  I overheard her say that this particular cat loves riding in the car.  His brother will not tolerate it.

Just proves that each cat is different with regard to their comfort level and change.  I'd say give it a try.  You'll know with the first visit if he is going to tolerate the moves.

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Our cats love to go to the Pet Store, and they like car rides, and Tati does really well walking on a harness, Snowy likes going outside on a harness, but I would not say she does well walking on it - not like Tati who climbs trees, and chases rabbits and squirrels and all sorts of things.

Cats are unique, and sometimes I think we treat them a certain way because we think thats how cats are so whether or not this works, depends on the cat. And you should put his needs first.  I can see where you both want ownership  of the cat, but even if you were living together, it is likely the cat would pick one of you to be its primary human, and the other will be a pretty nice backup. I suspect this kitten will do that too and that person is the one the cat should live with. Or, the person who intends to be the kittens forever human... in the unlikely event this current relationship doesn't outlive the cat. Not trying to jinx you or anything, or speak something into life, but it is something to consider.  My daughter does take our cats over to her (boy) friends house for visits now and then.  Having the kitten be comfortable with a carrier is very helpful with this.  

Snowy is our most traveling kitty... and before we got all the rest of the cats, we would set her carrier out when we were getting ready to go someplace and sometimes she would hop in, and sometimes she would sniff it and walk away.  Thats how we let her decide if she wanted to go or not.