Thoughts on adopting and moving with a cat?

I'm hoping some fellow cat-parents can help me out with this... I recently said goodbye forever to my cat who was an unexpected but adored addition to my family - I am so glad she came into my life! We shared beautiful memories together. I have ALWAYS wanted to share my life with a cat but was never comfortable financially supporting one (especially with potential unexpected vet costs) until recently. I'd been a student for six years up until last year.

Now that I was blessed to take care of a kitty, I am realising I will always have cats the rest of my life. I have so much love for them I know it is the right thing to do and I know I don't have to convince anyone here how amazing it is to have one at home!

However, I am going to be moving in another two years (potentially overseas) and will likely move a few more times before settling somewhere. I was planning to take my cat with me wherever my spouse and I went next although I was always worried about the stress it would cause her (as a senior cat I worried about her on planes for instance). I am wondering what you all think about adopting a cat knowing you are not going to stay where you currently are forever? Is it responsible? Is it wrong to get one knowing you'll have to put them through that stress? I don't think its right to adopt a cat without it being for forever, so I would never even consider not bringing the cat with me.

While I am not ready to let another cat in my heart yet, it is something I am thinking about and I think it would be good to have some opinions from others on what they think before I make a decision. I am thinking of fostering for the interim, as I already volunteer with a group who I know needs more homes.

If you know you are going to be moving around a lot I suggest getting a kitten. When you get her, make sure that you get her out and about and get used new and different environments and activities. Take her/him for a walk on a leash stay at other people's houses. My sister had a cat that she drove from Ottawa to Toronto and the cat was so cool with the trip. The cat loved going to my sister's friend's house for a visit. 

@Zed Xyzed   - This is something I have considered, its a great idea. I agree it would be easiest to teach a kitten to adjust slowly to being taken places and I would likely leash-train a kitten as well. Do you have any ideas on where you could take a cat in a car where they can have fun? I don't have any family in town (although my mom just absolutely doted on my Sidney when she visited) or many people who would likely want a cat to visit. But I will think about it. The only funny thing is, I am the only person I know who would prefer an adult or even senior cat over a kitten!! I have such a soft spot for unwanted seniors like my girl was and since I don't mind medicating or taking them for extra vet visits, I'd love another senior but I realise they won't handle moving very well. Something for me to think about anyway.

Another thing on that note is that I think if I got a kitten, I might feel bad about them being alone and would want a companion for them, but I am really only in the market for one cat. Maybe there are other younger adults who are single-cat cats out there.

@kittylove53  -  Oh my goodness, yes, I had to go away for work for two weeks at time this summer and it absolutely killed me! I missed her terribly and could not wait to get back home to her. Luckily my spouse is great at taking care of her and she loved him as much as me (in fact she groomed him ALL the time!!). So I know what you mean! I think I had worse separation anxiety than she did. Glad to hear your move went well. That's true, I had my Sidney for one year and built a very close and trusting bond with her, so a few years would be great before moving.

Has anyone done an international move with a cat? How did it go/what is the process like? One thing I don't want is for my kitty to be sitting in quarantine for a long time.

Even cats who are stressed by travel tend to get over the trauma fairly quickly, and a vet can prescribe tranquilizers to help them through it.

I'm more concerned about quarantine. "Overseas" is fairly vague. What countries specifically are you talking about? Britain has a very strict, extremely long quarantine requirement, for instance. And even within the U.S. I know of at least one state (Hawaii) which follows the British model.

Margret

Yes, that's true @Margret  . Unfortunately, I am not sure - depends on my spouse's job so we don't know. He's from New Zealand which I know has very strict quarantine, so I am unsure of ever bringing a cat there, but we wouldn't move there for quite some time yet. That would be my top concern as well.

In that case, if it were me, I believe I'd look into fostering rather than adopting, just until I knew where I'd be going.

Margret

I am definitely planning on applying as soon as I am ready...I am thinking that is the way to go, too.

Uh oh...so I've met a senior cat at the rescue where I volunteer and he is the first cat I've seen since my cat died who I just love and think about when I'm not there and would love to take home...however I am faced with this dilemma of knowing I am going to move. Is it wrong to adopt a cat knowing you are going to have to move in a few years or is it good to give them a good home even if it means moving? I know I have to do what is best for the cat though and I would be happy if he went to a good loving fur-ever home even if it wasn't with me. My spouse and I are in disagreement over this, as he is the more logical one... experienced cat parents, what do you think? I guess it would help if I hear it from a lot of other cat parents if they think it is a bad idea for the cat. 

sidneykitty said:

Uh oh...so I've met a senior cat at the rescue where I volunteer and he is the first cat I've seen since my cat died who I just love and think about when I'm not there and would love to take home...however I am faced with this dilemma of knowing I am going to move. Is it wrong to adopt a cat knowing you are going to have to move in a few years or is it good to give them a good home even if it means moving? I know I have to do what is best for the cat though and I would be happy if he went to a good loving fur-ever home even if it wasn't with me. My spouse and I are in disagreement over this, as he is the more logical one... experienced cat parents, what do you think? I guess it would help if I hear it from a lot of other cat parents if they think it is a bad idea for the cat. 

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Three questions:

1. How old is the cat?
2. "A few years" is fairly nebulous. Do you have any idea how soon you'll have to move?
3. Is there a potential forever home lurking in the wings? What do you believe is the likelihood of an adoption, by someone other than you, for this cat?

Margret

1. How old is the cat? He is 12 and healthy to their knowledge.
2. "A few years" is fairly nebulous. Do you have any idea how soon you'll have to move? At a minimum 2, but its much more likely to be at least 3. Its until my partner finishes his PhD, so unfortunately, its hard to say for sure.
3. Is there a potential forever home lurking in the wings? What do you believe is the likelihood of an adoption, by someone other  than you, for this cat? I would love to believe there is, they told me they are surprised no one has adopted him yet actually. No applicants yet, but I am sure eventually he will get one as he is so sweet. But its harder of course when there are cute adorable kittens he is competing with as a black senior cat.

We are of course holding off for now on adopting him, I am not planning to bring him home tomorrow or anything and we have to get our landlord's approval as well (they were okay with our previous cat but seem dubious on males), but I think logically it would probably be the best thing not to adopt him. I was upfront with the rescue group about moving, and they didn't seem too worried about it, which I found a little strange actually..

A lot of things can change in 2 or 3 years. I say get him, when you find your special kitty you need to act on what you know now. Right now you know the following:

• You found a kitty that you connected with
• you will be able to give him a loving and safe home
• He is older and will be harder for him to find a forever home

If you decide in the future to move, you have many options, bring him with you; find someone you know and trust to take care of him. (trust your abilities and devotion to make sure he will be safe no matter what!)  The future holds so many what if's and we can never predict what will happen.  This kitty needs a home and from everything I have read, you would give him a wonderful home in his sunset years. 

btw I had a friend bring their cat from New Zealand to Canada without any problems 

Bringing a cat from New Zealand says nothing about the difficulty of taking a cat to New Zealand.

12 is certainly past middle age for a cat, and many would perceive it to be elderly. I'm old enough to qualify for the senior discount just about any place that has one, but I'm generally healthy and expect to live for another three or more decades. A healthy 12 year old cat, who is kept indoors, given proper medical care, and has a good diet is unlikely to die within the next three years.

As zed xyzed says, however, you don't want to miss out on your soul kitty, nor do you want to trust to luck that someone else will give him a forever home if you don't.

So the question becomes, if you have to move to a country with stringent quarantine requirements, do you have someone who will take him on a temporary basis? If you do (and I mean, ask them explicitly before adopting), then I agree with Zed; go for it. If you don't, then only you can judge the likelihood of being sent to a country where you can't take your cat without major trauma, and the further likelihood that, if you are sent to such a country, you will be able to find someone for him. Take those likelihoods and weigh them against the likelihood that without you, this cat will never find a forever home. Then make your decision.

Two of my favorite authors have said that we do our best to care for those we love, with the information and resources we have available to us at the time. And we know that if we make a mistake doing that, those we love will forgive us. Do your best for this cat that you love. And if you make a mistake, he will forgive you, and so must you.

Margret

I love anyone that considers adopting a senior or special needs cat; however, I guess I'm a little more on the flip side.

Kitty will be 14 or 15 when you move. I just worry about the stress of flying him over seas and the potential for him to be quarantined on the other side, as well as how his health may be at that time. You would also need to decide if he could get appropriate vet care where you move to and if there would be language barriers.

I would definitely want a "backup" home secured for him in the event he is not a good candidate for the move.

Thanks so much everyone for your advice!! It means a lot to hear from other cat parents. Unfortunately, I am the only cat-owner I know of my family/friends so I have no one to ask who would understand. I really value your opinions and experiences, and its a very hard decision to make.

@Zed Xyzed   you have a good point but so does @Marg  . I suppose this is where I am struggling. I agree, the idea of a potentially 14-16 year old cat flying on a plane scares me a little for the cat's sake. I can't say if we will be going somewhere with a quarantine, but it is possible and I know I couldn't ever put a cat through that. The idea of putting my little Sidney through quarantine when we move just made me feel terrible. I had a backup home planned for her with my mom who adored her even though it would have killed me to part with her. So I am unsure I could face the idea of putting another cat through that...I see it is 30 days in the UK now, which is better than 6 months but still too long, I think, for a cat to be away from their family. I know it is long for Australia/New Zealand as I know people who have done it. I am currently in Canada so a move to the US would not be bad, but I just don't have a way to know.

Its a toss-up between knowing I'd give kitty a wonderful home knowing we'd have to move or letting kitty find another loving home where he can stay for the rest of his days (I hope!). I almost feel like I am once again facing the decision of being selfish for my own happiness versus doing what's best for the cat just like when I was choosing to euthanize Sidney. In the end, I picked the best for cat choice because I knew deep in my heart it was right. I think, in this case, it may be the same... Even if he has to wait a few more weeks or months for a home, this rescue is successful in most cases and I hope he would find a home eventually. If not, I will know about it as a regular volunteer and can further decide.

I guess I am having a difficult time still coping with losing my girlie and he is the first cat I've seen that really made my heart happy! I think he made me smile more than anything else in the last month and that's why its so hard to make this decision!

sidneykitty said:

 
@Zed Xyzed   - This is something I have considered, its a great idea. I agree it would be easiest to teach a kitten to adjust slowly to being taken places and I would likely leash-train a kitten as well. Do you have any ideas on where you could take a cat in a car where they can have fun? 

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What part of Canada are you in ? 

Victoria, BC.

I am owned by a senior cat (15 years old) and my theory is that cats are like fine wine--they get better with age.

My senior cat travels much better than my younger cat. If given the choice between taking my 4 year old cat and my 15 year old somewhere, I would rather take the 15 year old. The 15 year old is mellow and content and likes to snuggle on my lap and ride around in a carrier in my arms. The younger cat gets stressed and annoyed, startles easily, and tries to escape at any opportunity. 

Hmm what an interesting thought. I have definitely found this to be true. Senior cats are a lot more laidback for the most part. I will think about it although I still don't feel right putting a cat through quarantine time. And I do think another plus would be having a familiar friend with you moving to a strange place.