Expert: Jessica - 10/17/2009

Question
We have customers that asked us to take their cat while they are gone for the winter.  We own a flower shop, and have a new cat Eddie (1yr. old stray, that showed up one day at our house), who has been at the shop now for month and 1/2.  Both cats are fixed, & declawed.  Nicho is 5, and has been a pet that long also.  My question is:

    If the cats get along, and we keep Nicho for 3 months, what kind of affect will it have on the cats, when it time for Nicho to go home?  The husband says we can keep him, but the wife is not so sure about that.  I think she might have a little separation anxiety, will the cats?  Should we take Nicho as a new pet, or will that we hard on him, being taken from the home & family the he loves.  Will it be hard on him, when they come to the store to shop?  Well this turned out to be more then on question, can you please help me.  I went and met Nicho, he is a friendly, loving, people cat.

Answer
Hi Kathleen.  It will certainly be difficult for Nicho to have lost his family when they leave for the winter.  It's reasonable to expect that he will feel anxiety about this as well as being brought to a new, unfamiliar place.  But it is great that you have given him a place to stay rather than being left alone all winter or being sent to a shelter.

Unfortunately, when his family comes back after three months, there will be some of this same anxiety all over again, as he once again has to leave his new family, home and friend, Eddie.  If it all possible, I would recommend that his move to the flower shop be a permanent change if Nicho appears to settle in nicely.  He will probably remember his family when they come to shop, but I believe after three months that he will have formed strong attachments to you, Eddie and the flower shop.  Moving back in with his old family will cause further turmoil in his life that would be best avoided after three months, if possible.  Eddie will also likely suffer anxiety if his new friend has to leave.

Nevertheless, cats are resilient creatures, and if the wife is insistent that they take Nicho back, the cats should recover in time.  Try to spend extra play time with Eddie when Nicho goes home, and consider adopting a new kitty to keep him company.