To think the cat is just miserable without me?!

[KatDubs261]

Got a cat as a teenager, she was always 'my' cat if you know what I mean. I moved abroad to another country in my early 20s. Moved back to my home country last year and have taken her for a week here and there.

Her behaviour has changed drastically in the last few months. She became unwell which lead to kitty depression. My mother told me she wasn't eating and unresponsive to being petted. I went to see her and I was the first family member she had allowed to cuddle her. She also allowed me to feed her a proper meal and I was so relieved. She steadily got better since then. Of course I have went home since then and she has apparently been living in my bedroom and refusing to leave for food or to use the toilet!

Now shes come to my house while my family goes on holiday. She is happily moving from room to room, coming up on my lap and and now she's purring next to me on the bed. My mum is amazed and quite jealous!

I am wondering whether to propose a shared situation? Could that work for a cat without being too disruptive?

*living in my old childhood bedroom that is

Why can’t you take her full-time?

Poor cat. You’re her human.

I never thought cats got particularly attached to people. If anything, my 2 made a beeline for those who hated cats! If she's happier at yours I'm sure your mum would be happy for her to stay there though.

Why can't she just come and stay with you?

I understand you're mum loves her but surely she would be happy with whatever is best for the animal.

My mum has told me she would miss her bitterly if I took her full time. Also I dont have a proper garden and she has always been an outdoor cat.

I think a shared situation could work because she doesnt mind being indoors more now that she is elderly. But I'm not sure how we could split the time? I'm keen to propose something.

The thing is she always happy enough when I was living abroad. It has just been the last few months she has fallen into a deep depression when I'm not there.

My mum has told me she is glad she is with me now because she was so forlorn! I sent her a photo of her looking contented.

I would be incredibly upset if my old girl was suddenly ok with someone else but miserable with me but I would have to accept that was the case and I would do what I had to even if it meant she had to live somewhere else

She has lived with in my family home for 15 years without an issue. I actually thought she was only the way out but it seems as though she just really misses me. Why the sudden change I dont know!

If the cat wont eat, that means somethings wrong ( regardless of whos looking after it ).
Take it to the vet.

I think my mum is feeling it to be honest. She always slept in with her but now she sleeps on the pillow in my bedroom and refuses to budge!

I never thought cats got particularly attached to people.

They can do. I used to have a cat who would become ill if I stayed away from home, and my DM had a very clingy cat that always wanted to be with her, to the extent she would cry all night if she wasn't allowed in the bedroom and under the duvet.

Are you certain it's just depression?
From what you say, if she is in the region of 10 or 12, it may be time for the Vet to run some geriatric tests - irs a simple blood test, and would pick up anything like thyroid or kidney problems, common with older cats.

I was horrified when a vet colleague suggested it to me with a cat a few years ago, she might have been twelve, but she was my baby kitten.
She did have thyroid problems it turned out, but catching it early meant that she lived a long an happy life for a good few years after that. (Although I did find little stashes of half sucked pink tablets after she died, the tablet thing never went too smoothly!)

She is eating well now. The first vet had missed the fact she had a bacterial infection. The second vet spotted it and she is been treated now

Sorry I was writing while you posted

Thats a sudden change in behaviour that suggests she might not be feeling well, has she seen the vet?

As she is becoming healthy again I think we all expected her to resume her normal routine. But no, she has stayed in my bedroom for weeks and refused to come out.

Since coming to my place she potters about each room and acts as normal with me which I find interesting as she no longer seeks my mother out to be petted at all. It must be very upsetting for her.

Yes she is being treated and on the mend. Going to back to the bet in a week.