Will our cat be lonely?

[Marinarich]

From a young age, our cat ( now 2 years-old) liked to play and hang out with other neighbourhood cats. Ten weeks ago we moved house – our house was sold but the one we were buying fell through so we’re renting a flat till we can find another. We couldn’t find anywhere where we could take our cat, so we took him to stay with my grown-up daughter who has an old cat , a lab and a daschund. It was traumatic for him at first but he settled within two weeks , goes in and out the house, plays with the daschund and is very relaxed and friendly with all the animals and humans.

Of course, our worry now is what will happen when we find a house and take him back. Will it be horrible and lonely for him? Should we get him a companion cat in our new home or will that just make things worse?

I think, if he is settled now, it would be kinder to leave him settled than to move him again.

Presumably he will be able to make friends with the neighbourhood cats in your new house? Cats don't always take kindly to a new cat arriving in 'their' territory. That's not to say you can't have two if you want two, but I wouldn't bank on your cat thanking you for it.

Obviously take him to your new house, he sounds like he settles well generally and he’s obviously used to you so it wouldn’t be at all cruel as a PP suggested!

It sounds like he’d get on well with another friendly adult cat or a kitten so I would consider it certainly, if you’re happy to have 2 cats.

Cats move house just fine. If you want to get another cat when you are settled. Or a dog. We have a cat and dog and they get on fine.

He'll be fine to move again. Get another cat if you want one, you've found out your cat is good at making friends!

if your cat likes cats, he will almost certainly find a friend. Bring him a friend to share his home, on the other hand, might not be a success, anymore than those terrible play dates when your mums used to assume that because you were roughly the same age, you would all get on together and play nicely
Funny but you have a good point!

Anotherhealthcondition thanks for the reply, but that's not an option as my daughter agreed to have him temporarily.

Thanks for all the comments - it seems the consensus is that he'll manage either way - probably make friends in the new area and either make friends with , or learn to ignore, a new kitten/cat.
We'll just have to give him lots of attention when he comes back to us and help him though the transition!