Worried about leaving super-attached cat for a fortnight

[HeyDemonsItsYaGirl]

I adopted a third cat last autumn, and because I've been working from home throughout the pandemic, I've never been away from him for more than a few hours. He is VERY attached to me - follows me around the house, sleeps either beside me or on me (it's fun having him circling around on my ribs, trying to find the most comfortable spot...), even tries to get me to go outside with him.

I'm planning two weeks away next month, and I'm getting increasingly worried about leaving him. I had to go out today for less than an hour; he waited by the gate for me and circled me anxiously for a long time when I got back. He's only just settled down a few hours later.

My brother is going to stay here for the two weeks so the cats have company, but I'm SO worried and guilty about Joe. I know the older two will be fine, but I can't shake the fear that Joe is going to go roaming to try to find me and get lost or run over or something hideous. I'm half hoping the rules will change and I won't be able to go.

Tell me I'm being irrational and he'll be fine? He's chipped. He's never tried to follow me before. In fact he rarely even leaves the garden - he was a stray before the rescue caught him, and seems to have had enough of being outside for a lifetime. I will leave my used bedding in a corner somewhere so he can smell me while I'm gone (gross).

He won't run away, will he?

I love that you've called him Joe :) He sounds adorable!

I wouldn't have thought he'd run away but you need to deal with separation anxiety. Id start leaving him for longer periods of time now so that he has plenty of times to get used to it.

Feliway or alternatives may help them to settle. Encourage a relationship with your brother as much as possible so your db is familiar and a comfort to Joe.

Good idea to leave him things with your scent on. If he has an enclosed bed or somewhere cosy to sleep make sure you out some in there too, so he has your scent where he feels secure. If he likes the physical comfort of being close then he may like beds that feel secure and enclose- so igloos or pyramids, or high sided doughnuts...or inside your airing cupboard etc.

Does he wear a collar? Might be good to get him used to one.

I shut my two in when I go away for peace of mind after we lost one on the road. I rarely go away and if I do its no longer than a week. Could you think about doing that maybe? If your brother is there all the time he might become attached to him, my cat is super attached to me but has second bests lined up if I'm unavailable!

I feel your pain. We rescued a cat in Feb 21 and he is my shadow. I work permanently from home so am never far away. I went to the dentist last week and was told by partner cat sat in hall and cried for me till I got home .

We were meant to be going away for 2 weeks in July (COVID permitting) and I have just cancelled one of the weeks!

Cant bear to think of him being stressed and feeling lost again.

I’d find a posh cat hotel so he doesn’t wander off. How far from home will you be?.

Mine hid when mil cat sat and we had to drive from Dartmouth to staffs and back in a day to get him in a cattery. Fun.

I would have him shut in with a litter tray for the duration. Definitely cut it to one week if you can too.

Thank you everyone. Now I think about it, a cattery is probably better for Joe - I ruled it out because the middle cat would hate it (she's very nervous around other humans) but there's no reason all three of them have to go. I'll see if I can find a place at short notice. If not then I'll ask my brother not to let him out. Might pay him a bit extra now he has to deal with litter trays.