Is it best to leave her or take her?
Hello! I(20) will be moving away from home for uni with my boyfriend some time in the next month, to a place an hour and a half’s drive away. I’ve lived at home all my life. I have had my cat(Juliette) since I was 5/6, and we have been inseparable since. Now, at 17.5 years old, it’s clear she’s starting to go a little loopy in one way or another. She will often cry and yowl whenever I leave her sight until I come find her again, and whenever I’m away she does this a LOT. For days. My parents always give her plenty of attention, but it’s me that she usually ends up wanting.
To make matters worse, this coincides with my parents moving house due to financial reasons. It breaks my heart to think of her having to deal with a new house AND my absence. I’ve started sleeping with a blanket to ensure it has my scent once I’m gone, but I still worry for her, especially being quite frequently confused.
Juliette HATES the cat carrier, and taking her upwards of 2 hours in one to a new environment feels cruel. As it stands, I think it would be more selfish of me were I to take her with me rather than leave her (if I even could, considering I don’t know this flat’s pet rules and didn’t consider taking her until now, hence I didn’t ask).
I want to reinstate that my parents do adore her and there’s zero chance of neglect. But she seems to get so stressed when I’m gone. I don’t know how she’ll cope for longer periods. Am I doing the right thing by leaving her behind??