'I do not want to leave him behind': Pawrent torn about moving abroad, but fears downsizing apartments might upset devoted cat who only wants to stay with them

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Sarah Brown • Writer and Editor
Oct 3, 2025 6:00 PM EDT

Three months ago, a ten-month-old floof waltzed into this pawrent's life like he owned the place. From day one, this friendly feline showed all the signs of once being an abandoned house cat: cuddly, confident, and immediately at home. With a four-bedroom apartment, zoomie racetracks galore, cat trees, and even a balcony catio to survey his kingdom, this kitty scored big in the real estate game.

But while the whole family shares the apartment, it's clear he's chosen one hooman as his ride-or-die. He sleeps in their room, insists on morning cuddle o'clock, and greets their return from trips with full-on ballistic zoomies. Talk about devotion!

Now comes the clawndrum: his hooman may have to move abroad, possibly to a smaller space. The big question is would kitty be happier with more square footage and other family, or with less space but his favorite person? Cats can be territorial, but for many felines, love overrules layout. At the end of the day, the ultimate cat castle is wherever their chosen hooman is.

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  • 01
    'Would he be affected worse by the departure of his favorite person, even if he'd have others to live with?'
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  • 02
    So, about 3 month ago this 10 month old boy stumbled into my life and I decided to take him in. Currently I live with family in a pretty spacious 4 bedroom apt and he adjusted really easily, I guess he must have been an abandoned house cat, given how friendly he has always been to humans. Also given the size of
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  • 03
    the apt. he has all the space available to run around if zoomies hit, multiple cat trees as well as a balcony/catio I set up for him which he loves to spend time at while looking over the neighborhood lol.
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    Cheezburger Image 10559863808
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  • 05
    And like I said, he currently lives with me and 3 other family members but I handle all the care for him and he has definitely grown super attached to me personally. Like he has always slept in my room and refuses to go to his bed if I'm not in the room at night, whenever I have to
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  • 06
    go out of town for a few days he acts friendly with the rest of the family but he's clearly less energetic - when I come back tho he always goes into full ballistic zoomies mode out of excitement I guess. Also in the morning when he sees me get up at my usual time for work, he always runs into my bed for his usual morning cuddles - even if he's not really a lap cat during the day lol.
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  • 07
    Now as the title might suggest, I've been contemplating moving away/abroad in the short-to-mid term future, for various reasons (but that's a story for another day). So obviously in addition to the usual practical considerations of that, I have to take the kitty in consideration.
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  • 08
    Just to make this clear right from the start tho - I do not want to leave him behind unless it's absolutely the only possible option. But let's say I manage to work all the practicalities unrelated to him out and find a place to rent - in this economy and the state of the rental market
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  • 09
    - I'd be lucky to get a 2 bedroom apt, most likely just some studio apt. So that'd be an obviously reduction of quality of life for him in the living space sense. Plus he'd have to readjust to a completely new place.
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  • 11
    Those of you who have been in a similar situation, how does a cat usually adjust? Would he suffer from the lack of space even if had me with him? Or (and again, I do not want this to happen), would he be affected worse by the departure of his favorite
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    person, even if he'd have others to live with? Or would it be better for me to stay in the current apt as long as possible for his sake? I know change stresses cats out so just trying to figure out the best possible course here.
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  • 13
    bellandc My opinion is to keep the cat with the people who love and care for them. Cats can and do adjust to new environments. People move with their cats all the time.
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    Cats do better with care provided at home when you go on vacation. But losing their people is typically pretty traumatic for them.
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    We just move my mom and her cat from a two bedroom villa with daily access to the outdoors to a small one bedroom (600sf) with zero outdoor access. The cat was pretty settled within a month and has adjusted far faster than my mom.
    via bellandc

  • Going on a week-long vacation is one thing, but leaving your cat behind forever? Total no-go. Your kitty knows you’re their chosen hooman. Pack those bags, and don’t forget the floof!

  • 16
    Plenty-Panda6432 It honestly depends on the cat, I've had two cats that would adjust to anything, and one cat that was extremely anxious and is slower to adjust. That said, I would have taken her anywhere I moved because I knew she would be much more anxious living without
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  • 17
    me. Moving abroad is a bigger issue, but it's been done! You can talk to your vet about medicine to make travel less stressful, and just do your research. I think a studio apartment would still be fine for one cat, just make sure to have those cat trees to increase space vertically.
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  • 18
    SuperKitty33 Hi. I moved from a 3-story townhouse with a big fenced yard to a one-bedroom apartment with a balcony and my cat adjusted immediately. I think cats are more attached to their person than to the space, just like people are.
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  • 19
    Green_Ouroborus I've moved with my cats several times. They are EXTREMELY emotionally shaken up for a day and they will tell you all about it at GREAT length, but they adjust soon after that.
    via Green_Ouroborus

  • Be prepared for a few “conversations” with your cat about the big move. Lots of meows, maybe a protest paw swipe or two, but after that, they’ll settle in just fine.

  • 20
    meowparade It probably depends on the cat, but I've moved several times with my cat and he's always been okay. The times I've left him with a cat sitter always seemed worse for him!
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    LordGreybies Cats care more about their people than their space, imo
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    mooshinformation I've moved quite a few times with my cat. He doesn't like the day of the move, obviously, once we get to the new place he always hides at first, but after a while he comes out and explores the new space and rubs his cheeks on every to make it his and then he's fine.
    via mooshinformation

  • It may take a little time, but your cat will warm up to the new place. As long as he has you for comfort, he’ll feel right at home.

  • 23
    I recently had to leave a larger apartment and move into a place where he needs to stay in the bedroom. He's been fine with it. I just make more of an effort to play with him a few times a day so he gets his energy out and I tried to make more vertical spaces for him to jump to. I've also been harness training him so he can get out of the bedroom,
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    which I'd suggest you do too (he hates the harness, but likes outside, as soon as we get outside, he forgets about the harness and stops walking like it broke his back)
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  • 25
    Unless there's another person the cat is also really bonded to, who loves the cat as much as you, I wouldn't even consider leaving him behind.
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  • 26
    iron_red My cat and I have lived in 4 different places in the 4+ years I've had her. She's felt at home in all of them.
    via iron_red

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pets adopted advice feline pawrents moving Cats apartment
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