I have a 9 year old tuxedo cat, Bertie. We've had him since birth and he's always been very attached to me, far more than the rest of my family - trailing me around the house, sleeping in my bed every night with me, bringing me 'presents', completely ignoring the rest of my family, etc. Anyway, I left home in September to go to university and obviously left him at home with my parents. We weren't entirely sure how he'd react (he usually sulks if I leave him just for a night), and he was ok the first few weeks but now he's starting to drive my parents insane!

Since I've left, he's started bursting into their room in the middle of the night wailing, refusing to leave them alone until they get up and give him attention... he does it every single night, without fail - they're starting to feel like they have a baby again! He's usually quite an independent cat (he's very, very confident... a little overconfident, I'd say!) and not very vocal, so it's strange how 'needy' he's become - he's even started coming to them crying every time he goes out in the rain, refusing to stop until they've dried him off with a towel! Interestingly enough, he stopped it all as soon as I came home for Christmas - and started it up again as soon as I left. (He also got VERY weird the night before I left again and threw a total tantrum, chewing on wires/literally hurling my laptop across the room. Strange cat...).

Any clues on how to get him to 'man up' a bit? I've been gone four months now and he's still playing up, I really didn't expect him to react this badly! He's always had a tendency to be a bit of a drama queen occasionally but he's never been so whiny before... and I think my poor parents are really missing their sleep! I love him dearly and feel awful leaving him but I always thought it'd be me turning into a crazy lady without my cat, not him!

Poor Bertie, he misses his mama. Are they paying him much attention? With you gone your parents really need to make an effort to pick up the slack in the love and care he is used to getting.

My advice is a trip to the vet, first thing. Stress, such as the stress caused by the person kitty is bonded to disappearing, can cause illness. The meowing may be grief, but it is also a symptom of certain illnesses, such as hyperthyroid disease. Urinary tract problems are also fairly common for cats suffering from stress of loss.

Installing some feliway plug in diffusers may help Bertie to cope better.

Your parents can set aside a certain time each night for one on one special bonding time with Bertie. Grooming, playing Games, hand feeding of a favorite food, or just cuddling, but the focus should be completely on Bertie.

If they do this each night at the same time, he will soon come to expect this special time and look forward to it, and it will help him adjust and feel more secure.

But definitely, the vet first.

awww well, its obvious really after 9 years his mums left...and never visits! (i know your art uni and cant visit-but he doesnt know that lol!)

as for 'maning up' cats dont like change, they get very upset, your parents/friends/family need to give him extra special attention, maybe shut him out of their room if his going mad.

Also get some feliways in a couple of rooms and buy him some extra toys and a cat post, he must be very stressed poor boy

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