Roommate Offered to Adopt My Cat. Advice?

Hi Reddit! Here’s my backstory.

I’m a 21 yr old F and I have had my cat for about 3 years now and I love him with all my heart. He is such a cuddly little buddy (all 12 pounds of him).

When the pandemic hit in March, I was quarantined in my sisters apartment, not knowing when I could go back to my shared apartment with my roommate. My roommate then was watching my cat, and planned on going back to her home state. She offered to take my cat back with her to her family and watch them, since I didn’t know when I could go back home and my cat is the type that needs a lot of attention during the day. Anyways, I said of course! He would stay at a big house for a little bit and have fun with my roommates little sisters. Fast forward to now, and her family has offered to adopt him because how much they love him. Now, if you met this cat, you would completely understand. He melts the heart of anyone and just loves to cuddle. It’s why he stuck with me at the shelter. He’s been with me through thick and thin.

My knee jerk reaction of course was “no, he’s my cat and I want him back”. & also, he really helps my anxiety and has been with me through some really dark periods over these past few years. But then I stepped back, and truly thought about it.

There are 3 things on my mind:

1. I can’t stop thinking about my roommate’s little sisters who are about 8 years old. Even with knowing they were going to have to give him back, they have grown so attached to this boy. And I can’t help but remember how much I LOVED my cat and that age and how much he meant to me and how devastated I was when we had to give the cat away. I know this is different, but I just think about all the memories and fun times that those girls could have with my cat and how much I would love that for my cat as well!

2. I’ve spent a lot of money medically with this cat (crazy surgery, lots of $$$) and with his weakened immune system, he might continue to have complications due these issues and experience a lot of bladder infections. With all this, her family would be able to afford future complications and frequent vet visits more than I can right now.

3. I want to get a 2nd cat eventually, but right now cannot due my current cat’s hypersensitivity to stress. I could get a bonded pair if my current cat were to stay with my roommates family. Yet, the thing about this thought is that it kind of counters the previous point regarding the financial aspect of this decision.

Ultimately, the decision is mine, but I am pretty stuck. If I give him away and get another cat for anxiety, what does that say about me? Do I say no and have my roommate take him and all his things on the 7 hour car ride back from his current (bigger) home and take him back? It almost makes me feel selfish. Their family has truly loved and cared for my cat over these past couple months. But also I have such an attachment and love for him. I love him so much that I want to share his love with their family. So this is where I currently stand.

Yet, I need an outside perspective. Any opinions/counter thoughts/recommendations are welcome.

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from Pets https://www.reddit.com/r/Pets/comments/gh86g0/roommate_offered_to_adopt_my_cat_advice/