Hello all!

I have lived in Michigan for 6 months and quite familiar with the new life here. Thus, I have intention of raising a cat as a friend with me. Do you think it is okay for a cat living in this region? One thing I'm still thinking is whether there are some centers that agree to take care of them when I come back my home country for summer or winter break. Need advice and thanks in advance!

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The little monsters 3

Welcome to the forum. Your question is a little confusing. You are planning to travel between Michigan and your home country? An indoor cat will do fine in Michigan. And a cat on a harness and leash can do fine in the winter as long as a human is on the other end and the walk is short. A cat enclosure or catio is fine for any cat year round as long as there would be a heated bed available in the winter time.

As for the travel ... you can board a cat -- most vets do that. Usually that is for a short period of time -- say a week when someone goes on vacation. A pet sitter is okay -- but every summer I see lost pets due to the pet getting away from the pet sitter and is now lost! I'd much rather trust my vet with my cat when there are multiple doors to the cat room and the cats cannot escape, period.

I am concerned that you plan to be out of the country for extended periods of time for winter and summer break. My sense is that Bengals feel things more intensely than other cats, and that your cat may feel abandoned when you are gone for so long.

My Bengal Oberon had a very rough 2017 before I came to be his human in September. My friend adopted him from a shelter in May, and he was neutered and had a tooth pulled at that time. The shelter declared him to be anti-social and not litter trained. He lived on a farm with my friend from June to August when the farm needed to be sold. I took him in September, and had a friend watch and feed him while I traveled for 10 days in September.

In October I had another trip (20 days) planned for my daughter's wedding plus watching her animals while they honeymooned.

Only in recent months has my Bengal seemed at ease, like he trusts me not to abandon him. My sense is that he was so stressed from the events of early 2017, that he continued to be stressed for each of my previously planned trips. He had the same person feeding him during the times I was gone. He had the companionship of another cat. But I think my extended trips stressed him out a great deal and that he had a profound sense of loss.

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Cats do suffer from separation anxiety -- bengals more than most because they are so social and bonded with their owners. Many people do travel with their pets. And many pets travel well -- some do not. I was given my bengal by a neighbor who traveled a lot and was concerned that he didn't have enough time for Raiden. He had a roommate at the time, but the roommate made sure Raiden had food and that was about it. For someone who travels a lot, a pet may not be the best idea. I take few vacations because that means being separated from my bengal and having him boarded where he isn't especially happy to be around other cats.