Only thing is now that summer's coming, we'll be spending more time away from home.
As it is now, Natayo comes running and greeting us when we come home.
Maybe he needs a buddy to keep him company.
It's been said millions of times that cats are solitary animals. In my experience, nothing could be further than the truth. They may possess some solitary characteristics ("If your cats could talk, they wouldn't."), but they crave companionship just as dogs do.
One recent example I witnessed: A good friend of mine had two cats. They'd been together for years. One died. The other one went into an obvious (don't laugh) deep depression. Refused to eat. Stopped playing. Both of them had slept on the bed with the humans. The other cat stopped when his friend died. Two weeks later, my friend and his wife went to the shelter and adopted another cat. It took a few days, but the other cat perked up and became his old self again.
Animals do grieve. We humans may not understand the process, we may not recognize an animal's grief when we see it, but it's there...I'm convinced of this.
As you say, you may be traveling more in spring and summer. I believe cats...especially if they have a friend with them...get along better with their humans' absence than dogs do. Cats seem to be able to amuse themselves by the simple act of just staring off into space. Thinking inscrutable cat thoughts, perhaps, I don't know.
I think if I were you, I'd get another cat. I know you are still sad over the other cat's passing, but still...it might do all of you some good.
Think about it. There's one out there waiting for you.
