Blind sided? in rants

Is it preferable, when one person wants OUT of a friendship to hint through actions or come out and say it? It’s a way to avoid confrontation for SURE.

I’ve had a friend for 10+ years. Lately, he’s not been as available and doesn’t even let me know we won’t be getting together till the last minute.

He’s now considering getting another cat… makes me think he’d even have less time for us to go to the movies and dinner - a 2-3 time a month activity.

He’s never said anything… we got together a couple of weeks ago… everything was “normal”.

Just a friendship, not a romance, but still .... friends don’t treat each other this way… and YES I am saddened by this.