How long does a cat take to forget its owners? im going on a trip....

i know it sounds crazy, but im going away on a trip for 4 days for the first time on march. i havent gone on a trip since adopting my cat. i hate the thought of leaving her, even for a few days.shes stay with family, and will be taken care of.

but just the thought that she might bond with someone else and not miss me, makes me sad! i know i sound nuts, but shes my baby, its hard enough leaving her, but the thought of her not caring if i leave makes it even harder. does anyone feel this way when they go on trips without their pets?

by the way, i plan on going to disney! so thats a good thing at least!

terestrife said:

i know it sounds crazy, but im going away on a trip for 4 days for the first time on march. i havent gone on a trip since adopting my cat. i hate the thought of leaving her, even for a few days.shes stay with family, and will be taken care of.

but just the thought that she might bond with someone else and not miss me, makes me sad! i know i sound nuts, but shes my baby, its hard enough leaving her, but the thought of her not caring if i leave makes it even harder. does anyone feel this way when they go on trips without their pets?

by the way, i plan on going to disney! so thats a good thing at least!

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I travel every week, pretty much - don't worry about a thing..... There isn't a chance she will forget you :heart3:
Everytime I come home my babies are by the door waiting for me, and by my side until I leave again - there isn't a question of who mom is :nod:

Have a blast and enjoy!!

Mine never forgot me, even the two times I spent 3 weeks in the hospital.  They will say,  'Oh, have you been gone', then 'Why were you away', then 'What did you bring me',  then "FEED ME".

Agree with what everyone has said.

I went on vacation for 10 days, to Greece.  I had the same fears as you did.  My niece (who has three cats) came in twice a day to feed and play with Ritz.  Ritz is a shy, skittish cat.  Well in no time (!) Niece and Ritz were playing, she was showing her belly, and Niece was able to pet Ritz.  And boy was I jealous and I though Ritz loves Niece more than me.

Well got home at 8:30 p.m., Ritz looked at me like, who are you, came up to me, sniffed me and figured out I was her BFF for life.

I'd been gone before for a few days, and when I returned Ritz paid attention to me for about an hour then ignored me for a day or two.  But this time, she seemed happier to see me, and she was extra cuddly.  (The colder weather helped, I feed her and provide warmth.)

SO, she will still love you even if you leave her.

I agree with everyone on here as well. When I was in high school, I would take walks around my neighborhood. A creepy guy used to feed some cats that lived in a storm drain under his house, and I would stop to pet them and make friends during my walk. One cat my mom and I called Arbie (she was always in the magnolia tree) would always come out to greet us. If she wasn't to be seen, we would call her name that we gave her, and she usually came from wherever she was. When I went to college and only came home once or twice a year, that cat would still always come out to greet me. Several years later she still recognized me, even after not seeing her for over a year. Cats don't forget people, they are very very smart, more so than most of us give them credit for being. So you have nothing to worry about.

I had to have someone foster my cat for 3 months once, he was back by my side the day we were reunited like we were never apart.

sherrycat said:

I agree with everyone on here as well. When I was in high school, I would take walks around my neighborhood. A creepy guy used to feed some cats that lived in a storm drain under his house, and I would stop to pet them and make friends during my walk. One cat my mom and I called Arbie (she was always in the magnolia tree) would always come out to greet us. If she wasn't to be seen, we would call her name that we gave her, and she usually came from wherever she was. When I went to college and only came home once or twice a year, that cat would still always come out to greet me. Several years later she still recognized me, even after not seeing her for over a year. Cats don't forget people, they are very very smart, more so than most of us give them credit for being. So you have nothing to worry about.

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awww, what a sweet story, thank you for taking the time to share it! what a special and smart cat Arbie is.

I went away for 1.5 weeks. My little baby didn't forget, but she was a little mad at me. My husband told me she would look out the window for me, and she gets pouty whenever I'm gone for over a day. Her little fit didn't last for long, though, and within 3 or 4 hours everything was forgiven and she was back to cuddling.
 

cats aren't stupid, and a cat certainly would not forget you after for days.

there was a story here locally that a ladies cat got lost, and was eventually found 15 years, eventually ending up in the shelter here in town, and his original owner completely by chance found him in the shelter, the cat immediately recognized who she was.
 

I lived with my friend for 4 years, and in the second year she brought home a new kitten. He bonded with both of us. He does this really cute thing if either of us pick him up. He practically puts his arms up like a toddler when either she or I pick him up and hugs us and rubs his nose on us and acts like he just can't get close enough to us. He does not want us to put him down until he is finished loving on us. He does not do this for anybody else.

I moved out two years ago, but I visit every week. He still gives me this same treatment, and does not do it for anybody else. I was there when we first rescued him, and he has not forgotten.

Have fun on your vacation! And try not to worry about your cat too much, although it can be really hard sometimes, and you will surely miss her.

I've been away for four or five weeks and not been forgotten. My parents' dogs and cat always knew me right away, even if I hadn't been back for two years.

Record your voice and left a tape with people. There are some "eggs" that have a little recording device in them and when it is knocked around it turns the voice on.  I had one of these and left it with sitters or family and when cat wouldn't come out my voice was on there calling the cat and out he would come.  And do a video and have them put you on for few minutes each day. Cats love watching TV.

I drive mostly when I go somewhere. I make certain I have shots in order but in cool weather. I take my cats with me. Wish I had my van again. I had one kitty that loved to ride 'SHOT GUN" in the van.  But yeah I take my babies with me. They get used to it. I love my kitties. I couldn't go anywhere without them.

When I adopted Oliver, that first day, he met my kids from the pet carrier he hid in for the day. They went to their dad's that evening and soon after on vacation. So he didn't see them again for three weeks. During that time and still now, when someone he doesn't know comes over, he hides and doesn't come out until they leave. 

After those three weeks, and having only seen my kids the one time, when they came back, he initially hid, but then came out when he realized it was them. Only took a few minutes. 

Cats are incredibly good at remembering humans, not only by their physical appearance but by the voice (and probably scent). It's actually really impressive.

LaraLove said:

 
When I adopted Oliver, that first day, he met my kids from the pet carrier he hid in for the day. They went to their dad's that evening and soon after on vacation. So he didn't see them again for three weeks. During that time and still now, when someone he doesn't know comes over, he hides and doesn't come out until they leave. 

After those three weeks, and having only seen my kids the one time, when they came back, he initially hid, but then came out when he realized it was them. Only took a few minutes. 

Cats are incredibly good at remembering humans, not only by their physical appearance but by the voice (and probably scent). It's actually really impressive.

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thats such a great story. =) cats really are very intelligent.

I had the same worries when I went on a week long trip when Robin was about 6 months old. After returning, my pet sitter and I both went into the apartment and he rubbed against HER and looked at me quite confused. After she left, he kept looking at me. I finally understand!! He thought she was me!!! After that he basically superglued himself to my side.

Now when I go on trips, he comes right to me. On the first trip, he bonded really well with the pet sitter, but like I said, I think he thought I just underwent a face and voice change lol, so while he still really likes her, he knows who is mommy is. My pet sitter says he loves anyone who feeds him. Lol true. But cats (eventually? Lol) know who their mama is, even if they leave. Your cat won't forget you, and you can expect a very happy cat welcoming you back. Enjoy your trip!!!

I'm smiling at this one! When I switched careers to freelance travel and nature writing, it meant I was gone from home for weeks at a time. When I first began, I had one dog and two cats. My dog went with me on most trips, but the cats had to stay home. I hired a house sitter to take care of the animals and worried about the cats being unhappy the entire time I was gone. Then I got a great assignment that took me away from home for almost three months. Again, my dog came along, but the cats had to stay home. I was very worried at first, but every time I called home, I was told the cats were happy and healthy. Well, when I got home, my male cat rushed up to the dog and licked her all over. The female played snob for a few hours, but soon came over, jumped in my lap and purred up a storm. That night the two cats slept with me as usual. The next day they were completely normal with both me and the dog. Since then, I've gone away for varying times, with and without the dogs, but the cats don't travel. Every time I get home, the cats come running. Although, I have to say they always seem more excited to see the dogs than to see me.    I do think it depends upon the cat and how secure they are before you leave. My cats tend to take most things in stride, so perhaps my leaving isn't a bit deal to them. It helps that the person who cares for them is responsible and knows cats. 

Music Cat said:

 
Only four days?! It takes way longer then that for a cat to forget you! or at least for most cats! It depends on how you bonded with your cat.

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Ive had her four years now. We are very close. I live with other people, but she comes to me no matter what. She lets me carry her, and even if my mom has given her breakfast, she still comes to give me affection instead of her.

Last year i had to stay in the hospital for five days, my pancreas was inflamed, gallbladder infected and i had to have it removed, and wait for the infection to clear up. Anyways, the entire time she stayed on my bed and kept meowing in my room. My niece said she seemed really down.... When i got home, she saw me and turned her back on me. It wasnt until the next day that she let me pet her. I think she was offended i left her. But she forgave me thankfully.

terestrife said:

i know it sounds crazy, but im going away on a trip for 4 days for the first time on march. i havent gone on a trip since adopting my cat. i hate the thought of leaving her, even for a few days.shes stay with family, and will be taken care of.

but just the thought that she might bond with someone else and not miss me, makes me sad! i know i sound nuts, but shes my baby, its hard enough leaving her, but the thought of her not caring if i leave makes it even harder. does anyone feel this way when they go on trips without their pets?

by the way, i plan on going to disney! so thats a good thing at least!

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Well, a lot of people are saying that their cats still remember them but I dont think it is the same case for me. I have made almost a year relationship with my cat then I had to go to abroad for a month and my cat was under the care of my brother. I returned just a few days ago but to my dissapoint my cat doesnt quite recognize me, I can understand through her actions. Usually she lets me pet her and rub the side of her belly but now she moves away from me whenever I pet her. She doesnt do any signs that show she trusts me in any way. Now I have to start the relationship from the beginning by feeding her food as it is the only way Ill get back her trust. All of this makes me feel that all the love and beautiful moments I had with her is wasted. I really dont know how to feel right now.....