Returning home after hospital stay

i know I will smell different.  Would it help to /rub my clothes and arms with the cats' blanket so I smell a little familiar to them or is it just a weird idea

Rubbing yourself with their blankets is just going to make you smell like them. You want to smell like you.

They might be a little stand-offish at the start, but they will come around fairly quickly. 

Who watched them while you were gone? Were they familiar with the cat sitter? And did they stay at home, or were they boarded somewhere? That might have a bearing on their reaction to your return. They might be a little ticked with you at first.

I suggest you immediately shower, wash your hair, and change into your regular clothes to wash the 'hospital smell' off of you and out of your hair.  If you have a worn pair of PJs, put those on - they will smell like you.  Cat's have a very strong sense of smell and they will be able to smell your natural body odor rather quickly.

Sitting on your couch or laying on your bed will transfer your scent back on you also. 

Let them come to you instead of 'showering them with love' right away. They are going to check you out and refresh the relationship, but let them do it on 'cat time'. I don't know how long you've been away, but if it was just for a couple weeks, there shouldn't be any dramatic issues. Just be yourself, shower etc,. and feed them. A little later, curl on the couch in your PJs and robe and offer them some treats. When they come to you, give them the same love and attention you always have!

When my Boys were neutered (at 4 months old) they were separated because they have a tendency to play pretty darn rough with each other. I kept Keeker at home with me, and my sister took Kricket to her house. Because of our schedules, he was there for about 10 days. When I brought him home, he settled in immediately! Within 5 minutes the Boys were chasing each other and rolling together like nothing happened. Kricket fell right into his usual routine of curling next to me on the couch and hogging my pillow when I went to bed. 

Of course, I was positive he wasn't going to know who I was! He had only met my sister once before that and had never been to her home - but he knew me right away and I was thrilled! 

A cat's short-term memory is about 16 hours, but their long-term memory is approximately 10 years. 

I hope this gives you a bit of relief. Take care of yourself and best wishes for a speedy recovery! 

When I came home from a week long road trip, my cats wouldn't come near me until I changed clothing and removed everything that smelled like my trip from the room. They were happier even after that once I had showered.

Thanks for the advice.  Showering is already my first priorty. i've been here a week and only bee nallowed to wipe down with clothes  They have been at home with m family so the only routine change is who feeds them.  

I hope they come round soon.  i miss them.

My mom dislocated her hip last year and was in the hospital then in-patient rehab for about 2.5 weeks. Kitties remembered her without any problems. I do remember every time I would visit her, and then I'd come home, they'll all be sniffing me a lot, so maybe that had helped in the remembering department, not sure.