Cats have
the tendency to run away whenever there is an open door. As a pet,
cats can make you question your credibility as a parent. But do cats miss their
owners? Well, they may seem super selfish from the outside, but the truth is,
they miss their owners for a variety of reasons as well.
The
four-legged fur buddy is less likely to express its affection. You might as
well learn to handle their little tantrums and mood swings by observing their behaviors.
But are these nurturing and putting up time for cats worth it?
All the
bites and scratches of a cat may feel like heaven once you find out how much
they miss their owners, even when the owner is not around or gone.
Thoughts On Cats Missing Their Owners
Here are
11 surprising reasons why do cats miss their owners, even after being out of
sight:
1. They love their owner
It is the
simplest explanation for cats missing their owner. When you have made a way
through their hearts and make them comfortable in a way, they found a home;
that is when the cats start falling in love with you. Deep down, the cats know
how much care and work you are putting in to raise them.
If you are
asking yourself, do cats miss owners, the answer is right here. Their tendency
to miss you depends on how much they love you.
2. They have been rehomed
Cats get
re-sheltered all the time. Several people do not understand that even cats may
have feelings as well. They pet a cat as a plaything and keep them in the house
as long as the cats seem cute.
As soon as
they start growing up or get hit by health issues, many owners leave these poor
things on the street. Surely, the cats have to be rehomed to get proper
nourishment. But sadly, as an owner, if you wonder do cats miss their owners
when rehomed, the reply is yes. It is difficult for them to get over their
long-cherished foster parents.
3. You occupied so much time
Cats start
getting closer to their owners when the owner is ready to give them a lot of
time, from feeding to cleaning, from taking an evening walk to putting them to sleep. As an owner, if you have occupied all
this time in their lives, they are bound to miss you.
4. They have been abandoned
Do cats
miss their owners? A very popular question among people due to the cats'
antisocial behavior. Unfortunately, cats get abandoned way too often, which is
a recurring reason for cats missing their owners. They cannot mentally grasp
the reason why their favorite human has left them.
5. You are super protective
Since cats
are minor creatures, they have the potentiality to fall victim as prey. Many
predators in the animal kingdom tend to attack cats when found unguarded. As an
owner, if you have successfully established to save them from such occurrences,
they may also find you super protective.
6. Your voice is soothing
Do cats
recognize their owners' voices? Cats have a special ability to understand their
owners' scent, voice, and existence due to the hypersensitivity of the brain.
They recognize not only the voice but also miss it. They feel attached to the
voice that called them such adorable names, hushed them to sleep, and soothed
them while stressed.
7. You are on vacation
Sometimes
vehicles and tourist sites do not allow cats or any other pets to be on board
for obvious reasons. In such cases, cats have to be either left behind alone at
home or be given under the care of a relative.
Cats can
sense such situations, and that is why they miss their owner when away. There
is a change of environment, and the owner is not around to take care of them.
Their habitual routine is interrupted since they are not getting enough time to
spend with the adoptive parent.
8. They like your presence
Although
cats have a reputation for being snobbish, they get super attached to the
person they like. Even introverted cats, the ones who like to be left alone,
crave the presence of their beloved owners.
As an
owner, you may fill up their entire space. They get to see you from the time
after opening their eyes until going to bed. Your essence is what guides them
through daily activities. So, it is only natural if they miss you once you are
gone.
9. There is no one to play with
Do cats
miss their humans, people ask. Well, if you have been a good playmate, then
there is a pretty high chance the cats will miss you when not around. Cats,
just like any other pet, love attention. They like to be attended to every
little thing, from playing with toys to being cuddled around.
When they
figure out their attentive human is not so attentive these days, the cats start
missing them even more.
10. They are stressed
Who does
not love a little company when unwell? The same goes for pets when stressed. Cats have their reasons to be quieter
than usual. Their owners are the ones they look for shelter in whenever there
is an issue.
Stressful
situations for cats can make them feel distant from their foster parents. They
start eating less, there is a problem with their sleep cycle, and they do not
feel as enthusiastic about being mischievous as regular. All they miss is the
friendly petting of their humans.
11. They are lost
As
mentioned earlier, cats are more likely to run away from home than most other
pets. It happens especially for female cats during their estrus. Male cats can
also be included in the list for being too defiant. Although most cats find
their way back home by their natural navigation instinct, some may get lost.
You can also use PawMaw.com to report lost cat.
There is
no one to feed and care for them on the street like the owner left back at
home. It is a reason behind missing the cat parent as well.
Signs That Your Cats Missed You
Since cats
do not communicate with their humans through common language, you may keep
wondering do cats miss people. To understand that, you have to study even the
slightest behavioral change in them.
Keep an
eye out for the sign your cat missed you:
● They might purr or meow louder when you reappear in front of them.
● The cats will curl their tail at the
top, twitching them.
● They may also curl the tail around
your leg.
● They can bring killed rats as a gift
to you.
● The cats will act super clingy.
● They may ask for small boops
repeatedly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are
some of the consolidating factors for your satisfaction over your cat's behavior:
Do cats actually miss their owners?
Yes, they
do. The cats miss the owners whenever they are away or have been detached from
the owner. They notice the absence of all the showered love their owners have
left for them.
Do cats
miss us when we are gone?
Although
most cats are habituated with solitude, they may show signs of being happy when
they return home. While gone, they may not show any anxiety for separation
since cats are pretty self-dependent. But if they act overjoyed on being
reunited, the cats surely missed you when gone.
Do cats
forget their owner in 3 days?
Cats have
an average memory of 16 hours, which is higher than dogs, as studies suggest.
But it is only applicable for the things they have seen or met only once. When
it comes to the owner, the cats show great memory due to the inbuilt
attachment. They can remember you for many years.
How long
can a cat remember a person?
A cat can
remember a person for as long as ten years, depending on the emotional
attachment the person grew with the cat. Relying on the bond, this time frame
can vary. If you are their owner, the timeline can go a long way. Again, if it
is just a street cat you fed for a day, their time can become much shorter.
How do you
know if your cat loves you?
Points to
look for to figure out your cat's feelings towards you:
● They will lay on your chest whenever
you are close.
● The cats will follow wherever you go
in the house.
● They will look extra quiet if you have
been gone too long.
● They will bring you gifts.
Do cats
remember previous owners?
Cats
remember previous owners, regardless of whether the owner was an attentive or
careless one. Cats have a great memory for the people they spend a long time
with. So, they do not forget the previous owners even after being rehomed or
re-sheltered.
How long
does it take for a cat to adjust to a new owner?
Cats take
longer than most pets to get familiar with a new owner in a new place. Give
them two weeks to 2 months for adaptation. It is the normal time range to get
habituated with a new owner for cats. If it takes longer than that, you may
check the previous history of the cat to find out any hidden adjustment issues.
How long
does it take a cat to forget about its owner?
It depends
on how attached and the depth of bond the cat had with the owner. Cats have a
short-term memory of 16 hours for the person they interacted with only once.
Keeping that in check, the time can go a long way if you have adopted them for
a longer period.
Do cats
get sad when you leave them?
The feelings
vary from cat to cat. Some cats are so self-sufficient to miss your absence;
some are more attached to the caring activities. If your cat falls under the
latter umbrella, it may get sad when you leave them.
Do cats
recognize their owners?
Owners are
those humans who have adopted the cats and responded to their needs. The owners
will feed and clean the cats. These activities build a strong bond between the
cat and the owner. So, they can recognize their owners even after a long time.
Do cats
have feelings for their owners?
Feline
creatures like cats have unbreakable feelings for their owners. They may have a
different way of expressing it but make no mistake, in their heart, the owners
have a special crown.
Do cats
miss their owners when they go on vacation?
It depends
on the vacation duration. If you are on leave for too long, the cats will
surely miss you, regardless of who you left them with. If you leave them alone
in the home, it will be difficult for them to conduct the activities they
depended on you for. So, it may make them miss you even more.
Do cats
miss their owners when they die?
Even
though cats are less likely to verbalize their internal feelings, they mourn
after their owners' death. One way of showing it is when they miss the owners
like no other.
Final thought
Cats have
been established as mysterious creatures for loving solitude too much. Yes,
they mark their territory like no other, keeping up a thorny wall of privacy
and boundaries. But do cats miss their owners?
Every cat
has its way of showing signs of its inner emotion. They demand more attention
and care and take a longer time to get adjusted while being highly
self-absorbed. Whenever you feel like your efforts for the cats are not being
reciprocated, ensure reading this article to figure out those signs.
You will
find the expected answer to make your bond with the cat better than before,
hopefully.
January 19, 2022 at 06:34
Kalpana singh says:
This article touched my heart and taught me so much.Very well explained.