Will my cat remember me if I'm gone for 2 weeks?

[Anonymous]

I'm going on vacation for the first time in a few years, and since adopting a cat a year ago. A neighbor will come over and check on her, play/feed/etc her, but I'm worried she'll still be lonely. When I come back, will she remember me? Hold a grudge against me? Act out? At present, she's a sweet, cuddly, probably co-dependent cat that follows me everywhere, and I worry she won't be the same after being gone for an extended amount of time.

I don't WFH and am routinely out of the house 10 hours for work, but this is totally different.

Am I overthinking?

[Anonymous]

In my experience, they will pout when you return, but absolutely remember you.

[Anonymous]

Your cat could get accidentally stuck in a moving van and carried 3000 miles across the country and find it's way back to your house, maybe with the help of a cute little dog, and when it got back to your house it would be so happy to see you.

[Anonymous]

For sure she will!

[Anonymous]

They remember just fine. Some will act like they never noticed you were ever gone. Some will be extra affectionate and happy to see you. Some will be thrilled to see you, but give you the stink eye and be standoffish for a day or two.

[Anonymous]

My husband deployed for 7 months. He isn't even the cat's "person." She is terrified of strangers and most men, even if they aren't strangers.

He walked in the door and she trotted right up to him purring and flopped at his feet for some pets.

Your cat will remember you.

[Anonymous]

Yes she will remember you. Yes she might hold a grudge for a few days. No she probably won’t act out (but might).

Our cat is usually pissed when we come back and refuses to cuddle for a day or two.

[Anonymous]

I have a 13 yo cat, so a few of my kids are now adults who live away and the cat always remembers them when they visit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In my experience, they will pout when you return, but absolutely remember you.

Yep. My family's cat still remembers me and I moved out of my parents' house 10 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Of course! Cats have a 20 year lifespan, they have memories to match. Animals with shorter lifespans, like small rodents, may not remember you after 2 weeks. I'm not sure our gerbils remember us after weeks away. But our dog and parrot certainly do. The parrot pouts because she's upset we left, despite being cared for by a parrot specialist

[Anonymous]

YES

[Anonymous]

Yes and you will be treated to so much affection when you’re back. Mine meets me at the garage door “yelling” and demanding pets if I’m gone an hour at the grocery store

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They remember just fine. Some will act like they never noticed you were ever gone. Some will be extra affectionate and happy to see you. Some will be thrilled to see you, but give you the stink eye and be standoffish for a day or two.

This. You're just about to find out which cat you have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They remember just fine. Some will act like they never noticed you were ever gone. Some will be extra affectionate and happy to see you. Some will be thrilled to see you, but give you the stink eye and be standoffish for a day or two.

This. You're just about to find out which cat you have.

+2

Mine are SO clingy when I get back I literally can't get more than a foot away from them. Being on my lap is too far away, they want to like smoosh against my face and purr into my soul.

[Anonymous]

I just watched a video and part of it was why people sulk.

They only sulk with those they love, and they sulk because they are irritated that the other person has not read their mind--they want to be so close, that they erroneously believe that other person *should* have read their mind.

So I guess that explains cats too