What Do Your Cats Think Happens When You Go On Vacation?

What do cats think when you leave for vacation?

  • Man, I miss them! When are they coming home?

  • What hoomans?

  • Hoomans are dead.

  • Hoomans have left us, perhaps to mate or eat bugs.

  • Part-ay!

  • I feel like something is different, but what?

  • Other


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KarenKat

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So I just went on my first week-long vacation since adopting Olive. We had been gone for such lengths before with the two boys, but they were my boyfriend's cats and this is my first pet I was solely responsible for. And boy, is that a totally different experience! I was worried what she was thinking, and if she was bored or lonely or hungry even though we had a cat sitter come for 30 min each twice per day! I left favorite toys out, shirts with my smell, 3 pages of instructions and got texts every visit with pictures, video and a summary. And I still fretted lol.

We come home, and not only were they fine but they someone worked out some integration differences and were getting along way better than ever! Before Gohan would chase Olive from the room at least 50% of the time, and now he might chase her 1%. It was wonderful, relaxing and transformative to come home to a more peaceful house. They were also all needy and purry and so happy to see us. And all three had somewhat hoarse meows for a few days (Trin yowls when lonely, Gohan and Olive are pretty vocal). Gohan and Trin have experienced long absences before but Olive has been abandoned by two people previously so she is not used to someone coming back.

My question is, what did they think happened to us? As the smell in the house fades, do they actually think we died? Or left them? Or do they not really experience time like that and they just think we went off for a while. Or do they forget about us entirely, knowing things are different but since there is not a reminder of the missing people they go on with their lives know it changed, then when we return our scent becomes familiar and they remember us? What do you think?
 

Furballsmom

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How terrific that integration is better, good for you, and WOW what an awesome sitter!!!
Well, it sounds to me that they missed you, based on those hoarse meows.

I sat here and thought I knew what my answer would be, but the more I think about it, the less and less sure I am LOL
 

Lari

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I wish I knew! I recently was gone for eight days, and Lelia just stayed with my bf and his cat in our new place (that we'd moved into 11 days before). When I came home it seemed like she was happy to see me and followed me around almost a full day as if she thought I was going to disappear again.

I did tell her multiple times before I left that I was coming back. Idk if that made a difference.
 

MargoLane

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I have no idea! I just got back from leaving my cat for the first time (with a pet sitter), and she was happy and relaxed when we got home. I can tell she's happy to see us, but I think she thinks..."who is this nice person feeding me?" (x6) and then, "hey, it's you guys! Are you going to start feeding me again? Great. Now pet me."
 
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KarenKat

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How terrific that integration is better, good for you, and WOW what an awesome sitter!!!
Thanks, we were actually shocked how well they were interacting, and we definitely enjoyed the more relaxing atmosphere! And yeah, we love our cat sitter. This is the second time we used her and she is great.

When I came home it seemed like she was happy to see me and followed me around almost a full day as if she thought I was going to disappear again.
Lol, our guys do this too. We actually make sure not to go out that night and stay home just to cuddle the kitties.

"hey, it's you guys! Are you going to start feeding me again? Great. Now pet me."
Yes! Lol. :lol:
 

weebeasties

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We haven't gone away on a vacation for years, but I'm pretty sure the cats miss us when we are gone. My partner used to have a job where she traveled alot. She would be gone 3 or 4 weeks at a time. Buster would go into a deep depression every time she left. It usually took about a week for him to start acting like himself again. Boy, was he ever happy when she came home! Velcro kitty!
She had surgery and was in the hospital for a week a few months ago. Sam was inconsolable. He was constantly looking for her. He would wait by the door. He would walk through the house meowing. It was so sad! Since she came home they are pretty much inseparable. He sleeps on her every night. He never did that before.
 

bengalcatman

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Bug was my little buddy who I spent a great deal of time with. I was working from home quite a bit and he spent his days with me.

Bug always had a positive outlook and loved to follow me around.

I decided to take a few months off and do a back roads motorcycle trip across the US. Bug was used to me taking the occasional 4 or 5 day motorcycle trip, he usually just spent a bit more time close to me when I got home.

My wife told me that after about ten days, he kept begging to go in the closet where I kept all my riding/camping gear. He would sniff around and then leave. He apparently spent most days sitting in the front window where he could see if I rode in. He spent most nights sleeping in my office chair where I had left an unwashed tee shirt just for him. Any time he heard a noise in the driveway he would run to look out the window. This was his routine for the months I was gone.

I came home in a heavy rainstorm, and I could see his little face literally pressed to the window as I rode in. When I came inside, dripping wet, he tried to climb up my leg to get to my face. I scooped him up, and he wouldn't let go of my neck until he had rubbed his face all over mine. I had to peel him off of me to get out of my soaking wet rain gear.

I left my gear out to dry for a day or so. Bug spent hours sniffing my helmet, gloves and jacket etc. I suppose he was trying to figure out all the places I had been.

Four days after I got back I was going to take a nice afternoon ride but changed my mind when I opened the gear closet and saw a look of panic on Bug's face: eyes huge, tail dragging on the floor....Bug stuck to me like glue for about two weeks, then things were back to normal.

In retrospect, Bug was not depressed or overtly upset. He loved my wife dearly and probably sensed from her that I was okay. Since my wife was home, he had some sense or continuum of normalcy. He just missed me.

In my current job I am often away 2-3 days a week. Our three cats, Makena, Lilia and June Bug are used to this and it doesn't bother them. I am usually home with them the other days so they likely feel they get plenty of time with me. Though I usually am greeted by all three at the door when I get home.

I think I miss them more when I am gone then they miss me. I miss Makena quietly coming by to check on me when I am sleeping. Or Makena laying with me as he watches out the window near the bed. I miss Makena and June Bug racing to jump on the bed when I wake up. I miss Lilia yelling at me that she wants breakfast.

Getting back to Bug... we lost him many years ago. I still miss him every day. He was a bright star, always happy, always in the middle of everything. I have often wished I could keep such a bright outlook.

 
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KarenKat

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Oh, that was beautiful and heartbreaking and lovely. Why an amazing bond you two shared. :touched:
 

Tilly206

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Bug was my little buddy who I spent a great deal of time with. I was working from home quite a bit and he spent his days with me.

Bug always had a positive outlook and loved to follow me around.

I decided to take a few months off and do a back roads motorcycle trip across the US. Bug was used to me taking the occasional 4 or 5 day motorcycle trip, he usually just spent a bit more time close to me when I got home.

My wife told me that after about ten days, he kept begging to go in the closet where I kept all my riding/camping gear. He would sniff around and then leave. He apparently spent most days sitting in the front window where he could see if I rode in. He spent most nights sleeping in my office chair where I had left an unwashed tee shirt just for him. Any time he heard a noise in the driveway he would run to look out the window. This was his routine for the months I was gone.

I came home in a heavy rainstorm, and I could see his little face literally pressed to the window as I rode in. When I came inside, dripping wet, he tried to climb up my leg to get to my face. I scooped him up, and he wouldn't let go of my neck until he had rubbed his face all over mine. I had to peel him off of me to get out of my soaking wet rain gear.

I left my gear out to dry for a day or so. Bug spent hours sniffing my helmet, gloves and jacket etc. I suppose he was trying to figure out all the places I had been.

Four days after I got back I was going to take a nice afternoon ride but changed my mind when I opened the gear closet and saw a look of panic on Bug's face: eyes huge, tail dragging on the floor....Bug stuck to me like glue for about two weeks, then things were back to normal.

In retrospect, Bug was not depressed or overtly upset. He loved my wife dearly and probably sensed from her that I was okay. Since my wife was home, he had some sense or continuum of normalcy. He just missed me.

In my current job I am often away 2-3 days a week. Our three cats, Makena, Lilia and June Bug are used to this and it doesn't bother them. I am usually home with them the other days so they likely feel they get plenty of time with me. Though I usually am greeted by all three at the door when I get home.

I think I miss them more when I am gone then they miss me. I miss Makena quietly coming by to check on me when I am sleeping. Or Makena laying with me as he watches out the window near the bed. I miss Makena and June Bug racing to jump on the bed when I wake up. I miss Lilia yelling at me that she wants breakfast.

Getting back to Bug... we lost him many years ago. I still miss him every day. He was a bright star, always happy, always in the middle of everything. I have often wished I could keep such a bright outlook.

Beautiful story.. got me tearing up.. lost my cat recently and can relate to that bond so much :angel::alright:
 

aliceneko

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A mixture of "I feel like something is different, but what?" and "part-ay!" A couple of weeks ago I just got back from my first holiday as a cat owner. I was so worried that the boys would be negatively affected by our absence since they're so dependent on human affection now, to the point where it would keep me up at night during my time in France! (Then, I knew my crazy cat lady-ness was at it's peak :biggrin: But, when we got back, it was as if we never went away and were only gone for a day trip as Toffee and Fudge greeted us with their usual nose-kisses, cuddles and tummy tickles. I think they probably enjoyed having the garden to themselves (since my neighbour fed them and they're always nervous around new people, we made them a home in the shed outside since otherwise they'd never come out for their food if they heard new steps coming into the garden) since they'd grown in confidence - Toffee found his meow, and Fudge found new spots up in the trees!
 
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KarenKat

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Awww, I love that they celebrated their new independence for a bit! And I love their names, so scrumptious!
 

maggie101

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I agree with 1 Bruce. The sitter took pics of all 3 every day. Peaches showed up but Maggie and Coco were always hiding. After I came home from an 11 day trip, coco now leaves my bedroom on her own,plays in the living room with Maggie watching her, and sleeps on top of the couch. Still afraid of Maggie.

After feeding them, Maggie cries for me to come to the living room. I follow her then go back to the kitchen. She cries again. She has started massaging her paws on my couch when I sit next to her. Never noticed a difference with Peaches..
 
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KarenKat

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maggie101 maggie101 - Crazy, I think for cat intros locking them in a cage match with no humans is an underrated technique!
 
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KarenKat

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My cats stayed in my apartment. While I was gone
I meant more of a theoretical cage ... ie they are confined to an apartment and can only depend on each other for survival or perishment.

When Olive was first in her safe room, I would close the door at night to avoid fights and chases with Gohan. One night he slipped in her room and hid in the laundry room. The next day he was simply sleeping on the couch, but no bloodshed and he just trotted out. it was fairly magical ...
 

maggie101

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Somehow my cat Maggie knows not to pursue. When Coco jumps on my bureau,,couch,etc Maggie stops chasing her. She even knows not to get involved when I play with Peaches or Coco. Maggie sits down and waits for her turn
 
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