recently the little stray who had been living under our house decided he would come inside, so he was living in my wardrobe (big walk in) and he seemed super happy (wasn’t trying to escape, wasn’t hiding, would cuddle me anytime I was in the room). A few days ago though our landlord organised contractors to come and do work at our house without telling us, and the work being done was in my wardrobe. So when they showed up unannounced my flat mate panicked and put the cat outside again, and when I got home the cat wouldn’t come near me. I think I made it worse by trying real hard to get him back inside, I know I should have given him space but I was a bit upset and wanted him back so he was safe. Anyway he’s now back inside in his room and has gone back to how he was before ( he’s sitting on my lap as I write this) and so I was just wondering if it’s possible he doesn’t recognise me when I’m outside. I know it’s probably just cause he was a little scared and confused but thought I would ask out of curiosity
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Is It Possible For My Cat To Be Confused As To Who I Am Whilst In Different Environments
- Thread starter Pussbag
- Start Date
Pussbag, welcome to TCS!I guess that your kitty got a little freaked out by the sudden unannounced arrival of the workers and was a little confuse after being put out again.
It'll take awhile for him to re-orientate and as you mentioned, he's now on your lap.
He's just a little scared and confused and that's why he's sort of not recognizing you for a moment.
Next time if possible, put him in a safe room like the bathroom away from the commotion and no way of escaping rather than outside as you may never get him back again. You may leave a cardboard box in the bathroom to give him extra hiding place from the noise and leave one or two of your clean unwashed garments with him some that your scents will keep him calm and when you come home, he knows its you because of the familiar scent.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #3
Hey thanks for the reply, yes he’s getting back to being chilled out now, making a lot of progress in such short time! Unfortunately when the contractors showed up I was at work, but I made sure I let my flat mate know he should have been put in a different room till all was safe. Will set up a few boxes and stuff in the spare room for him as a place to hide if this situation happens again (which hopefully it doesn’t!)
I guess that your kitty got a little freaked out by the sudden unannounced arrival of the workers and was a little confuse after being put out again.
It'll take awhile for him to re-orientate and as you mentioned, he's now on your lap.
He's just a little scared and confused and that's why he's sort of not recognizing you for a moment.
Next time if possible, put him in a safe room like the bathroom away from the commotion and no way of escaping rather than outside as you may never get him back again. You may leave a cardboard box in the bathroom to give him extra hiding place from the noise and leave one or two of your clean unwashed garments with him some that your scents will keep him calm and when you come home, he knows its you because of the familiar scent.
Yes, have a safe room for him with some of his stuffs in it. Sometimes, he'll just need a safe room to retreat to, let's say, a thunderstorm or some loud noise from outside and not necessary workers coming in.
My boy has several places to retreat to as he does not like loud noises.
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I had always wondered if my cats would recognize me at a different environment, but as I read several writings about this, yes it is possible although they do not seem to show the same excitement as dogs do to their owners. So your cat, as mentioned above, most probably just freaked out as he had to be whisked away suddenly from the place he felt safest. It is good to know he is now recovered.
Just a point, my cat Bourbon meows whenever she looks outside the window and she sees my husband (Bourbon is not the meowing type of a cat). Therefore, I have come to the conclusion that cats do recognize their owners. They just don't usually care to let their humans know.
Just a point, my cat Bourbon meows whenever she looks outside the window and she sees my husband (Bourbon is not the meowing type of a cat). Therefore, I have come to the conclusion that cats do recognize their owners. They just don't usually care to let their humans know.
Mine are totally clueless if I come from a different door then what they are used to and run. I noticed that from all 5 cats including Treasure who does not seem to recognize me when I come from a different area. For some reason
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Our cat recognizes my husband and me when we are outside, too. But I think cats also key into familiar sounds as well, and she reacts more quickly to recognizing us outside when we are saying her name, cooing, and making some of the usual sounds we've made while inside the house. We also wave our arms around like maniacs when we are trying to get her attention outside a window. She recognizes that.
I have three young ferals living on my property. They were TNRed a year ago and have known who I am from about 4 weeks old as I fed them and their parents. One is very friendly to me and I hope to make her an indoor pet, BUT I did notice that she would react differently to me if we were in different places on my property. On my back patio she would sit next to me and even allow petting but midway into my back yard/garden she would actually jump and react like "who the heck are you?" It is somewhat better, but she is still somewhat startled, for lack of a better word, if she sees me in another place on the property. Her two sisters, who are less friendly, seem to have no reaction to where I am.
Glad you got your cat back safely. My cats hate all workmen and it freaks them out, even when I have made sure that they are closed in safe rooms ahead of time.
Glad you got your cat back safely. My cats hate all workmen and it freaks them out, even when I have made sure that they are closed in safe rooms ahead of time.
This is my experience as well. Treasure is getting used to me moving around in different parts of the property but Shaman is still skittish (and probably always will be) unless I come out the basement door.
