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?
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?