Understanding the behavior of a cat can be as bewildering as trying to read hieroglyphics. But it does not stop cat owners from trying to understand what their small furry friends must be thinking.
It is a human tendency to associate human thoughts or feelings about pets. Many cat owners find it difficult while leaving the cat behind for a vacation or rehoming a cat.
Cats are a creature of habit, and any break in their daily routine is hard for them. If rehomed, cats often miss their previous owners.
When they are adjusting to the new home, it takes some time to get habituated with the schedule and schedule at a new home, and it can be sad and depressed at this time.
Cats can even come back to their former owner if that’s geographically possible. Rehoming a cat can induce challenging behavior, and it’s stressful for any cat.
& In this article, we will try to cover the famous question – ” Will my cat miss me when I give him away.?”
Will my cat miss me when I give him away?
If the cat has formed a secure connection with the owner, it will be sad and depressed when giving it away to a new home. Cats miss the schedule they are habituated with and the former owner who maintained it.
How attached can cats get with an owner?
We often assign human emotions to cats. When we go away for a vacation or a business trip, we miss our cats, and we question whether they miss us too.
It is difficult to answer this question with complete certainty, and there is a constant debate on this matter in the scientific world.
Experts have produced a divided view on this topic. Some have agreed to the fact that cats deal with separation anxiety.
However, few experts have pointed out that cats do not need humans to live. We are going to discuss each view thoroughly and give a complete opinion on this matter.
The University of Lincoln conducted a study in 2015. It showed that humans’ requirement in a cat life is much less than in the case of dogs.
It does not mean that the cat is not capable of having a human-cat relationship. It just means that the cat does not need us for their wellbeing, and they know this themselves.
This theory’s supporters do not indicate that one doesn’t have a meaningful bond with the cat. Some cats may find it easy to curl up on your lap and cuddle, while others may separate themselves from humans.
There are a few experts who disagree with the study conducted by Lincoln University. They have said that the cats have separation anxiety like the dogs.
Cats feel sad or depressed when the owner leaves the house and doesn’t come back by a stipulated time. This type of behavior depends on the bonding the cat has with humans.
A cat having a good bond with its owner may appear to be apathetic. It can even fail to acknowledge its human friend because it knows that the owner will come back eventually.
A cat having a secure attachment with its human friend makes the cat miss its owner when one is around to play or attend to it.
The cat with a secure attachment will not let go of the former owner if rehomed. The cat can adapt to a new home, routine, and owner eventually.
When a cat starts to like the owner from the start, it forms an insecure attachment with the human. Cats’ fear of abandonment is responsible for insecure attachment.
Cats do not leave the side of their owner in fear of losing them. Rehoming of a cat having an insecure attachment with the owner becomes painful for the cat.
The worst fear becomes a reality when the cat is away from its owner. They can show severe sadness and inappropriate behavior in the new home.
However, close observation and proper care can help in making a secure connection with the cat. It will need sufficient time to adjust to the new home.
Do cats try to visit their former home?
A cat may come to revisit its previous owner. But this depends on a few factors –
- Rehoming circumstances are not suitable.
- Bonding of the cat and previous owner
- Any discomfort in the new home
Cats can miss the former owner of the new home that doesn’t seem suitable to him. The cat may be missing its previous owner and the routine it used to follow.
A cat can even want to hear the previous owner’s voice or smell them. Cats take some time to adapt to the new home, and they can visit former homes at any time.
A cat may visit the previous house because it misses the home more than the owner. Cats are very territorial, and they try to dominate particular places at home. These places can include –
- Hiding places around the house
- Mice and bird hunting ground
- Close to a running water
- Quiet corners in the house
If a cat is not treated well in a household, it is disinclined to go back to those households. So, it entirely depends on the experience of the cat before rehoming.
If one has taken a new cat and wants to keep it from running away, start making a homely and playful environment for the cat. Give it enough space to get itself habituated with the environment and routine slowly.
Keep the cat indoors, away from neighborhood cats and traffic during this time. It’s a slow process, but it will indeed work.
Are there any effects of rehoming a cat? What are they?
Rehoming a cat completely changes its world. Cats get habituated with the routine and environment of the house.
If rehomed, it just uproots any form of habit and forces the cat into modifying itself to the new schedule. It often leads to severe depression, and cats don’t behave normally until the adjustment is complete.
A new cat owner should not be rude at this time. One should be patient and accepting of the time a cat would need to readjust itself.
New cat owners can learn the habits and schedules of the previous home. If one maintains a similar environment and routine, it will be easier for the cat to settle in the new place.
It also makes the transition swift and makes the bond with the new owner stronger. Keeping the cat in a single room until its routine also helps. Once the cat is comfortable in the room, let it roam around the house.
Signs that the cat misses their previous owner?
Several symptoms of sadness become very apparent. The following symptoms should be taken into consideration to judge the mood of the cat –
- Forming an insecure attachment with the new owner
- Vocalizing constantly
- Excessive grooming
- Seeking the attention of the owner constantly.
In severe cases, the cat can even go into depression and should keep an eye for the following symptoms –
- Excessive sleeping
- Loss of appetite
- Lack of energy
- Not engaging with the new owner.
- Aggressive behavior
If the cat is depressed, one should keep the cat stick to a cat’s specific schedule. It should take around two to three weeks to get habituated.
The changes in home and routine are why a rehomed cat needs a loving owner. When the cat is comfortable with the new household, the former cat owner can visit the cat.
Will My Cat Remember Me After One Year?
Several factors will determine whether the cat will remember the former owner. If one maintained a loving home, the cat would remember the owner.
The rehomed cat will remember one and show affection when it sees you. However, older cats often show symptoms of dementia, which can affect their memories.
Also, cats cannot recognize a person if their voice changes after rehoming a cat. The scent of humans helps in these cases to understand that the person is its previous owner.
In conclusion, we can say that the cat can have separation issues if rehomed, and the new cat owner should be very attentive to its need.
Cats can develop several symptoms of sadness and depression when in an insecure attachment with the owner.
The new owner should maintain a similar schedule and let it meet with its former owner to get it habituated with the new home and have a happy feline in the house.
Related:
References & Citations:
1 ) https://www.bustle.com/p/does-my-cat-miss-me-heres-how-to-tell-if-your-furry-friend-cares-whether-not-youre-around-9010291
2) https://www.pawshake.com.au/blog/does-cat-miss-you-when-youre-gone
3) https://www.thedodo.com/close-to-home/do-cats-miss-their-owners
Hi There, AJ Oren here. I am the founder of this amazing pet blog & a passionate writer who loves helping pet owners to learn more about their pets through my articles. I am also the content manager of this blog. I have experience in pet training and behavior, sheltering, and currently working for a veterinary clinic.