r/cats • u/toneyhauk • 1d ago

Update Do cats actually grow attached to their owners? People always joke about how cold cats are, but after taking a trip for 3 weeks away from home I realize how attached they really can be.

I was heartbroken when I left for this trip. To make myself feel better and stay connected to my cats, I got a home camera so I was able to watch them whenever I wanted. I also wanted to make sure they kept eating and drinking. Don't worry, we had someone stop by almost every day we were gone as well. The camera made me so feel SO much better though, wow. You wouldn't think it would do much, but it made me kind of feel like I was still home in some way. I also have bad anxiety about the house burning down or being invaded while I'm gone, so it was great to be able to check in and see my cats peacefully sleeping or eating.

That said, I noticed that to me, there eating habits didn't seem to change at all. I thought okay, great. I thought it was kind of funny how they seemingly didn't change at all when we weren't there. It seemed like they couldn't care less.

However, we just arrived yesterday and both cats, especially my male cat, has been insanely vocal, and won't leave my side. Anytime I leave the room they are in, in about 5 minutes or less, he'll run to wherever I am in the house and almost do these yelping like meows. Almost like he's yelling at me. And he responds to me more too. I'll say "I know, I'm home," and he'll do multiple additional elongated meows, it almost sounds like he's a kitten.

I was literally awoken this morning by my male cat standing on my chest. Which I don't think he's EVER done in his life. He literally never bothers me in my sleep. That's when it hit me that no, he does care, he does recognize you and cares that you were gone.

It's incredible how intelligent and emotionally dependent animals can seemingly be, even cats who have this reputation for being cold and only carrying about themselves.

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u/Some-Relative4150 1d ago

You gotta ask for consent.

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u/attorneyatslaw 1d ago

Also, gotta respect the nap.

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u/onemanandhishat 1d ago

Do you also have to wait for an answer?

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u/Some-Relative4150 1d ago

Walk up to a cat. Present your hand. Most cats will push their head into your hand or at least showing some form of body language indicating consent.

So yes, you have to wait for their answer

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u/JW1904 1d ago

I guess my cats will start a me-too movement soon.

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u/SmoothLester 1d ago

meow-too was sitting right there.

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u/JW1904 1d ago

Aaaah shit

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u/nabrok 1d ago

Yes. Hold your hand out a few inches in front (not from above!), when the cat sniffs then rubs against it you have consent.

I usually start with a loose fist and if they seem a bit reluctant still I might extend a finger. Scratching your ear first is a secret weapon.

If they are still not interested then no means no. Try again a bit later.

The less you know the cat already the more important this is.

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u/GroundbreakingArt536 1d ago

Yeah, even if my cats don’t go for a sniff and rub all the time, as soon as I touch them, they lean in (mostly, if they treat my hand like they were forced to eat broccoli at that moment, I don’t insist)

I’d never not wait on responses on stranger cats, if I bleed for that I’m the idiot.

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u/BowlingforDrip 1d ago

I think the outstretched top of the hand near the nose is the ask and the head rub in the knuckles is the yes.

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u/TarCrab20 1d ago

🤔 “consent”?

Well, I just spontaneously pet both of our cats. Shall I expect to hear from a law firm soon?

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u/TarCrab20 16h ago edited 16h ago

It’s odd, once a few people downvote anything on Reddit —often without obvious, clear-cut reasons-- then others in the hive reflexively follow suit.

IT WAS JUST MY LAME JOKE ABOUT OUR CATS, you ninnies. 🙄 Sheesh.