Will our PRECIOUS KITTIES remember us after a 9 months separation??? (sleeping, dogs)

[ManhattanGirlz]

And will they remember our other cat?
We had to foster them out until we bought a house. We have not seen them because it was waaay too painful, in case we were not able to buy a place...

But we got the place an we are getting them back this weekend.. I AM ON CLOUD NINE!!!! THEY ARE OUR BABIES!!! We bottle fed, and took care of them since they were 3 WEEKS old!!! they were fostered out when they turned 6 months.... so we have not seen them for 9 months....

saddest day of our lives when they had to leave.... we are wondering if they will remember us?? and will they remember our other cat, who was like a mother to them? And will she remember them? Our other cat was DEPRESSED when they left!! for months !!! I think she still is...

such great news!!! just wondering if cats remember owners, or other cats, after a long separation??

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

don't know about cats, but dogs sure do. I would imagine they'll be a little stand-offish until they get a good whiff of your scent - then they'll be all over you.

[Alley01]

Not in most cases. You start over with most cats after a separation of a few months. But, I did have a cat remember me after a year (or maybe he just needed someone to trust and felt I was that person). They just don't have the bond with their humans that dogs do. You hear of those stories about a dog waiting for an owner after the owner dies but you just don't see that with cats. It doesn't mean that they won't love you, they just need time to go through a transition. Good Luck!

[=^..^=]

Where did you ever find someone to foster them for such a long period of time? Were they boarded somewhere?

[greg42]

There are some places where I see the same cats every few months or so, sometimes 6 months or more between visits, and they appear to remember. But it could just as easily be that the cats are particularly outgoing with someone who wants to give them attention.

My hunch is that after 9 months of no contact they won't truly remember. Long term memory I don't think is a big thing with cats. But they will readjust just fine, most likely. You could have kept the memory alive more, perhaps, by visiting them occasionally. That is what I would have done in that situation.

Good luck with the reintroduction.

[chaseystarz]

Thats a long time to a cat and so much has happened they might not recall you too well. I used to go away for the summer when I was a kid for a few months to visit my older sister and I'd come back to my cat and he remembered. But he was in his own home with my things and sleeping on my bed. So since the cats really have no memory to well of you I'd say the chances are low. But you never know.

Best of luck with them!

[MissNM]

Years ago, our cat got loose outside. We were reunited many months later. The first time we captured him - he FREAKED out. Then second time, a few weeks later, he was still in survival mode. But once he was back indoors, he definitely remembered us. It took a little while to get back into the routine, but now things are wonderful.

You are lucky to have people that could care for them for so many months. You made arrangements to ensure they were cared for and came back for them. That's a story with a happy ending.

[jasper12]

It will be like you were never gone. I had to foster Mickey for almost 2 years, due to just a messed up life for awhile. When I came back, he was like I had never left. My ex and I are always trading cats, due to his life and my life trading around, moving...and the cats adjust very well. Dogs, do not do as well as cats.

[catman]

ManhattanGirlz: I think the kitties might remember you if you really bonded with them. It could be hard to tell.

[Ohiogirl81]

I think they'll remember you. Let us know how the reunion goes.