Do cats miss their owners when they’re apart? I think it’s something every kitty parent wonders as we head out the door to go to work each day. Cats seem to fall into two distinct categories when it comes to how they react when you’ve been away and come home.
First, you have the cat who greets you at the door with his demonstrative “mreow” (you know the one – the half purr, half meow noise), threading himself through your legs until you scoop him up to scratch him behind the ears while he head-butts your hand.
Second, you have the cat who leaves herself planted wherever she is, regardless of your return, knowing she will see you eventually (probably once it’s time for dinner).
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Do Cats Miss Their Owners?
If your cat is in the first group, you probably have a very different answer to the question, “Do cats miss their owners?” than if your cat is in the second group. This is a highly contested topic, partly because cat owners who do have loving cats feel very strongly that their kitties are attached to them and genuinely missed them while they were away. If you look at any pet forums, you will find that most cat owners say without reservation that their cats miss them when they are gone.
Science disagrees with those owners. A study published in 2015 in the journal PLOS ONE concluded that cats do not form a secure attachment to their humans, although Professor Daniel Mills who led the study did say the “findings don’t disagree with the notion that cats develop social preferences or close relationships, but they do show that these relationships do not appear to be typically based on a need for safety and security.”
I can get onboard with those findings. My cat needing me in order to feel secure (“secure attachment”) is not required for my cat to enjoy being around me and wanting to spend time with me. International Cat Care’s website explains that “Cats have no biological requirement for companionship like dogs (and humans) – they are happy on their own.”
It’s important to remember, too, that each cat is unique. If your cat has been part of your family since she was a kitten, and she got lots of love and snuggles as a kitten, she is likely to grow into a cuddly and loving adult. On the flip side, if you welcomed an adult cat into your family, his ways are already set and he may never show much interest in your whereabouts.
Whether you have a cat in group A or a cat in group B, you and your cat have determined what works well for your relationship, and that’s all that matters!
What is your experience – do cats miss their owners? Share your thoughts below!
Kate Curran is a native Midwesterner and lives outside of Chicago. She is the proud mama of two feisty, funny, and kind kiddos who give her constant inspiration (and lots of hugs), not to mention two 4-legged kids. In between working in a corporate job and spending time with her family, Kate loves to write. Her favorite topics include the things she experiences every day – parenting both kids and dogs, saving money, and loving life!
My cat is so cuddly! I got her as a baby though so you’re right she morphed into a loving adult cat. I choose to believe she misses me haha!
This is very fascinating! We used to have one Russian Blue and she would sit and door and wait for us to come back. We got another Russian Blue kitten to keep her company…now they both wait for us near the door! Defeated one of the purposes of us getting another cutie! hahaha.
Sharing this with my husband. He’s going to be so heartbroken! haha!
I strongly do agree that cats can miss their humans. It all boils down to the cat-human communication/connection. For those who have not owned a pet or found “the one” cant really understand the full strength of a cat/dog-human connection.My cat logan, had him from a new born. I saw something in him that i did not see in his brother. He grew up to be very very loving. I could not be out doing laundry in peace. He would sit at the window and he would give off a very bad cry. Even getting a bath, or going to bed i had to keep the door open or he would destroy the door!!! To sum it up if i had to work late and was not home by a certain time he would sit in the window and cry non stop (which drove my partner nuts) for hours. The greeting from my loving but annoyed partner shocked me when he said “its about time you got home! Your damn cat hasn’t stoped hollaring for the past several hours!” My 1st thought.. “did you feed him?” Sure enough he had but logan hadn’t touched a thing. As soon as he got his pat and a loving talking to from me he gladly went and ate his food no problem. My partner just looked at me in shock, it all boiled down to he was a mommas boy spoiled by love!!
Amen to that…I have two Scottish folds that I got as babies and both greet me at the door when I come home…they get there dinner and then both have to be in my lap till bedtime then have to lay between my legs till morning when we start all over the next day ?love my fur babies
I’m divorcing my wife, abd our cat was 2 or 3 years old when we got her from the shelter. She ALWAYS sat, slept, head-butted me, but nothing my wife. She does sleep with my wife when I went on trips. But I wonder if she misses me? I could not take her with me, she’s terrified of car rides, and I moved 500 miles away. I HOPE she’s okay, not depressed I’m gone. My soon to be ex-wife says she’s fine. Breaks my heart. I hope I didn’t hurt her, I had no choice.
While my cat is just fine if we leave for a few days, she definitely sticks close to us much more than usual when we get home. They say “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Perhaps this is the case for cats!
I’ve never been very sure if my cats were attached to me or not. Two of them belong to one of my roommates but I see more of them than she does since I’m home most of the time. On top of that they’re both in their teens. The third and youngest is only a few years old and the only one I myself brought into the house. All three have vastly different personalities. Our only girl is picky and only wants attention sometimes and will claw at you if you bother her when she doesn’t want to be. Our oldest male is extremely friendly and happily accepts attention all the time. The youngest is very vocal and playful, he likes having his stomach rubbed and play-fighting with people’s hands but he hates being picked up or carried and always wants to go outside. Recently I went on a trip and was away from the house for four or so days. When on got back my roommate told me that the cats had missed me, which I was skeptical about considering that most of the cats’ interests usual lie elsewhere. Apparently they had sat by my bedroom door for long periods of time throughout the days i was gone. Knowing that, regardless of what the studies say, I feel as though my cats are indeed attached to me and did in fact miss me.
Years ago I adopted a sweet little black and white senior cat who ended up in a no kill shelter. She totally ignored everyone who came in, and seemed irritated when I showed her a lot of attention. I found out later on that her mistress was put in a nursing home. It was obvious to me she was waiting for her beloved to show up and take her home. It took her a while to become used to me.
During the covid lockdown my big Maine Coon cat didn’t mind it when I stayed home. He obviously didn’t like it whenever he saw me put on my street clothes and especially my shoes. The stare Loki gave me was “Now where do you think you’re going?” He still sits by the door when he hears my key in the lock.
I do believe that pets miss there owners and try to leave them with as much entertainment. I have 2 cats, one that will meet me at the door and the other not so really. My cousin/roommate says they cry for me when I’m gone because they are used to laying along my body at night when I’m asleep. I treat and constantly talk to them as they where human and I do believe they adore me just as much as I do them. the kisses and hugs they give prove it LoL
I do try to practice before leaving and returning home. I will do my best to ignore them, this way, when I am walking out the door, they don’t pay me no attention. I feel it works for the most part
I beg to differ with science. My cat most definitely misses me when im gone. She acts like a child or even a dog when she sees me coming. She also has a secure attachment issue. She has to be with me everywhere, and that includes the need to be held when on the couch, or at least right beside me, and in bed, right up against me or between legs or on top of me if im on my back. My cat loves and MISSES me! No question