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Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Will my cats remember me and their home?
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Question
Dear Tabbi,
I have 5 cats 1 big Persian and four teenage tabbies i live with my parents but they r mostly away now my father is coming home for 25 days he wants the 4 little cats out so i just gave them to a friend today and i will take them back after my father leaves, the question is will they remember their home when they come back? will there be a problem between them and the big cat? which is their friend but will stay with me while my father is here
im worried things will not be as they used to be before i took them to my friend...
Thank you for the great help you are giving to people here it's so amazing to know about people like you
Keep it up
yours
cherine
Cherine,
Your cats will recognize your voice. Cat don't go by sight, they go by voice recognition and smell.
If everything still basically smells the same to them at home when they come back, there shouldn't be any problems. Make sure they will have the same bedding and toys that they did so they will still have their smells on them. The same goes for the Persian. It may take a couple of days to reacquaint themselves but you shouldn't have any problems.
The Persian MAY hiss and growl at the tabbies when they come back because THEY will have diffent smells on them from your friend's house, and at firs he may think they are new cats. Rub a towel all over the Persian, then rub the tabbies with it (but don't do it vice-versa). That should help.
Tabbi
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Answers by Expert:
Dear Tabbi
Expertise
My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.
Experience
Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).
Education/Credentials
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* One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
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