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Cats/will he remember me??

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Expert: - 12/1/2009


Question
i am currently working overseas for the next six months and left my cat (5 years old) with my grandparents and aunt about 2 months before i left the US. I was able to visit him before i left. he definitely remembered me b/c he chose to sleep with me and not my aunt for the first time in weeks. though he was a bit stand offish. now jazz (my cat's name) loves human affection. he has been around humans since he was born and therefore exhibits a lot of dog like behaviors. i would call him my shadow b/c he followed me pretty much everywhere in the house when he was not sleeping. i got him when was 6 weeks old and we have never been apart this long since i have had him. i love that little guy to death and just want to know if he will remember me when i get back. he has really gotten attached to my grandfather, so i do not know if i would be doing more harm than good by taking him back to live with me when i return. it would break my heart if this scarred him long term, so i just want to do what is best for him. thank you.

Answer
Nikki,

This is a really good question!!!!!!!!!!  We do not really know how cat memory works.  However, cats are readily adaptable to human bonding.  Even if Jazz does not remember you, he will readily re-bond with you and, in time, it will be like old times.

With such a relatively short term separation, Jazz should do fine.

Best regards... Norm.

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Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

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