'[Cats] remember those who show them kindness': 20+ wholesome stories of cats remembering their favorite hoomans shared with the online feline family

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Ayala Sorotsky • Writer and Editor
Jan 7, 2025 2:00 PM EST

Every cat pawrent wants to spend time with their cat, all the time if we could. Sometimes, on those rare occasions, a hooman needs to part with their cat temporarily. Some go on a vacation, some move out for college, some are going on a business trip - but they all need to leave a purrecious little fluffy friend behind with a family member, a catsitter, or any other alternative. And that's not a nice feeling, we know. On top of that, there's a thought that creeps into the mind of every cat pawrent - 'Will my cat remember me when I'm back?'

One such humble hooman wondered just that, fearful her mom's cat wouldn't remember her after she'd gone to study abroad. She turned to the online feline family for support and some answers. What she didn't expect was a huge amount of stories casting her fears aside - the online feline family shared the most wholesome stories of cats remembering, reminiscing, missing, and being the smart and sweet creatures they are.

Are you a cat pawrent dealing with this daunting question right now? We encourage you to scroll down to ease your fears. The amount of heartwarming stories told by hoomans with cats, who remember, can cast any such fear aside. Seriously, we do not deserve cats. What did we do to deserve such smart and loving creatures in our lives? We honestly don't know, but we're going to read through these stories again to melt our hearts once more with all this cat cuteness.

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  • 01
    00 r/TuxedoCats 2 days ago hothotsoup02 Anyone know how long cats remember their owners for? ? QUESTION? This is Lunar and my mum will be taking care of her if I actually have to go abroad to study/work. She's a teen rescue kitty and this is our 3rd month with her. Has anyone had their cats remember them despite being away for more than a year?
    via u/hothotsoup02
  • 02
    gargravarr2112 • 2d ago. Years. They remember those who show them kindness. I would sometimes go months between seeing my late grandmother and, guaranteed, her cat would be waiting on her driveway when he heard my car. When she later had a stroke, she was in hospital for months. He clearly missed her. When she was moved to a nursing home, I was able to take him to visit. He leapt straight up on her bed and snuggled with her. I have him now and we've helped each other come to terms with her passi
    via u/gargravarr2112

  • These stories purrove, without a doubt, that cats are intelligent and compassionate creatures. Some people who don't know any better blame cats for being indifferent and aloof. Some cats might be, but it's only because you need to earn their love - and if you do, there's a whole ocean of cat love to give and receive. And they remember the ones who have been good to them. So, be good to cats. It's wholesome either way.

  • 03
    gargravarr2112 • 19h ago Edited 19h ago Wasn't even any delay either, no hesitation, the moment I opened the carrier in her room (unfamiliar to him) he darted straight out and leapt onto the bed. He could smell his human and wanted to be close to her. It was absolutely adorable to watch. I took him several more times after that. The staff loved him. He hated the car ride but would snuggle with her for hours. It honestly helped him a great deal - he'd become very distant after she was hospitalise
    via u/gargravarr2112
  • 04
    smileypotatoeseater • 1d ago • if she pretends she doesnt know you or gives you the cold shoulder, this is just what cats do when we go away for long. sometimes even a few days, when we get back they get stubborn and pretend they dont care. but i assure you she will love you ↑ 30 30 > Reply Spookyscary333 • 1d ago Sometimes even after 8 hours of work lol 15 ○ Reply SCSimmons • 1d ago • Yeah, you might get a spate of her pretending you're a stranger, then she'll hork in your shoe, and then everyt
    via u/smileypotatoeseater
  • 05
    ZamazaCallista 1d ago I've had kittens I fostered when they were less than a year old remember me sometimes many years later. And if they don't recognize you at first, sometimes they pick up on your smell and realize who you are from that better! 8 Reply Spun_On_ • 1d ago • Top 5% Commenter ... That's so cute they remembered you
    via u/ZamazaCallista
  • 06
    TopAngle 7630 .2d ago • Edited 2d ago This used to be Gary, he lived with us for a couple of weeks but then he moved a few doors down and became Bruce. He was just too much for our 2 cats to cope with. When I visit, he still makes a beeline for me and just falls asleep on my lap.
    via u/TopAngle7630

  • It's such a heartwarming thing to know the hooman still visits this kitten. Like, look at them, they're buddies, getting together to hang out. It doesn't matter if the kitty is Gary or Bruce - he's still a fluffy friend of this hearty hooman. Cats and hoomans cat form friendships that last more than most human friendships. It's obviously only limited to cats' lifespan, but a friendship with their favorite hooman can literally mean a lifetime for them.

  • 07
    nnylhsae •1d ago • Thank you!! I'm going to study abroad this year and will be gone for at least 3 months at a time, possibly 7-8 if I don't go home for winter break. I'm terrified my cat will forget me even though I've been the one to feed her and take care of her for 7, going on 8, years since she was a baby. 12 Reply zeenzee ⚫ 1d ago Please set your mind at ease, your cat won't forget you! I know it will feel like an eternity for both of you though. She's going to miss you as much as you miss
    via u/nnylhsae
  • 08
    gargravarr2112 • 20h ago • When I was away at university, I would still come home to my cat knowing exactly who I was and how much attention he'd get from me. I've never had any worries about cats remembering me. Just like any intelligent animal, they have long memories, especially for those who are kind to them. ✩ 1 1 > Reply nnylhsae •18h ago I appreciate it. She's my baby
    via u/gargravarr2112
  • 09
    foxycutie_blossom_ • 2d ago • Cats have great memories! Lunar will definitely remember you. 253 > Reply ... hothotsoup02 OP.2d ago . Thank you!! I was already feeling heartbroken at the thought of her forgetting me ③ 82 ○ Reply ...
    via u/foxycutie_blossom_
  • 10
    Barracuda00 • 2d ago Forever. Not even exaggerating. 13 ○ Reply
    via u/Barracuda00
  • 11
    NorthStar60 • 2d ago. • Great memories!
    via u/NorthStar60
  • 12
    MainlanderPanda • 2d ago Our youngest child went overseas in early 2020 and got stuck in England for two years because of co id border closures. Her cat definitely remembered her when she got home. 144 > Reply MaggieMakes Things ⚫ 2d ago • Stuck here for two years?! Oh my gosh! ↑ 48 > Reply
    via u/MainlanderPanda
  • 13
    Snax_63 2d ago My friends had a cat that loved me a lot. They moved away and it was probably 3 years the next time I saw them. This cat didn't really seek out attention from anyone outside of the family except for me. When we finally reunited, she hopped on my lap and started purring. We lived in different cities after that, so we would only see each other infrequently, but every time she'd come over for pets. When she started to slow down and it was clear she wasn't going to last much longer, m
    via u/Snax_63
  • 14
    BigJSunshine • 2d ago • Forever. Its true. In 2001 I took a friend's cat in when her toddler made the cats life unbearable. The friendship drifted in part because she never came to visit the cat (I now realize momming is exhausting and time consuming, but still). In 2005 I moved from the midwest to California with the cat. In 2012 my friend visited me, kitty heard her voice at the door (her suitcase still in hand), came RUNNING and never left her side. It was beautiful and heartbreaking. 68 ○ Re
    via u/BigJSunshine
  • 15
    cuntsuperb • 2d ago • So my grandma used to visit us a few times a week and the cats knew her somewhat well, then we moved abroad and my grandma was only able to visit us a year later bc of co_id. My cats were initially a bit hesitant, but after an hour or two they recognized her and started asking her for chicken (she used to feed my cats plain boiled chicken when she cooked, behind my back) After that she's been visiting around annually, last gap was 1.5 years and my cats still remembered her
    via u/cuntsuperb
  • 16
    Mui2Thai 2d ago • My son moved to California for 6 years, when he moved back, my 2 oldest cats remembered him immediately upon his return and were very happy to see him. 19 ○ Reply
    via u/Mui2Thai
  • 17
    Arzodius01 • 2d ago. Your cat may not recognize you after a long time but definitely remembers! I spent 2 weeks in Peru last year and when I came back, my cat acted with me as if I was a stranger until I picked him up, then he recognized me and started violently cuddling and purring 17 ○ Reply
    via u/Arzodius01
  • 18
    Evil Minion07 • 2d ago • There was a story of one lost for over 8 years when rescued, she ran right up to the owner and began making biscuits on her lap. 12 Reply
    via u/EvilMinion07
  • 19
    Traditional_Team_467 2d ago • I've had a cat remember me after a couple months, multiple times
    via u/Traditional_Team_467
  • 20
    dspumoni74 • 2d ago True story - an ex stole my cat. MANY years later (5+) when she was "trying to be a better person," (her words) she let me see him when he wasn't in good health. Busy vet's office. As soon as the carrier door opened, he walked directly to ME, purred like CRAZY and sat in my lap. Trust me - your kitty WILL remember you. 10 > Reply MaterialEarth4792 • 1d ago • If my ex stole my cat id be ped and steal it back I love my baby
    via u/dspumoni74
  • 21
    Boudicat 2d ago • I was reunited with my cat when her first human - a former housemate - emigrated and I was asked to adopt her. Hadn't seen her for two years. She was delighted to see me. The feeling was entirely mutual.
    via u/Boudicat
  • 22
    BZBitiko 2d ago Edited 2d ago Yeah, cats remember by smell I think. There are many posts about cats coming home from surgery/some time away, and their best cat bud has shunned them - til they ate/pooed/hung out enough that they smelled like they did before. Proposition: a cat will remember you if you smell like you did when you hung out together. Time isn't the deciding factor. So... if you lived in New England and mostly ate New England Boiled Dinner, then you go away and eat hot peppers every
    via u/BZBitiko
  • 23
    TheRenOtaku • 1d ago • We sheltered my SIL's cat for almost a year in the guest bedroom after catastrophic flooding hit her home. I was the one who took care of and spent time with Mia. That was over 8 years ago. To this day I am still one of the only people who Mia will go to for pets.
    via u/TheRenOtaku

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