Do cats miss their owners?

It’s easy to assign human emotions to our pets. Of course, we miss them when we’ve gone on an extended vacation. But is that feeling mutual? Do our cats even notice our absence? Cat behavior is tricky to decode, but that doesn’t stop us from trying.

Research has experts divided on the matter. Some studies have shown that yes, cats do experience separation anxiety.

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A study conducted at the University of Lincoln brings us this conclusion: cats don’t need humans to feel protected the way that dogs do. The study maintains that while cats are still affectionate animals capable of forming profound human-pet relationships, they are ultimately autonomous creatures.

In short—cats don’t need us to survive. And they are fully aware of this fact.

RELATED: Do cats experience separation anxiety?

This doesn’t mean you don’t have a special bond with your cat. Cats are affectionate creatures—they just vary in their requirement for human attention. Some cats enjoy their alone time, while others prefer the constant company of their human family.

According to animal experts, cats do, in fact, suffer from separation anxiety. They’re apprehensive when we leave the house, and they want reassurance that we’ll return at the pre-arranged hour. But, it is also true that all cats are different, and some will handle separation better than others.

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Unlike dogs, cats can behave in many different ways, from aloof and unattached to very interactive and demanding. Can ‘true attachment’ be found on that spectrum?

That’s the million-dollar question! So the jury is still out on the matter.

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