I was gone for three months.

[zanana1]

I broke my leg and had to go to a rehab center. I got back home a few days ago. When I walked through the door, my cat looked at me, turned around, and went into another room. I was so hurt! He was well cared for while I was gone with people giving him treats and toys and undivided attention. I guess I understand his disappointment, but it still hurts. He was acting like an angry teenager. Has anybody else been dissed by their cat?

[Walleye]

1. Oh yes, there were times when I went away for a couple weeks and the cat would spend an hour or two yelling at me when I

Got back then he wouldn’t speak to me all night. He got over it pretty quick and went back to his normal self

[drray23]

2. yeap. When we go out on travel we have a pet sitter.

Two weeks later, when we come back, our cats give us the cold shoulder for a day or two, but it does not last.

[wcmagumba]

3. Meouch...I hope you are all healed and feeling better. Cats gonna cat...

I'm sure he loves you in his own feline way...DU likes you too...

[SWBTATTReg]

4. Ha ha heh! I'm sorry, I couldn't resist laughing. Poor baby obviously missed you, and is pissed off at you. They'll

come around after they settle down. By the way, we have been dissed by our cats (and dogs sometimes too), when they didn't get the walk or treats that they wanted. Can't be all things all of the time to your fav animals. Still love 'em thou...

[Dear_Prudence]

5. Oh yes.

Some cats will take your absence personally, as tho you deliberately and callously abandoned them. Cats are forgiving tho. So profess your "guilt" (no excuses!) and treat him with extra kindness. Congratulations on graduating from rehab!

[Tesha]

6. Consider that it may be a trust issue

And that puss wants to be sure you’ll stay

[rurallib]

7. of course - it is what cats do

[Harker]

8. I'd be surprised to hear from anyone who hasn't.

They're not dogs, that's for sure.

[blm]

9. Yes, but, not for long.

😻

[-misanthroptimist]

10. I once visited my brother when he had cancer

I was gone for two weeks. When I got home my kitty looked at me, gave me the stink eye, and walked away. She ignored me for a couple of days and then things went back to normal.

Fourteen years later, we're still friends.

[Hey Joe]

11. Don't take it too hard

We all know cats can be fickle and get a ‘tude.
It’ll come around soon and love you back.
A dog would never reject you like this though.
Glad you’re doing better!

[calimary]

12. Yeah. I remember when my parents and I took a brief vacation.

We made sure the cat was taken care of, over the days we were gone. But BOY! When we came home, my cat ignored me for the whole rest of the day!

[Skittles]

13. that's pretty normal for a cat

don't read anything into it, they just have their ways that ain't like dogs

[twodogsbarking]

14. He is confused maybe. He will warm up Glad you are home and recovering.

[flashman13]

15. I'm sure he will forgive you.

[Skittles]

41. that's right

whereas a dog is all excited if you return even after fifteen minutes, cats either don't notice or be like, "Where the fuck have you been?"

[flashman13]

43. Mine are pretty much the second option.

"Didn't you tell the sitter canned food is served at 5"?

[Skittles]

46. *SNORT*

[lark]

16. Oh yes. My old orange cat Basil would not have anything to do with us when we returned home from vacation.

He was pissed at us for leaving him. It would take 3 days, then he'd go back to his usual super friendly and cuddly boy. His mother was the opposite. She would not leave our sides when we returned.

[Submariner]

17. Churu can change a snotty attitude

[Niagara]

18. Our feline companions are sensitive creatures

You most likely smell "off" due to a scent change.


There was a routine disruption and this threw off his "security".


Any new items brought into a home and can cause uncertainly and stress as well.


Give your cat a few days. Wear clothing or a blanket that you left at home that contains your "home" scent. Give your cat some space. He'll be back to his usual self in a few days.


Happy reuniting, Zanana.

[legallyblondeNYC]

35. Agree the scent ...

Their noses are really sensitive. If you return home with some scent of the rehab, the cat may find it strange or even unpleasant. Agree with the suggestion of clothing or laundry or products that smell more like home. Give it a day or so...

[EverHopeful]

19. Only ever had 1 cat sitter that the cats must have loved

because no matter how long we were gone, we didn't get the cold-shoulder punishment.

Miss that instant forgiveness now that the cat sitter is no longer cat sitting.

Congratulations on graduating rehab and getting home.

[Whyisthisstillclose]

20. We have had some that would start acting "mad" when we started packing for a trip! They knew what it meant and didn't

like it at all. They soon forgave us after our return, though.

[NJCher]

37. ours would climb in the suitcase

so we couldn't put anything more in it.

[Whyisthisstillclose]

44. Very smart, and a true sign of love!

[TomSlick]

21. Cats and dogs.

Dogs: The human loves me, houses me, feeds me, and cleans up after me. The human must be God.

Cats: The human loves me, houses me, feeds me, and cleans up after me. I must be God.

[zanana1]

47. I love that!

Thank you for putting it in perspective.

[TomSlick]

49. It's not original with me.

It's just true.

[chowder66]

22. Your cat loves you so much that he's mad at you. I see that as a good sign!

Glad you are doing better!!

[avebury]

23. I broke my leg at the end of December and did not return

home until March 12th (hospital stay with 2 surgeries and time spent at a skilled nursing facility for rehab}. I came home with a wheelchair and a walker, It took some time for my cat to get adjusted to them. He actually claimed the wheelchair the other night for a nap. I have two more weeks of home health physical therapy and need to talk to my surgeon about getting set up for out patient PT,

The big news for me today is that my surgeon's office has told me that I can now drive. I am now using both the walker and a cane with my goal to walk into July appointment using the cane. I am almost 4 months post op and that it will take a year for the healing to take place. I really messed up my leg.

[NJCher]

39. wow, what an ordeal

sounds very difficult. You have an upbeat, positive attitude about it, though!

[Bluestocking]

24. It's why I have dogs

If that were a dog he/she would have knocked you over with kisses and not left your side for the rest of the day.

[mountain grammy]

25. Never have had cats

but my dogs have always peee all over me when I've been away for more than three days. Seems to be their breaking point. 3 days. No advice on cats, but I'm sure he'll come around eventually?

I'm a human, glad you're home as I'm sure you are!

[HeartsCanHope]

26. Every time we would leave our cats, they would react the same way.

My vet said it was that we smelled differently than our cats were accustomed having us smell.

We had multiple cats and they treated each other with a growl when they had been to the vet.

When you start to smell like your home surroundings again, your cat will come around.

I'm sorry your feelings were hurt, but it isn't you, it's the smell of where you were.

[bluescribbler]

27. I have a similar story.

Broke my thigh bone late Feb. Hospital, surgery, (I am now the proud owner of a titanium rod and two screws which the doc says are mine to keep), and weeks of rehab. Been home for nearly a month and a half and the cats still act as if they don't know me.

[Katcat]

29. Broke 3 bones in my ankle a few years ago

And was in a cast forever! Couldn’t jump up to open doors or food so I got the cold shoulder.

[Katcat]

28. Absolutely!

I broke my ankle a few years ago and every one of the cats got mad at ME because I couldn’t get up to feed them every time they wanted to eat. I couldn’t give them treats so I got the cold shoulder.

[JMCKUSICK]

30. Yes, the very first time I left Petunia while I was on vacation,

she refused to have anything to do with me for 48 hours. Late the second night back, she snuck into my bedroom after I fell asleep an I woke up with her next to me so all seemed forgiven.

We lived happily ever after.

[Laffy Kat]

31. He's just being a cat.

Don't take it personally.

Heal quickly! Maybe try to get your kitty to purr on top of the break. That will help it heal. (At least that's what I've read.)

[NNadir]

32. He'll get over it. I'm experienced with cranky cats.

My last late cat hated me for about a month before becoming an affectionate sweety pie.

[sinkingfeeling]

33. Absolutely.

[malaise]

34. Glad you're back and healing

Cats are cats😀

[punguin54]

36. Not me.

My dog gets pissed at me anytime I go somewhere without him. And he hasn't for ten days so for. I had a leg amputated and now I will be in rehab for a while

[Figarosmom]

38. He'll get over it.

Just give him a little attention subtly.

[MIButterfly]

40. Welcome back, zanana1!

It must be so good to be back home!

Whenever I come home from leaving my cats for a couple of days, as soon as I walked in the door, they come downstairs, see that it's me and go running back upstairs! When I bring them home after boarding them, they take off running as soon as I let him out of their carriers and ignore me for hours.

Whenever I picked up my previous cat, Boots, from boarding, she would cling to the worker as if she were terrified of me. It ripped my heart out every time. As soon as we got home, she would give me the cold shoulder and after I had been properly chastised, she would cling to me for about a week before everything went back to normal.

Every cat is different but I suspect your cat will come around before long. Good luck!

[some_of_us_are_sane]

42. Cats SULK

That's all there is to it. Just enough to make us feel bad, then show up for meals and scratches.

[Rhiannon12866]

45. My beloved dog, who loved my Dad more than anyone, completely ignored him when he returned from a trip

Within a day, my Cairn Terrier (like Toto) was making a fuss over my animal loving Dad as usual. My Dad was used to the day of rejection and used to laugh about it.

[WinstonSmith4740]

48. It's their specialty.

I've had as many as 5 cats at a time. They live by their own terms.

I just had a hip replaced and was sleeping in the living room for a few days. When I decided to get back into bed the first night, both of them were curled up literally in the middle of the bed. They always slept on the bed, but had their "spots", Marilyn at my head, Monroe at my feet. Of course, they refused to move. I had to do a work around for a couple of nights.

He'll come around when it's time to eat. Alternatively, at 3 in the morning when he wants to get scratched.