Cat Behaviour and Senses

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John - 13 Feb 2006 23:44 GMT

Is it possible for domestic Cats to sense when an owner might be about
to move house? And could changes to the environment in which a Cat
lives cause the Cat to leave and find somewhere else to live?

The changes I am referring to are things like furniture being moved
out of the house, or for example plants being removed in gardens and
different plants put there instead? Or even something as simple as a
Cats feeding area being changed from one room to another?

Could things like this create instability for a Cat and make him feel
that he is going to be abandoned, so he leaves to find himself a new
home, or go somewhere he previously lived thinking that the owner may
be moving back there?

Thanks for your input

John

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NanCe - 14 Feb 2006 00:15 GMT

>The changes I am referring to are things like furniture being moved
>out of the house, or for example plants being removed in gardens and
>different plants put there instead? Or even something as simple as a
>Cats feeding area being changed from one room to another?

If things are being moved, it usually makes them curious but also can make
them nervous. Cats hate change. The feeding station being moved is a huge
change to a cat, probably not one that they would like.

>Could things like this create instability for a Cat and make him feel
>that he is going to be abandoned, so he leaves to find himself a new
>home, or go somewhere he previously lived thinking that the owner may
>be moving back there?

I don't think he thinks he's going to be abandoned. I think he may have left
as he's nervous if there is a lot of noise going on or if everything's being
moved around. Did you also recently move from somewhere else to where you
are right now? Yes, he may go back there.

I gather you are getting ready to move to a new place and your cat has
dissappeared. Hopefully he will come back and you can try and make sure he
doesn't get out as you move. You could put him in an emptied room on moving
day (with all his stuff) and shut the door on with a sign on it that says
he's in there and not to open the door. When you get to your new destination,
*don't* let him out if he's an outdoor cat; again, he may try to go back to
your old place.

NanCe

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NMR - 14 Feb 2006 01:20 GMT

No but they can sense the stress level of the house and in turn react to the
stress in different ways. They are like humans in this way

> Is it possible for domestic Cats to sense when an owner might be about
> to move house? And could changes to the environment in which a Cat
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> John

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John - 14 Feb 2006 14:56 GMT

>No but they can sense the stress level of the house and in turn react to the
>stress in different ways. They are like humans in this way

Right, well I don't think there has been very much in the way of
stress levels before he went missing, so that rules that one out ;)

I'll have to go back to the drawing board and find simpler
explanations.

John

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grumpy@mailinator.com - 14 Feb 2006 06:20 GMT

> Is it possible for domestic Cats to sense when an owner might be about
> to move house? And could changes to the environment in which a Cat
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> home, or go somewhere he previously lived thinking that the owner may
> be moving back there?

Yes, cats are psychic.

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Jason James - 14 Feb 2006 17:13 GMT

> Is it possible for domestic Cats to sense when an owner might be about
> to move house? And could changes to the environment in which a Cat
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Thanks for your input

Cats do learn from experience, so if they have been moved before they may
react.
It's a good question because as you've probably noted they will investigate
any new addition, even a pair of shoes. They need to know their
"territory",..so why wouldn't this work in reverse? However, do they
actually equate disappearing furniture to the discomfort of moving (assuming
they haven't been moved before),..I think that is expecting too much from
them,

If your fellow is finding the changes you've mentioned distressing, a bit
more attention and "kitty dialogue" should calm him down IMHE. It's similar,
but more intense, when they are taken to the Vet-hospital, they need
constant stroking and soothing talk to allay their fears and reinforce their
trust in you.

Jason

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John - 15 Feb 2006 14:14 GMT

>Cats do learn from experience, so if they have been moved before they may
>react.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>they haven't been moved before),..I think that is expecting too much from
>them,

This cat has been moved before that's why I was asking the question,
and I'm pretty sure that a lot of the bushes that were chopped back in
the garden, near where he used to lie in wait for birds etc also had
an effect.

>If your fellow is finding the changes you've mentioned distressing, a bit
>more attention and "kitty dialogue" should calm him down IMHE. It's similar,
>but more intense, when they are taken to the Vet-hospital, they need
>constant stroking and soothing talk to allay their fears and reinforce their
>trust in you.

Unfortunately our little fellow has been AWOL for quite a while. We
have had the odd sighting of him, but not recently, and because a lot
of furniture had been moved out I believe this may also have unsettled
him. It was a lot of my sisters furniture that was moved out (she is
the owner of the cat by the way). What has happened is she has bought
another place with her boyfriend quite a long distance away. She is
living their at the weekends between Friday and Sunday. Monday to
Thursday she is back here.

What I have been thinking is that he may have tried making his way
back to the house he lived in previously with my sister and her ex-bf
who she split with. He might have assumed that because the furniture
was being moved out he was being moved back there?

That is quite a complicated assumption though, and usually it is the
simplest explanation that is the right one.

I am thinking perhaps he has just decided to move elsewhere in area we
are of his own free will, especially if there are more cats in other
streets? It could be possible that he has been taken in by someone
else.

Incidentally before anyone jumps down my throat, we live in the UK and
we don't keep cats indoors here, it is a completely different scenario
to the US. Cats here are generally indoor/outdoor cats, they are
allowed out during the day.

I have read a number of reports on the internet of missing cats
especially tomcats that have gone missing in the middle of Winter and
turned back up again in Spring, so this gives us some hope.

So far I have been helping my sister with the search and have dropped
flyers in hundreds of letter boxes. I have been quite surprised by the
number of kind neighbours in the area keeping an eye out for us and
helping. There are a lot of cat lovers out there.

I think I am going to take a look around the old area where he used to
live just to see if he has ventured over there. He may have wanted to
visit his old friends in that area.

If only we knew what was going on inside the mind of cats! I'm sure
it's not always, sleep, food, get birdie etc. I think a lot of them
are more intelligent than we give them credit for.

John

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Jason James - 15 Feb 2006 16:43 GMT

> >Cats do learn from experience, so if they have been moved before they may
> >react.
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> of furniture had been moved out I believe this may also have unsettled
> him.

It's possible. Was he previously a cat whcih had an established feeding
routines et al?

It was a lot of my sisters furniture that was moved out (she is

> the owner of the cat by the way). What has happened is she has bought
> another place with her boyfriend quite a long distance away. She is
> living their at the weekends between Friday and Sunday. Monday to
> Thursday she is back here.

He could find that confusing.

> What I have been thinking is that he may have tried making his way
> back to the house he lived in previously with my sister and her ex-bf
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> streets? It could be possible that he has been taken in by someone
> else.

It's entirely possible if his bonds to your sister were not consistant due
to her life-circumstances.

> Incidentally before anyone jumps down my throat, we live in the UK and
> we don't keep cats indoors here, it is a completely different scenario
> to the US. Cats here are generally indoor/outdoor cats, they are
> allowed out during the day.

Same here (Australia) and I bet the US.

> I have read a number of reports on the internet of missing cats
> especially tomcats that have gone missing in the middle of Winter and
> turned back up again in Spring, so this gives us some hope.

Absolutely, especially if he is confused or put off by the changes you speak
of. Cats are very good at surviving and especially if a neigbour is
providing things which he finds to his liking. This is not a statement about
his former relationship,..rather a reaction to that which neither you or him
has any control over.

> So far I have been helping my sister with the search and have dropped
> flyers in hundreds of letter boxes. I have been quite surprised by the
> number of kind neighbours in the area keeping an eye out for us and
> helping. There are a lot of cat lovers out there.

That's great. I hasten to add, we had a similar experience with our present
stray. He would disappear for a longtime, then suddenly appear. We were able
to get him to stay by allowing him inside. He was very impressed by that,
and thus far he has stayed with us.

> I think I am going to take a look around the old area where he used to
> live just to see if he has ventured over there. He may have wanted to
> visit his old friends in that area.

Could be.

> If only we knew what was going on inside the mind of cats! I'm sure
> it's not always, sleep, food, get birdie etc. I think a lot of them
> are more intelligent than we give them credit for.

It sounds to me the whole thing has come about through a series of events
which have been beyond your control. Cats which spend time outside will
always be tempted by other cat-lovers who feed them.

I hope that you or your sister locate him and can aquaint him successfully
with the new arrangements you speak of.

Jason

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morgenmarshall@hotmail.com - 15 Feb 2006 17:29 GMT

You might try a hav-a-heart trap, too. Once you trap the baby and
reunite him with his person, he may be very happy about the situation.
Conversely, he may not want to move and is making it hard for that
possibility.

Every time I go away for a weekend, my cats know ahead of time, and
sulk or get clingy. When I move, I watch them closely to be sure that
they don't run off so they make it to the new place with me.

Sounds like the furniture was familiar and removing it unsettled the
cat. He may actually like where he is living and the people who serve
him. Remember that cats choose their people, not the other way around.
If a cat is happy with the people he is living with, he will let you
know. As long as you see him around, keep putting food out.
Eventually, he may come home. Also, add some tidbits that you know he
favors (chicken or fish bits). Don't lose hope.

Morgen the Cat Whisperer
<a href="http://www.for-the-love-of-cats.com/">For the Love of Cats</a>

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NanCe - 15 Feb 2006 17:11 GMT

>What I have been thinking is that he may have tried making his way
>back to the house he lived in previously with my sister and her ex-bf

Yes, *definitely* go and check out the old house and let the owner know -
give her/him a flyer.

>I am thinking perhaps he has just decided to move elsewhere in area we
>are of his own free will, especially if there are more cats in other
>streets?

Is he neutered? Unneutered males will want to roam and meet up with females.
Would be more of a homebody if he were fixed.

The flyers are an excellent idea; don't know much about the UK, but is there
a local Animal Control or Humane Society that you can also contact in case
someone brings him there?

NanCe

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AlexZ - 14 Feb 2006 23:43 GMT

: Is it possible for domestic Cats to sense when an owner might be about
: to move house? And could changes to the environment in which a Cat
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
: home, or go somewhere he previously lived thinking that the owner may
: be moving back there?

Yes it is funny how observant and sensitive they can be.

A few times we have had to go on trips leaving our cat alone in the
apartment (with a friend visiting daily if longer than 24 hours). As a
result she has become very sensitive to any movement or packing of
suitcases and responds by becoming silent and withdrawn. However, most
of the time only one person may be leaving, not all, or even none if we
were merely packing/unpacking of things; as soon as she figures out
that this is the case, she perks up again!

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John - 15 Feb 2006 14:18 GMT

>: Is it possible for domestic Cats to sense when an owner might be about
>: to move house? And could changes to the environment in which a Cat
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>were merely packing/unpacking of things; as soon as she figures out
>that this is the case, she perks up again!

It seems that the overall general consensus is that changes to the
environment in which a cat lives can cause the cat to feel insecure or
that he is being abandoned or neglected, and to seek out a new
territory?

John

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