bonding pets when owners die?

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Ablang - 07 Feb 2004 03:31 GMT

I've read that certain breeds of pets tend to bond with the first
person they choose when they are born, but what happens to the pet if the
original owner dies or gives the pet away? Does the 2nd owner not get as
much affection or respect as the original one did? Has anyone had any
actual experience with that?

I'm curious because my cat (a Russian Blue) is one of those bonding
pets. I am the 2nd owner. I got her when she was 1.3 years old. I
sometimes wonder if she would love me more (let me pick her up; or sit on
my lap more often) if I was her original owner.

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DG511 - 07 Feb 2004 18:37 GMT

>Does the 2nd owner not get as
>much affection or respect as the original one did?

I wondered about that when I adopted my senior cat, Priss, 9 1/2 years ago.
She was 5, and came with a tear-stained note from her original owner. (This
was a teenager who was leaving for college and couldn't take the cat into the
dorms with her, while her parents were moving overseas and told her to find a
new home for Priss.) It sounded like they had a wonderful relationship. And
Priss was "unsettled" the first few months I had her. So I think she missed
her people, her old home, and her old life for quite a while.

However, in less than a year, she'd switched over to me completely. She sticks
with me like glue now, and I have no doubt about the depth of her affection.
It took some time, but it's like us having our hearts broken when someone we
love leaves -- eventually, we're able to give our hearts to someone else again.
I believe pets can do that, too.

Daria
Timing is everything.

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NickKnight - 09 Feb 2004 00:29 GMT

>>Does the 2nd owner not get as
>>much affection or respect as the original one did?

Most cats will eventually bond with the new owner and
settle down.

I have to wonder when I do get a cat how many "homes"
the cat had in the previous years. For example I have a
13 year old male that was a give away at a local pet store.
The is very well behaved, very affectionate, but I have to
wonder how many homes she has been through.

That having been said when I brought in a tiny female kitty
years ago on an emergency basis my female acted like
she was on the Enterprise and a Klingon just beamed
aboard.

Needless to say I had to find another home for that kitten.
For some reason they weren't going to be able to
coexist in the same house.
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