Some cats enjoy the companionship of other cats, but unlike dogs, they’re not acting as pack animals. So, do cats know their siblings?
Well, unless kittens were raised together in the same litter, they’re not likely to remember or recognize each other in the future. Moreover, even a short separation can be enough for felines to forget about each other.
In today’s article, I will answer all your questions about your cat’s memory of their siblings and parents, so let’s dive right in.
Do Cats Remember Their Cat Family?
As human beings, we can’t wrap our heads around the idea that animals, especially pets such as cats, remember their siblings only at a young age.
However, it’s the truth. It’s very rare for kittens to remember their cat family. Kittens rarely meet their fathers and they’re completely fine without having dads in their life because they’re not people.
Some cat owners can own both parents, but breeders usually use a stud cat from others. (*)
Moreover, kittens shouldn’t be weaned before 8-12 weeks and should stay with their moms and siblings until 8 weeks at least. (*)
If they’re pulled away from their parents before this age, they will spend some period pining for their mother and looking for her as the source of their meals.
Cats learn different things from their mothers in their first few weeks and gain confidence and social skills. So, separating them early can result in various behavioral issues in the future.
If they’re separated after they have been fully weaned, they will still need some time to adjust to living on their own in new environments.
However, this period typically doesn’t last long as kittens learn life skills such as eating solid food and visiting the toilet on their own pretty quickly.
Lastly, they will likely seem depressed for a couple of days, but they will move on as time goes by and start seeing their new owners as family.
Do Cats Recognize or Miss Their Parents?
If felines meet their mother after some time, they won’t recognize her, especially if they were separated before 8 weeks old.
Also, kittens don’t miss their moms, as they’re independent living beings that don’t keep historic bonds, therefore, once they get a new owner, they will see their human family as parents.
The only exception to this is if one or more kittens live with their family or a family member. In this case, their interactions with each other and with outside cats will differ greatly.
Do Cat Siblings Know They’re Related?
Most felines have large litters, so kittens have multiple siblings.
The mothers invest a lot of time and effort into caring for their kittens which results in close relationships between kittens and their moms and kittens with their siblings.
Moreover, cats recognize each other by their smell, so mothers treat their children in a different way than they would treat other kittens.
The same goes for the siblings so it’s safe to assume that they know they’re related, however, that changes when they’re separated. Surprisingly, they forget about each other after a short period.
Felines aren’t very social creatures, so even if they recognize each other as siblings later in life, it doesn’t necessarily mean they will love each other.
However, it’s still not completely clear if cats recognize each other after they’ve been separated. They’re definitely aware of their siblings and parents in their young days, which is why they can coexist with each other if they end up living together.
Unfortunately, if they don’t see each other for long, they will forget about each other. This seems sad but it’s a very natural process as they lose their old scent and get a new one.
What if Cat Siblings Don’t Get Separated at All?
Just because they’re aware of their connection, doesn’t necessarily mean that cat siblings have the same concept of family as people.
That means, kittens won’t treat their family any differently than other cats when they grow up. If they live together at all times, the mother will recognize her kids and take care of them. And if the kids know their mother, they will remain by her side.
However, once they grow up, they will treat all cats in the same manner, regardless of whether they’re related or not. If other felines including their relatives try to “steal” their territory or food, they will act protective and aggressive as two unrelated cats would.
In Summary
Siblings living with their mother share the same smell.
Therefore, if non-related cats of the same appearance walk into their territory, they would mark them as strangers as they don’t share the same familiar smell.
It’s evolutionary beneficial for cats and other animals to recognize each other as this ensures that the mutual genes of the family aren’t passed on to newcomers.
It’s in their best interests to guarantee their safety instead of that of other cats. Unfortunately, cat siblings after being separated in their adult life, forget each other.
So, they can behave as if they’re enemies, mates, etc.
Do Cats Get Sad When Separated From Other Cats in the Same Litter?
Kittens don’t rely on their siblings in the same way they rely on their mothers, so the short answer is no, they don’t get depressed when separated from siblings.
Also, cats that get separated young don’t remember each other later in life.
If they get separated shortly after 8 weeks, there will likely be a period of adjustment when felines leave their litter mates, especially if they’re alone in their new home.
If you adopt a kitten and they’re your only cat, help them adjust by ensuring regular playtime with lots of toys and different games to keep them busy and happy.
Do Cats Get Sad When Separated From Kittens?
It’s unclear if mothers get sad when separated from their kittens, but what’s clear as day is that you should never separate kittens from their mothers while they’re still in the early nursing stages.
Note that usually, mothers reject their kittens after a couple of weeks (8-12) anyway – this is the natural point at which they become easier to separate from their mother without serious traumatic consequences.
Keep in mind that if you separate kittens from their mother too early, they can end up traumatized and display a self-soothing behavior for the rest of their life.
In fact, cats that get separated from their families at a very young age might display a need for comfort throughout their life. They might prefer to stay closer to their new owners regardless of their breed.
Signs of Grief in Domestic Cats
You can easily recognize a grieving mother cat that lost her young kittens before 8 weeks. If she’s grieving, she will probably yowl, searching for her babies around the home.
Her food cycle and behavior can also change. A few cats can also become more clingy, so make sure to spend more time with your cat and provide cuddly toys.
Some mothers move out of the grief in a few days, while other cats have a more difficult time and experience separation anxiety. So, if your cat seems depressed, consult your vet as there’s a possibility that it will scar their mental state for life.
Do Mother Cats Remember Their Own Kittens?
Cats forget about their kittens in about 12 weeks. I know it may seem weird to us as human beings that animals forget about their offspring but it’s just the way it is in the animal kingdom.
However, some cats remember their kittens and therefore grieve over their absence, no matter when you have separated the mother and her kids.
Moreover, some mothers might feel significantly sad over the departure of their kids, especially if you have taken away their kids before 8-12 weeks after their birth.
It’s highly recommended for people who want to adopt kittens to do that only after 8-12 weeks after they were born.
Going against this “rule” could result in separation anxiety and sadness in both the kittens and their mother.
After 8-12 weeks, the mom is less likely to remember her kittens, and shortly after they’re gone, she will move on with her life.
How Long Will a Cat Remember Another Cat?
Experts believe that cats don’t remember things including other felines for too long, but they’re not sure exactly how long they remember each other.
As I already established, cat littermates share scents to recognize each other in their early life, and even once they reach adulthood, but as they grow older and separate, they, unfortunately, forget about each other as their shared scent gets lost.
Wrap Up
So, what’s the final answer? Do cats and kittens remember their siblings?
In summary, siblings that have grown up in the same litter clearly remember each other, but if they get split even for a short period, they will forget about each other over time.
On the other hand, cats form closer bonds with their owners because they rely on them for food, care, and affection. So it’s safe to assume that cats remember their owners more than siblings.
*image by OlegDoroshenko/depositphotos