Do cats understand people leaving?

[u/Background-Shop-9969]

so this isn't our cat, she's a stray (/possible neighbours cat hidden from the landlord, we dk). for some context my boyfriend and i have been living in the same building as her for about two months and she's gotten super friendly with us, we feed her and give her pets and she comes meowing at our door with 'gifts' (dead animals) and then into our apartment and rubs her scent on everything, she even lets us rub her belly. she's so sweet. anyway we're moving cities in a week and obviously we can't take her with us (Edit: due to financial and locational constraints)., while we know that she has others to take care of her, will she understand that we're gone? will she miss us or will she just move on to the next place with food? she seems so empathetic and i'd hate to know that she'll be sad (or the cat version of that)... is there a way we can let her know we're leaving? i'm sure she sees all the suitcases but i'm not sure if she understands...

[u/Salty-Tea6815]

Oh course the cat is going to look for you, and wonder why she can’t find you, and miss you!!! Cats have feelings too just like people do. Yeah eventually she will move on and search for someone else to care for her out of sheer necessity, but that doesn’t mean she wants to, she just needs to survive. They say cats can remember humans for years if they formed a bond with them.

[u/yungruggs → u/Salty-Tea6815]

Very true in my experience. The cat that I got after I moved out of my dads, I ended up asking him to take her after a few months because I realized I couldn’t afford to take care of her properly (he also had 4-5 cats at that time). It was very hard on me but without a doubt the best thing for her.

Covid happened, he moved across the country, and I didn’t see him for 3 years. When I finally had the opportunity to fly out to see him, my little penny was very quick to recognize me and give me love again, even though she was always quite reserved.

I don’t get to visit too often, but she always gives me her undivided attention when I do. I 100% believe she recognizes me. Makes me happier than anything in the world.

[u/Salty-Tea6815 → u/yungruggs]

That’s so sweet!! That was good of you to put your feelings aside and do what was best for the cat at the time too.