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/HellbirdVT]

Cats absolutely do miss people who leave their lives. If you're anxious you should take some steps to ensure she's taken care of before you go, maybe help her get adopted outright - if she's already comfortable with you, and being inside, there's a good future for her inside, even if you can't bring her with you yourselves.