Cats must know about family systems. I’ve had cats since I was four and in our married life if we have more than one one will favor my spouse and one me. Keeps things nice and balanced out.
Little black cat, Emily, has excellent manners, however, and if she comes into the living room she will sit with one of us for a few minutes and then go to the other’s lap to settle down for the evening. How very considerate of her!
I had a black and white male cat once who totally favored my husband. He wouldn’t even notice me all day long but near to the time my husband was coming home from work he’d sit where he could see the gaarage.
Then he’d go out to greet my husband and talk up a blue streak as he walked with him up the sidewalk. Tell him everything that happened all day long.
After my husband would change into his everyday clothing they’d sit side by side on the deck steps and watch the sun go down. Two guys after their busy day of work.
Their backs would be to my kitchen window and I’d glance out to see them sharing a bag of snacks. One for me; one for you. Brief meow of thanks. Silence and contemplation. Repeat.
I am Spinniker’s human. A few years ago if I was upstairs and my parents were downstairs, and she wanted to go out, even if my parents were downstairs she would come to get me.
She always sleeps with me. I remember one time I came home from college and she realized her human was home. OMG. She leapt into my bed, She was PURRRING (to the point where it was LOUD to me without my hearing aids on) and snuggled up against me like there was no tomorrow. My sister came in to tell me something. Spinny looked up at her and was all MEOW MEOW, like she was telling her I was home.
Then there’s Scout…He isn’t as “lap cat” as Spinny…but he loves me. I came home from Colarado and he was snuggled up on my mom’s bed. He saw me and got all excited, running into my room, talking all the way " MOMMY MOMMY YOU"RE HOME!" He LOVES sleeping in my sock drawer (to the point where it’s been dubbed Scout’s drawer) and he is just a happy li’l guy. He sees me and then UNDULATES happily. When he was a kitten, one of my friends came over. She needed to go out for a smoke. We were standing outside when SUDDENLY both of us hear BAWLING. He wanted to be with us! We also got home from a folk fest last year. My mom had kept the kitchen window open, so the cats could go on the screened in (and well locked up) porch. We heard BAWLING.
A few months ago I had to housesit for my parents. I am not too good at getting up early. I got woken up by Scout batting my face with his paws.
I had a cat who would meet my brother and I at the bus stop (about two town blocks away) and walk us home like she was our mom. On weekends she would follow us to the library, sit on the steps and then follow us home.
My dog does this little dance/whine/wag thing when she sees me or my wife in the distance. She’ll also refuse to move. I think this is pretty normal (although it’s rather annoying when we’re both right there.) However, she also goes crazy when she sees the neighborhood cat lady. The cat lady gives her a treat now and then, but not every time. For other people, she’ll give a sniff and a wag, and that’s about it.