I get the joke, but last time my girlfriend went away for a couple of days, the cats were basically all over her when she sat down. Even the ones that don't particularly tolerate the others being too close were fine with it at that point.

My cat is 15 years old, and has never really been alone for more than a few hours. My wife was normally home, and we had enough animals that when we went on vacation we had someone stay at our house. But my wife and split up early last year, and I ended up with the cat (and a bird), so it's been just her and me for the better part of a year.

In November I had to go away for a week, so I had my brother come by once a day to feed her. When I got home she went nuts. Running along at my feet howling when I walked, instantly in my lap, rubbing her face against my chest when I sat down. The sad part was that, for a few days after I got home, she'd wake up in the middle of the night and start making this mournful howl. As soon as I'd say something or put my hand on her, she'd go right back to sleep. I think I gave the poor thing abandonment issues.