cat behavior

I have 2 female cats, my younger one recently went missing for about 4 days, when she finally came home, I let her in to eat, and my other cat acted like she had never seen her before. I was shocked, she hissed and growled and acted that way all day to her. I find it strange that my kitten can remember where she lives, but my older cat doesnt remember her.

The Prodigal Daughter probably smells different. Cats often act this way when their housemate returns from an overnight visit to the vet's office.
   
You must deodorize the Returned Cat.
   
METHOD A: Buy deodorizing wipes at the pet store & thoroughly go over both the cats. This will put them on an equal level of odor.
   
METHOD B: Wash BOTH the cats (one after the other) in a standard deodorizing cat shampoo, so they both smell the same. That may eliminate the smell that's upsetting the other cat & calm everyone down.
   
TO WASH A CAT:
   
1) Set the thermostat (heat) to 75 degrees & close all windows to eliminate drafts.
   
2) Put on a heavy long-sleeved shirt & long pants that you won't mind if you get a hole in them from the claws from the cat that will grow extra legs in its struggle to escape.
   
3) Collect at least 2 towels per cat (3 is better); use the oldest towels. Use Shammies/chamois cloths if you have them.
   
4) Put your eyeglasses away out of harm's way. Put loose bathroom decorations inside the cabinet.
   
5) Take a cat into the bathroom & close the door.
   
6) Don't put the cat INTO the water: Put the cat in an empty tub. Hold the cat by the scruff of the neck w/one hand & pour lukewarm water over the cat's body & around (but not in) its ears w/the other. Soap cat thoroughly. Use a plastic juice bottle. In fact, use 2 plastic bottles. If you have a spray nozzle in the tub, you can use that.
   
7) Now retrieve the cat from the corner of the bathroom from behind the toilet where it's hissing & swearing & return it to the tub. Lift the cat by the scruff of the neck, with the other hand locked around the hind legs.
   
8) Rinse by pouring water over the cat from the bottles. NOTE: You will probably have to retrieve the cat each time you stop to fill the bottles.
   
9) Dry cat as much as possible. Don't use a hairdryer, it'll just upset the cat. The cat will look really ridiculous & be very, very angry at you.
   
10) Let the cat out of the bathroom. The cat will run away as fast as it can & start washing itself furiously.
   
NOW: go find the other cat, who is now hiding because she doesn't want to be next, & repeat the above process.
   
This will drive every thought of the strange smell on the returning cat out of everybody's mind. They will both be miserable for a few hours & may commiserate with each other over their indignities.