Many of us have seen those touching videos where a long-lost dog is reunited with its owner. Days, weeks, months and perhaps even years have gone by, and seemingly within moments, the dog recognizes its owner. So sweet. But what about cats? Do cats remember their owners after appreciable time apart, maybe even after years apart?
According to an article on cuteness.com, cats do have superior long-term memory and will remember people they have had a close relationship with for the rest of their lives. They will maintain positive feelings for those who cared for them, fed them and played with them. They will also remember those who abused or neglected them, which is why it takes time to build trust with a neglected or abused cat. So, if you have to board your cat for a few weeks or even a few months, she will be excited to see you upon your return. (She may have some hefty “demands” at that time, but she will remember you!)
Interestingly, studies have shown that while dogs have a short-term memory span of about five minutes, cats can retain information for nearly 16 hours! This is comparable to the memory of a toddler. And their long-term memories? Even more impressive. They can remember human companions from previous relationships years later and will most likely remember them for life.
How do they do this? Well, cats rely on smell, sounds and tastes to trigger memories. They rely on these senses far more than just on the sense of sight and appearance alone. If you get a new haircut, your cat will still recognize you. However, it has been said that cats do not have owners; they have servants. Therefore, even if you lived in the same house with your cat but your daughter was the one who always fed the cat, guess who the cat will remember? If you did not play an integral role in your cat’s life from her perspective, there is the possibility that she would not remember you years later. Making an emotional impact on your cat is key.
Sadly, some older cats will develop feline cognitive dysfunction, which is essentially a cat’s version of Alzheimer’s. In those cases, it is unlikely the cat would remember you at all.
Nevertheless, as humans, it’s nice to know that we can remember all of our pets long after they have left our lives. As for me, I have had a long list of wonderful furry companions over the years and still remember all of them fondly. How about you?
Written by Ann Butenas
An internationally-recognized author and writer, Ann began her professional writing career at age 12 and began speaking while in college. She has been published thousands of times over the past three decades in all media forms, was former editor and publisher of KC Metro Woman magazine, and has also hosted three talk radio shows in the Kansas City area.
