You have probably heard or read about how cats have superior intelligence. Surprisingly, a cat’s brain structure is about 90% the same as that of a human brain. But do cats remember people? The answer is yes, cats remember people, and the more time you spend with them and interacting with them, the more they will remember you using their long-term memory.
Do cats remember people?
The physical structure of the human brain and a cat’s brain are very much alike as both have cerebral cortices with the same lobes. A cat’s cerebral cortex has around 300 million neurons and is responsible for storing short and long-term memory. Conversely, a study made by National Geographic found that animals typically don’t possess short-term memory. Do cats remember people? Absolutely yes! Cats, in particular, can remember people they’re familiar with even for years.
Interestingly, if a cat meets a person for the first time and only had one interaction with the person, the cat will remember the person 16 hours later. This forms a part of a cat’s associative memories which they use every day to interact with humans, other cats, and in staying aware of their environment. Needless to say, aside from the associative memories, cats use their “superpower of the smell” to help back up their ability to recognize people. For more information seen our article on how long can a cat remember a person.
Do cats remember other cats?
Yes, cats do remember other cats, especially siblings. Normally, littermates exchange scents as a way to recognize each other should they be separated and cats use this same technique throughout their lifetime. Cat experts believe that a cat remembers another cat depending on the length of time they were together as well as on the impact or degree of their relationship toward each other during such a time.
Do cats also suffer dementia just like humans?
Yes, just like people, cats may also suffer from a cognitive disorder called Feline Cognitive Dysfunction (FCD) which is similar to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease in humans. This disease is directly related to brain aging and with symptoms ranging from decreased stimuli responsiveness, changes in awareness, and deficits in learning and memory.
FCD is generally more observed in older cats and other signs may include changes in sleep pattern, loss of housetraining skills, disorientation, and reduced social interactions. Once your cat develops FCD, she may fail to recognize familiar faces like their owners as well as other cats. Cats with FCD also tend to become restless, experience insomnia, and sometimes may manifest an increase in nocturnal vocalization. You can help delay or prevent this from happening to your furry baby by providing your cat with food that’s rich in antioxidants, Vitamin E, and Omega 3 fatty acids.
Here are other treatment options that vets recommend:
- make sure that your cat maintains a healthy lifestyle by providing her lots of mental stimulation and physical exercise in the form of interactive and treat release toys, as well as cat perches
- try not to move things and furniture around the home including your cat’s food bowl and litter box aad avoid sudden changes to your pet’s daily routine
Conclusion
It’s interesting to note that cats do remember people and they can recognize faces especially if it’s their owner and pet parent of which they have a positive and consistent relationship. Cats have a brain structure that’s remarkably similar to humans and their long term memory enables them to recognize people even for years.