Despite their reputation for being independent and sometimes aloof, cats have complex memories made up of images, smells, sounds, and routines. Being away for a few days, or even several months, isn't enough to erase a strong bond.
"Cats are unique," explains Jane Davidson, a qualified veterinary nurse from England, in an interview with Newsweek. She adds: "Some of their memory skills are reminiscent of dogs, but with major differences. Their memory is closely linked to their environment: the physical space, smells, sounds, and daily routines."
Cats remember for much longer than we think
A study by the Center on Autobiographical Memory Research at Aarhus University in Denmark supports these observations. After interviewing 375 dog and cat owners, researchers found that 80% of them believed their pet remembered specific events. These memories can be triggered by something familiar, like a place or a smell, in a way that's similar to how human memory works.
This idea recently gained traction on social media. On 28th December, a video posted on the Instagram account @oreoandpumpkinspice, which is dedicated to two rescue cats, went viral, racking up over 9 million views. The on-screen message claims that "three months of living together is enough for a human to be in a cat's heart for life."
Jane Davidson agrees. She believes that cats don't really forget their former owners. "Their memory isn't just based on emotional attachment as we understand it, but also on a sense of physical security: a safe place to sleep, eat, and play. The human is an integral part of this reassuring environment."
How to know if your cat misses you?
Good news for owners who go away for a few days: a cat won't forget you while you're on holiday. However, they might show some signs of unease, which can sometimes be mistaken for indifference.
Jane Davidson stresses the importance of being able to read your cat's body language during these times. The most common signs include:
- A change in routine (loss of appetite, playing less, refusing to go outside), which is usually temporary.
- Spending more time in places that smell of their owner, such as the bed or laundry basket.
In more anxious cats, more pronounced behaviours may appear:
- More frequent meowing, along with urine or faecal marking.
- Excessive scratching to spread their scent.
- Unusual aggression towards other animals or people (this is rarer).
Iryna Smyrnova also notes "a tendency to hide more, sleep more than usual, or, on the contrary, to become very clingy with the people who are around." Some cats also seem to watch the spots where their owner used to be.
In short, if you're wondering whether your cat has forgotten you, the answer is a reassuring one: chances are, your absence has a much bigger impact on them than you might imagine.
