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is remembering that the understanding will come. Allow flexibility and keep an open mind to your interpretations of the how and whys of the operations taking place inside the cats skull. Our memory too will play a part, so sometimes note taking or pictures will help strengthen certain conclusions about a cat's memory.

Since we can only observe the behavior of a cat, that is, we have no tools to "see" inside the cat's head to watch memories arise and be processed and prioritized, we then have to create suggestions as to what and why the cat is remembering. Here is where we can get some clear ideas of what a cat can remember and what it choses to remember. The sound of an electric can opener will get most cats within hearing distance moving towards the sound. The assumption here is that the cat will "remember" the sound and that if the cat shows up there might be some tuna fish juice, or canned cat food that has been presented to them at some time in the past.

It is in the cat's memory that this complex operation takes place, though there is no tool to see all the chemical and electrical activity take place inside the cat's brain, a guess can be made to interpret the cats behavior. This simple act is measurable and can be repeated and also manipulated. The time and place when the can opener sound is made, the type of food presented, or any variation on the process will effect the cats behavior which then interpretations can be made about what is going on in the cat memory area in its brain.

These interpretations, coupled with our own experince can be then carried over to other observations of the cats behavior. The trees the cat climbs when a dog chases it, the cats favorite chair to sleep in, the way a cat reacts to certain people all offer insight to a cats memory. Careful observation and interpretation can reveal some of the inner-workings of the cats brain. Once a careful observation can be seen repeated over time, such as a cat sleeping in the same chair day after day, then a more complex picture of what is going on can be built with slight variations in the cats environment. The placement of the chair, the odor of the chair, or removing the chair completely can all offer clues and hints at what is going on between those to pointed ears. It is observing and learning the cats reactions and actions to environmental changes that a understanding of a cat's memory can be formed.

Learn more about this author, Kevin J. Putnam.
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