by Kerri Reed

Created on: January 19, 2009

To understand a cat's memory look no further than my fur-babies, Romeo & Juliet. When I get home from the grocery store, and take the groceries out of the bag, they run from the corners of the house up onto the counter to get their tuna. They remember that every grocery shopping day, they get tuna. The sound of the can opener sends them into orbit, as they know that they are mere seconds away from their delicious treat!

A recent study showed that cats have a good visual memory that lasts about ten minutes. How does that explain the cat who was separated from his owner during Hurricane Katrina, only to be reunited days later and showed signs of recollection? The cat had not been eating and seemed despondent until his owner walked in the room. That cat knew who his owner was, and it caused stress to be separated from him. Scientists need to live with cats for awhile before making such preposterous conclusions!

Another good example that cats remember is my cat Leonardo, who recently passed away. He was named after the famous actor, not the famous artist. So, when I saw "Titanic" for the 20th time, and mentioned the leading actor's name, my cat Leonardo cried and ran into the room. He heard his name and recognized it as his own. With no memory, how could he have known that I was referring to him at all?

Over the years, I have rescued a great many animals, and I have never had a cat "forget" who I was, or "forget" my tuna ritual, or "forget" when feeding time came. It is natural that cats don't remember every single thing, but who does? I believe wholeheartedly that cats remember certain people, places, and smells that associate them to that event or person. Memory is subjective to those who believe it to be true, and I certainly have seen evidence that cats remember. Learned behavior works well for all species, not just humans.

Examples of cat's memory have been discussed and debated for many years. Some people believe that a cat doesn't remember anything, while others contend that their cat could dial their phone number if necessary. Whatever you believe, it is a worthy discussion, because with more knowledge about our pets, the more we can enhance the quality of their lives. My Romeo & Juliet do know when tuna time is, and more so than that, they remember why tuna time is so much fun! Try tuna time in your house, and see who remembers what. You just might be surprised at the response you get!

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