Cats can also discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar humans, recognise human faces and voices, and make the mental match between the two.
Cats don't tend to rely on the way we look to recognise us, preferring to use their other senses to identify us (such as smells and sounds). Dogs, on the other hand, do recognise our faces and expressions.
A cat's vision is similar to a human who is color blind. They can see shades of blue and green, but reds and pinks can be confusing. These may appear more green, while purple can look like another shade of blue. Cats also don't see the same richness of hues and saturation of colors that we can.
Cats possess excellent long-term memories. They can recall their animal companions and the people who feed them as well as those who irritate them. Memory is what allows a cat to leap into the arms of a family member returning after a semester away at college.
Believe It or Not, Cats Do Care
If you've ever asked yourself, “Does my cat know me?” you can rest assured: your cat knows you. In fact, she may even know you better than you know yourself. Animal behavior experts and pet owners have both observed that cats learn their human housemates' habits.
After several years, they can still remember people, places and events from the past. So maybe next time you find your cat staring blankly at a wall or closet, it may be possible that she is thinking of the past and replaying it over and over again.
Cats lack the cognitive skills to interpret human language, but they recognize when you talk to them. To put it another way, cats comprehend human language in the same way that we understand meowing. It's similar to how you interpret your cat's language by "reading" how they arch their back or swish their tail.
Regardless of their reputation, cats do get lonely when they are left unattended for long periods of time. Research proves that cats are social beings that form strong bonds with their owners. Do cats get sad when you leave? Short answer: yes.
According to Tim Link, animal expert and President of Wagging Tails, cats do, in fact, suffer from separation anxiety. Just like dogs, they're apprehensive when we leave the house, and they want reassurance that we'll return at the pre-arranged hour.
Some single indoor-housed cats become anxious when left alone for long periods of time. These cats appear to be unusually sensitive to their surroundings, and may be very attached to their owners. Here are some signs of "separation anxiety" in cats: Excessive vocalization (crying, moaning, meowing)
Our cats treat us as equals as opposed to a totally different species. According to recent studies, dogs behave differently around humans than they do other dogs. This clearly indicates that dogs view humans as different from themselves. However, cats treat humans the same as they treat other cats.
The truth is, cats understand affection just like any other animal, and domestic cats might actually see us as their real-life mommies and daddies. A 2019 study revealed that kittens evince the same behavior towards us as they do their biological parents.
The bathroom is full of the smells of you: your cat's favorite human! You spend time there doing important things, or at least it may seem that way to your cat. Your cat may be intrigued by watching you do all the little things humans do in there.
Based on several studies, behaviorists believe an adult cat's intelligence is comparable to that of a 2-year-old human toddler. Studies have shown cats have object permanence recognition, an awareness of objects that aren't directly visible. That is, out of sight doesn't mean vanished forever.
As well as being a method of communication, staring is also a sign of a close bond between you and your cat, as they are unlikely to hold eye contact with someone they don't like or trust.
According to a study done by the nutrition company, Canadae, they discovered that the person who makes the most effort is the favorite. People who communicate with their cat by getting to know their cues and motives are more attractive to their cat companions.
It's true that cats are solitary beings: they know how to take good care of themselves. This also means that (unlike dogs) they don't necessarily depend on people when it comes to attachment and security. Research has shown that cats don't show signs of separation anxiety when their owner is away.
If you leave the house for a quick errand or two, it's unlikely your cat will even notice that you're not home. A quick pet and a snuggle can remind your cat that despite your absence, you've got kitty on the brain! (PSA: this may backfire; a sleepy cat is a cranky cat.
If your TV is on all day when you're home, leaving it on while you're gone may be calming for your cats since it mimics what things are like when you are there. However, if they're not used to having background noise all day, you may be better off leaving the TV off.
If you only have one interaction with a cat, she's likely to remember you up to 16 hours later. However, a cat's long term memory is quite strong (about 200 times better than that of a dog). This means that a cat can remember someone they are familiar with for years.
If your cat sleeps on your bed, he may choose a position that lets him see out your bedroom door more easily. If he's curled up in a ball under your bed or in a quiet corner, then he may be hiding. Cats who sleep under the covers might love being close to you, or they might be hiding to feel safer.
At most, you can get your cat's attention and they may even appreciate your attempts to communicate by purring or even meowing back. But to most cats, human meows sound like human language. Natural cat meows have a certain sound to it that humans likely cannot match.
What does it mean? "Your cat is most likely staring at you while crying because they're trying to make sense of what they see and hear," McGowan says. Your cat might not understand human crying, but she'll gather as many clues as she can and use them to adjust her behavior.
A little baby talk goes a long way ?
Want to get your cat's attention? You might want to try talking to him like a baby. New research suggests that when cat parents speak using a high-pitched, sing-song tone, their cats know they're talking to them.