How Long is a Cats Memory?

Everything You Need to Know

When you think about your cat and its memory, do the strains of Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals fill your mind? That would be weird.

But the question of whether cats have a good memory is an intriguing one, whether or not they’re on stage.

The question of how long a cat can remember things is much more complex than you might imagine.

A quick aside: Remember when people used to say that goldfish only have a five-second memory? Popular TV science shows Mythbusters actually proved that statement to be way too simplistic.

How Long is a Cats Memory? The Goldfish Myth

Sensory Memory – a memory that lasts for a very short period of time, usually to recognize basic environmental triggers.

Types of Memory

There is also a deep sensory memory at play. If a kitten has no human contact within the first 6-8 weeks, it is not likely to interact with a person easily in later life.

A Word on Kittens and Memory

Cats are a lot like humans with regard to their mental faculties as they get older. It seems that as they get older, they lose some of their function.

A Word on Memory and Older Cats

Short-term memory and working memory are the essential parts of memory used in day-to-day life. For the most part, a cat will use this memory to navigate around its environment.

Cats and Short Term Memory

Swipe up to read the rest of the article.

Subscribe to The Discerning Cat Newsletter and we'll send you a free 50 page ebook Why Do Cats…. Common Cat Behaviours Explained