How smart is your cat?? We know that cat’s are infamous for being difficult to study, so there’s not a huge body of research on this topic. However, there are some very interesting facts that roundly support how smart and clever we know cats to be.
For example, did you know that a cat’s brain is 90% similar to a human’s brain? And compared to dogs, they have twice as many neurons bouncing around their very complex cerebral cortex?
The cerebral cortex is the part of the brain responsible for processing information, problem solving, understanding language, and decision making. It’s also where memory is stored – and cats have demonstrated the ability to recall short and long-term memories.
Cats also have the cognitive ability to feel basic emotions. Interestingly, cats lack the facial muscles to express emotions the same way dogs and people do – but observing our cats reveals just how deeply their emotions can be felt.
Certain sounds, smells, and situations not only reveal their ability to store memory but feel emotion. A study in how our cats grieve is also illuminating. When we lost our beloved Mr. Bittles, all of our cats reacted to his absence in different ways. Pooh Bear, Mr. Bittles best friend, was most distraught. He looked for Mr. Bittles in all their favorite spots. He was confused, afraid, he withdrew from the other cats and even started peeing outside the litter box.
While this was painful to observe, it was an illuminating revelation of a cat’s emotional intelligence.
Most of us cat parents are well aware of our cat’s cleverness, but it’s possible that we actually determine just how smart they can be.
Engage their intelligence. You might be surprised by what they’d like to show you.😻
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