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Cats have small brains
A cat’s brain is about the size of a walnut, making up 0.91% of their body mass. In humans, the brain makes up about 2.3%. Scientists think that before they were domesticated, cats may have had a larger brain as they needed to be constantly aware of any threats around them. However, even today a cat’s brain boasts about 250 million brain cells, which is fewer than a dog’s brain (400-600 million) but still impressive for a brain the size of a walnut.
A cat’s brain looks very much like that of a human
Just like our own brain, the brain of a cat includes a cerebral cortex (to control emotions, memory, etc.), cerebellum (to regulate movement and balance), and brainstem (to regulate essential functions such as heart rate and temperature). While a cat brain is fully matured at 12-18 months of age, for us humans it takes until our late 20s for that to happen.
The intelligence skills of a cat are similar to that of a two-year-old child
Cats are among the animals with object permanence, meaning they understand that you still exist even when they can’t see, hear, or smell you. Our felines also possess both short-term and long-term memory, allowing them to recall where a treat was just placed as well as where their litter box has been for years. Additionally, cats are believed to be able to detect human emotions and to have some awareness of time and numbers. Remarkable!
Cats can recognize voices and their own name
No matter how indifferent your cat may seem, cats know when their owner is calling them, and they can even recognize their own name! Instead of vocalizing or wagging their tail like dogs, cats typically respond with subtle gestures like turning their head or rotating their ears—known as orienting behavior. So, even if they don’t make it obvious, your cat knows you’re calling; they just choose not to listen.
Cats do dream
Research suggests that cats dream, much like humans. Their sleep cycle includes different stages, such as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, during which dreams are most likely to occur. During this stage, you might notice your cat’s eyes moving beneath their lids, along with small sounds or movements. So, if they kick violently during nap time, there’s usually no need to worry—it’s just dreamtime in action!
Cats look to you to see whether to panic or stay calm
When cats hear or see something that frightens them, they may look at their owner to find out whether it’s time to panic or not – a phenomenon called social referencing. When your cat notices that you aren’t bothered by the crashing sound of thunder, they will likely be more at ease themselves. When on the other hand they see that you’re panicking, they will do so too.
