How Long Cats Remember Their Owners, Abuse, Mistreatment, and Other Things (Cats' Memory Explained)

Do you think your cat remembers you when you come back months later from school or a trip? and how long does it take a cat to forget you?



Cats have a short-term memory that allows them to remember recent events and experiences.
Scientists believe a cat’s short-term memory lasts around 16 hours.
If you have just one interaction with a cat, she will likely remember you for up to 16 hours.

Similarly, if you accidentally step on their tail, that one-off bad event will fade away from your cat’s memory within 16 hours.
Interestingly enough, a study published in Applied Animal Science Behavior tested cat reactions to being restrained against their will at a veterinary surgery clinic. It was found that the cats didn’t avoid that location or people afterward.

Scientists have discovered that cats use their short-term memory to remember things of importance, like where they hunted the night before or where their new food bowl is located in the house.

Keep in mind that cats have a remarkable short-term memory capacity compared to other animals. While most animals can only hold a short-term memory for an average of 25 seconds, cats can retain information for up to 16 hours, which is quite significant.

But cats also have long-term memory. This memory can last indefinitely.

When certain things happen repeatedly, your cat will store that information in its long-term memory. For example, if you always bring out the cat carrier when it's time to go to the vet, your cat will learn to associate the carrier with unpleasant vet visits.
Even after many years, your cat will remember the carrier and try to avoid it because it associates it with bad experiences. Likewise, if your cat was bullied by the cat next door, she might have a hard time leaving the house, and that could carry into the next neighborhood you live in as well.

Long-term memories have the power to affect a cat’s behavior for a lifetime.
If a cat has been abused or mistreated repeatedly by humans, they will have a hard time trusting humans again.
Long-term memories are also what make cats afraid of certain people and hold grudges like there’s no tomorrow.
However, positive memories are also stored in long-term memory.
Pleasurable long-term memories are what allow your cat to leap into your arms when you return from a long trip.
If your cat has had good memories with you in the past, your scent will remind them of all the positive experiences. Your cat may not remember the specific interactions she’s had with you, but she will remember how you loved them and brought them joy.
Your smell will remind them of your affection, arrival of food or resources, as they always appeared when you were there.

So, if you are wondering whether your Persian cat will remember you after years of separation, the answer is yes, but only if you are worth remembering.

Do cats remember their mom or other cats if they are separated?
Just like how cats remember the humans they love, they can also remember other cats or animals they have formed long-term memories with.
In fact, a study was conducted where kittens were separated from their moms, and after a year, they were reunited. After reunion, the kittens showed a clear gravitation toward their mom, indicating that they remembered her. They recognized their mom through scent, as cats store long-term memories mainly through smells.
Interestingly, the scientists also discovered that these kittens could also recognize each other if they were separated for a year and then brought back together.

Episodic memory
It's important to know that a cat’s memory is so complex that lets them memorize predictable routines. For example, if you usually feed them at 7:00 am every morning, they will expect to be fed at that time. If you're late by half an hour one day, they get nervous. Your cat might get stressed and worry about where their next meal will come from.

Cats are creatures of habit and like to follow routines. So if you leave for several days, or their routine changes in some way, it can be very stressful for them.

[sophiec]

My mom had a cat (Rouki) and spent lots of time with him. She was retired so he was always on her lap while she was knitting or reading. Then my mom died suddenly in an accident. For weeks, the cat was sleeping on the footstool waiting for her to come back and every time the front door opened, he lifted his head to see who it was and since it wasn’t my mom, he would go back to sleep. It lasted until he understood that she wasn’t coming back. I have the cat with me now and I kept his routine except that I don’t spend a lot of time on the couch. So every time I sit on the couch, he comes running and jumps on my lap to be petted. I love that cat ❤

[ChairmanMeow]

Anyone who's had a cat knows, 100%, without any doubt, that cats are able to remember things for YEARS.

[GLesbihonest]

My baby girl is now 21 years old. 🙌🏾🙏🏾😊 We've been together since she was a kitten. The longest we've been apart has been a year. I thought she would forget me but as soon as she heard my voice and saw my face she was up under me and talked my ears off. I got a lot of kisses, licks, and head butts.😊 She misses me whenever I leave to even go upstairs.😂 God made such beautiful companions for us to cherish and be cherished by. 🙏🏾😊💙😻

[leathernluv]

A friend of mine moved away in HS. 10 years later when I visited him he had the same cat. Butterscotch the cat remembered me instantly, and was in my lap purring in seconds after my arrival. 10 years.

[burgundymarcia]

My cats were bottle fed by a friend of mine when they were orphaned newborns. Even 10 years later, they still remembered her and acted differently toward her than toward me, being more cuddly and attentive and letting her carry them.

[frostflower]

When mum passed away, our cat was howling up in the air for 2 years and I knew it was because she missed her presence. I ask my cat, where is mama, and she looks up and beyond my shoulder as though saying she is right here. This comforted me greatly and still does. This cat is the type that prefers to be left alone but she is always nearby lounging but not a lap cat type but that's ok, I respect her individuality.

[paulmartos]

Cats remember. One that showed up after several missing years knew exactly where food and bowl waters, and where to sleep. He spent the rest of his life as a member of our family.

[MelanieFromCanada]

We were separated from our cats for 11 months in Europe (pandemic).
I was worried my Garth would forget me.
When we picked them up, he seemed overwhelmed with all that was going on until he saw me.
He pushed his head into my forehead (our thing) and was just so happy to see me. For months after he would press his head into my chest when I held him.
So yea, he remembered me ❤️

[Cwgrlup]

My cats follow me upstairs and downstairs; everywhere I go in the house. They’re never far from me and run down to greet me when I come home. They absolutely love us when we pay attention to them and treat them right. They also talk a lot to us if we talk to them.

[teresaosburn]

i adopted a cat from a hoarding situation 6 months ago, i have had him close to 3 months now, i hope he forgets the abusive situation he was in. All i can do is love him. He seems to be adjusting quite well but at first he was scared

[nonothebot]

45 years later, I still remember my first cat Muguet born on May 1st 1978. I was 4 and still remember that wonderfull day he arrived at home !

[kkx]

I've had cats for many many years. They for sure remember even one bad event for years and also remember people very well!

[goosetheginger]

My mom's cat fell sick when my dad passed away and my mom moved with my brother, living the cat with my sister. He won't eat so he got very sick. We almost thought he wouldn't make it. My mom took care of him after been told about his condition. Thank God he recovered.

[lindamiranda]

Every time I come home after a few short hours my cat is already at the door meowing! It is almost as if he knows my footsteps coming into the building.

[georgeworley]

When I lived in a city of 5 million people, I had a cat for about 5 years. He disappeared. About year later I came home from work about 1 am and saw a cat just up the street from where I was. This cat looked like my missing cat so I yelled his name. The cat came running towards me. He had a different collar on him that was torn to shreds. He was so happy to see me. I personally think that someone stole him because of the collar he was wearing wasn't the one I had on him. The condition of the collar told me that he had escape. His weight told me that he was not hungry. So how long does a cat remember his/her owner I am going to say at least a year.

In another instance, I had a cat for 8 years and had to go over seas for a year. If I took the cat with me it would be in quarantine for 4 months. My friend decided to take care of him for the year I was gone. When I got back that cat came running to me when he heard my voice. So I will still saw a year.

[mousemd]

When I first got my kitten, I spent days in the house with her. The first day she just sat on the corner of the bed. She didn't eat nor did she move. I knew she was shocked. New place. No Mommy, no sister 😢 I tried to help her adjust. She sprayed my easy chair the first day I went out. I never said a word to her. I have to go out as I am the sole supporter. I don't have a motor vehicle. She got used to it. I love my fur baby. I can't imagine life without her ❤

[cherchikatilo]

I had a cat called Kitty Kitty as a kid. She was my baby. When my mom died when I was a kid, I became an orphan (11 years old) and was made to leave my cat cause I was homeless. I asked a friend to take her in. When I was 14, I found my way back to that friend who had sent me pictures of Kitty through the years. Kitty walked out of a corner in the house, ran over and jumped into my arms like no time had passed. The only time I ever cried with joy in my life. I did not want to uproot her again and kissed her goodbye. That was over 20 years ago and I am still friends with my cat savior. 😊

[musickfreak]

My cat and I had to move home with my parents after a bad breakup back in 2016. We were there about 11 months.
It's been years since my cat has seen my mom, but she came over the other day and as soon as he heard her voice, he came running and meowing. He always remembers her ❤️

[bxpress]

My one cat was attached to my late ex-gf..when she left me she still wanted to visit the cat once in a while..after couple years she would visit him..and he would greet her each time with a same very special meow each time!

[gregatkinson]

We had a Tabby (one of 5 rescues) that was kinda overweight but after one of our others had to be put to sleep she kept losing weight to the point that we were really concerned about her. She leveled out but was never the same again after losing her buddy. Cats are so amazing if they are loved and cared for properly....much like us humans.