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.