Do pets remember? Yes BUT they remember differently than we do (or than we think they do). Cats have better overall memories than dogs (dogs short-term memory last only a few minutes while cats can last up to 16 hours) – but they are also more selective regarding how they act on these memories. This particular nature adds to the “mystique” of cats – as they learn to come running when the can opener starts but remain aloof when they hear the sound of your voice. One key takeaway here is that it makes no sense to punish a pet for behavior that is “over”. The old way of training a dog not to relieve themselves in the house by rubbing their nose in it has been proven to be ineffective time after time. Dogs perceive punishment for something they did not do. No matter how guilty they may look (or you feel they may be) when you come home to feathers or trash strewn about the house, they know the “stuff” is there but likely do not remember their part in its arrival. A dog may keep the guidance they received all her life; they will also keep fears imprinted from puppyhood, but can’t seem to remember that chewing up a valuable piece of furniture is a huge no-no. A dog’s memory span may be broken up into short and long term memory.
Your cat dog won’t help you find your keys, but your cat is probably the one you hide them in the first.
Test your cat and dog’s memory today.
How good is your pet’s memory?
