During the last couple of decades, much research has been done to assess the mental level of different animals, especially pet animals like dogs, cats, birds, etc. Many people see cats as independent, intelligent, and even devious creatures. In fact, according to scientists, cats are a lot smarter, wiser, and more tenacious than we think.
Now you may wonder, “Can cats plan ahead?” “can they think about the future?” or “can they design a strategy to accomplish a task?” etc.
Though the data available on this topic is a bit technical and involves a lot of scientific terminologies, we have summarized it in simple words for a better understanding. Let’s see what and how our fluffy pets think.
Understanding Cats Brain
Cats have a smaller brain size as compared to dogs or some other larger animals. However, according to scientists, thinking ability depends on factors other than the brain’s size. Furthermore, a cat’s brain resembles a human brain (compared to a dog’s brain).
Like the human brain, a cat’s brain is divided into different compartments, which have specialized functions and are well-connected. Such a technical division of the brain enables cats to comprehend and analyze the situation and respond accordingly or even manipulate it.
According to one research, it’s known that the number of nerve cells in a particular brain area is more significant in cats than in humans or other mammals. This brain area helps decision-making, problem-solving, planning, memory processing, and language skills.
So it shouldn’t be surprising why cats sometimes can be so creative.
Can Cats Think About Things, Plan, Or Make Their Schedule? What Does Science Say?
Though cats appear dull, aloof, and mysterious because they are less expressive or vocal than dogs or parrots, scientific studies tell a different story.
A team of scientists at Kyoto University and Sophia University concluded that cats could perform more complex cognitive tasks such as imagination and planning. They further stated that cats could think about future events, past events, themselves, and how they feel about humans and their environment but not to the extent we humans do.
The primary difference between cats and humans is that they can’t think, anticipate or contemplate things consciously; instead, their brains only process things subconsciously. Cats lack “default mode” in their brains.
This default mode helps humans to think more deeply and from different aspects when they are not focused on a particular goal. In fact, to date, scientists have yet to succeed in finding this default mode setting in any animal other than humans.
However, what makes the cat’s brain a bit superior to some other pets is its “working memory system.” This working memory enables the cats to recall previous memories and decide their actions. When we say (as mentioned earlier) that cats can think of future actions, it’s not like human’s future planning.
Cats can store their previous experience in their minds for a short duration. Whenever they face a situation (that they have confronted in the near past), their working memory enables them to make a better decision to go through the situation based on their previous experience.
For example, suppose you present a toy or offer a treat. In that case, your cat can subconsciously visualize what happened when he was previously presented with a toy or treat. This will help him decide whether to go for the toy or treat or avoid it.
Similarly, suppose your cat links something terrible with a particular person, object, or path. In that case, he may start avoiding the person or thing and will prefer to find another way in the future.
Working Memory Or Short Term Memory
Now you may confuse a cat’s working memory with a human’s short-term memory. There is a minor distinction between the two.
Human short-term memory remains in mind all the time (until it vanishes after some time), regardless of whether you use it for something. In contrast, a cat’s working memory comes into action only when it is presented with a situation it had faced earlier.
Conclusion
Thank you for reading! We hope now you understand how cats think and if they can plan. There’s no doubt that cats can be highly creative in problem-solving. If you found this article interesting, share it with your friends.
