We often see news stories online like these:A pet that has been missing for a long time slowly finds its way back home, finally reunited with its owner;Or a pet and its owner are separated for years, yet when they meet again, the animal still recognizes its human and becomes overwhelmingly excited.Every time we watch such videos, they truly touch our hearts.Even for us humans, when we haven’t seen a friend for years, we may fail to recognize them at first because of changes in appearance or blurred memories.So… do our furry companions really have such incredible memories?In daily life, you may notice that a cat can remember where its food bowl is placed, and a dog can remember exactly where its toy ball is hidden.But how long can their memories actually last?With these two questions in mind, let’s dive into today’s article.When we talk about memory, we are actually referring to two types of memory—short-term memory and long-term memory.
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What Is Short-Term Memory?
Short-term memory is a type of memory that allows a small amount of information to stay active in the mind for a brief period of time. For cats and dogs, short-term memory refers to the recent behaviors temporarily “stored” in their brain.This usually lasts only a few seconds to several minutes, meaning it fades almost instantly.It’s just like when we walk into a room intending to do something—only to suddenly forget why we went there in the first place…
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How Good Is a Pet’s Short-Term Memory?
Studies show that a dog’s short-term memory usually lasts only a few minutes, while a cat’s short-term memory is slightly stronger, lasting up to several hours.This difference exists because, before cats were domesticated and cared for by humans, they had to rely solely on themselves for survival.As solitary hunters and picky little “gourmet predators,” cats needed to remember hunting paths, scents, and sounds to determine threats, track prey, and find their way back home.In other words:If your dog poops in the living room and you discover it five minutes later and run over to scold them… your dog will NOT connect being scolded with “pooping in the wrong place.”This is exactly why punishing pets is highly discouraged.For example, when you come home and see a huge mess and suddenly yell at your pet, they actually have no idea you’re angry because of what they did earlier.All they feel is:“Why are you yelling at me when I was happily waiting for you to come home? This is so unfair…”
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What Is Long-Term Memory?
Long-term memory is directly tied to emotional experiences—both positive and negative.It includes memories of rewards, pain, fear, trauma, and other impactful events.These memories can last for months or even years.This explains the heartwarming stories mentioned earlier, where pets reunite with their owners after long separations and still remember them.Studies also show that cats and dogs possess emotional mapping, as well as the ability to manipulate objects and use simple tools.
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Compared to Short-Term Memory, Their Long-Term Memory Is Much More Impressive!
For example:If you always grab the leash before walking your dog, your dog will associate the motion of picking up the leash with the joy of going outside.The moment they hear or see the leash move, they’ll dash over happily and wait by the door.When owners go abroad for school or leave for business trips for a year or two, pets will still recognize them instantly:“You’re back! Where did you go? I’ve been waiting forever!”However, not all long-term memories are happy ones.Stray cats and dogs who have been abused or abandoned may associate certain appearances, tools, or environments with past trauma.When triggered, they may hide, growl, or show fear—because those painful memories are still stored deep inside them.Just like other living beings, as pets age, they may begin forgetting things and could even suffer from Alzheimer’s-like conditions, making it even harder for them to recall details—especially since their memory capacity was already limited to begin with.
Although they can’t replay memories the way we do—recalling every happy moment, every frustration, every tear, or every scene that once moved us—I choose to believe that, in their hearts, there is always a place reserved just for us.Even if one day they can no longer clearly see our faces or hear our voices, simply lying quietly by our side is enough to give them peace.In fact, sometimes it doesn’t really matter how good their memory is.Because we will remember for them—for ourselves—the countless tiny moments of companionship that filled each other’s lives.And whether it’s long-term memory or short-term memory…our furry babies somehow never remember one thing:that they are NOT supposed to touch the flower vase at home.
