What Do Cats Think About? Here’s What We Know
Key takeaways:
Based on what we know, cats may think about their favorite things, like hunting, feeling safe, and grooming.
What cats think about humans often depends on their early experiences. Cats who interact positively with humans as kittens are more likely to have close relationships with their owners.
Cats use their sense of smell, keen vision, and sensitive whiskers to process the world around them.
Table of contents
It’s tricky to understand what cats think about because there’s not much research on the topic. But we do know what’s important to them and how they process information. This gives us insights into what may be going through their heads.
Below, we look at what’s important to cats, how they see the world, and how they feel about humans. And if you’re curious, we’ve included a list of studies on feline cognition.
What do cats think about?
Based on what we know, cats likely think about what’s important to them. These four things are likely top of mind for most cats.
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1. Hunting
Your cat may look all sweet and innocent lying around the house. But they’re still hunters at heart. Thousands of years ago, cats hunted for animal protein in the wild. Those instincts remain with them today. It’s why a cat who spends time outdoors might search for and stalk prey, then capture and consume it (or proudly bring it home).
Your indoor cat is a hunter, too. And they’re thinking about hunting opportunities around the house. They might lunge at your feet as you walk by or pounce on a toy when you toss it. They may be thinking, “Gotcha!”
This is one reason it’s important to include daily playtime in your cat’s routine.
2. Safety
Like other animals, cats think about safety. Cats want to feel safe and secure in their living space. If they feel threatened, they may seek a place to hide. They may think, “I’ll be safe here,” until the threat goes away.
Cats also see themselves as prey for other animals. “This is one reason why a cat living with dogs who chase them may experience high stress levels,” said Megan Hoffman, PhD, an animal behaviorist with LOMA Behavior and Training.
“To a cat, dogs can be viewed as predators even though they are simply trying to play in their species-appropriate way,” she said.
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3. Communication with other cats
Communication is key, and cats think about making sure others know they’re around. Cats leave scent marks to communicate with other cats.
“Cats have glands on their head and body that produce various pheromones that act as chemical messages,” Hoffman said. “A big part of a cat's daily routine is depositing these pheromones.” They may deposit their signature scent on the furniture and think, “This is my space.”
4. Grooming
Cats spend a lot of time grooming themselves. Grooming maintains a healthy coat and reduces parasites. But cats also groom their owners and other pets in the house to bond with them. It’s a kind gesture, according to Hoffman, “because cats only do this with preferred associates.” A cat may be thinking, “We are family” when they lick you.
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What do cats think about humans?
What cats think about humans depends on a cat’s past experiences with people. This is especially true when cats are young.
Kittens who have positive experiences with people before they’re 7 weeks old are more likely to bond with humans. They learn to see that people can provide food, comfort, and safety.
In fact, cats are capable of forming secure attachments with their owners, much like infants with their caregivers. And cats can get stressed when separated from their person and become affectionate when reunited.
Once kittens are about 17 weeks old — after what’s called their socialization period — they are less likely to think positively about people. Cats can also form insecure attachments with humans. In these cases, a cat may show less separation anxiety and less affection.
What behaviors and instincts drive a cat’s thoughts?
To better understand what cats think about, it’s important to understand what behaviors and instincts help them see their world. Cats use their senses and whiskers to process information from their environment.
Hearing
Like dogs, cats have sensitive hearing. They use their hearing for hunting, avoiding predators, dodging moving vehicles, and interacting with their owners. They can also detect higher-frequency sounds than humans.
“If your cat is focused intently at a specific spot in your home, like under a floor board or an air vent, there is a good chance they are hearing something you can't," Hoffman said.
Smell
Cats have twice the number of olfactory receptors as humans. That means they can sniff things with their noses that people can’t.
Cats also have an extra sniffer on the roof of their mouth called the vomeronasal organ (VNO). They use their VNO to get a whiff of pheromones (chemical communication) from other cats.
“This is why cats scratch, to leave feline interdigital pheromones behind for other cats, marking that this is their place,” Hoffman said.
Whiskers
Whiskers may look cute on a cat’s face, but they’re actually functional. Cats use their whiskers for navigating, detecting danger, and collecting food or milk.
Vision
Cats can see better at night than we can. And their vision is highly tuned to see movement, even in low light. They rely on their keen vision for hunting. But cats struggle to see objects in the distance or right under their noses. They may rely on their sense of smell, hearing, and whiskers to explore.
“Cats are also limited with red-green colorblindness, so red and green toys may look more ‘grey’ and may be less distinctive to them,” Hoffman said.
What studies have been done on feline cognition?
While more research is needed, some studies have been done on feline thinking. Here’s what those studies found:
Cats understand that some objects continue to exist even if they can no longer see them, such as a ball that rolls under a sofa.
Cats can develop long-term memories of obstacles. They can use these memories to guide their movements.
Cats can be trained to differentiate between time intervals, such as 5 seconds versus 20 seconds.
Cats can tell the difference between quantities, such as objects with two dots versus three dots.
Cats can form secure attachments with their owners and experience separation anxiety.
Frequently asked questions
Cats show signs of stress or anxiety in different ways. Here are some signs to look for:
Not wanting to spend time with you anymore
Avoiding situations and people more than normal
Showing aggressive behavior
Not using their litter box
Grooming more than usual
Scratching more than usual
Having a stiff body and tight muscles
Flattening their ears
Opening their eyes or pupils very wide
Yes, you can teach your cat new tricks — or you can try. Cats are capable of learning new skills, like how to get into a carrier or how to wait for food. They can also learn fun stuff, like how to “sit pretty” on their haunches on cue.
But, after they’re 17 weeks old, it’s more difficult for cats to learn new experiences. So if you have a kitten, start introducing them to all kinds of things early.
The bottom line
There’s not a lot of research about feline cognition. But we can get clues about what cats think about based on what’s important to them and how they see the world.
For instance, cats want to feel safe, so they may think, “I’m going to hide now,” when someone they don’t know visits their space. Or they may think, “I accept you as part of my pack,” when they groom (lick) their owner. They also use their sense of smell, hearing, and whiskers to process information. For example, they may use their whiskers to guide them through a maze of furniture or boxes.
Cats who interact with people as kittens seem to connect better with their owners than cats who live on their own early on. Also, cats can form secure attachments with people much like human babies with their caregivers.
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References
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