Cats are often seen as independent but can form close bonds with their owners. Many people will walk through the door to their cat waiting to greet them, but is this just based on their senses or something deeper?
That’s what we’re going to take a look at here. The answers may surprise you as there are several factors that go into this curious cat behavior. Read on to find out more on whether your cat can predict when you’re coming home!
The Science Behind Animal Time Perception
It’s important to understand how animals perceive time. As humans, we’ve come to rely on clocks and schedules to track time. However, if we had no access to these instruments, we could usually have a pretty good guess on how much of the day has passed. Cats are the same.
As with humans, cats have a circadian rhythm. This is a term for the changes that we feel over a 24-hour cycle. The changes are due to your body’s response to light, time awake, body temperature and digestion.
This rhythm can give a cat clues about when their owner is going to return. With no other method of telling time, cats are more attuned to these clues than we are. If you always come home from work at the same time, your cat can learn to anticipate this event based on clues from its circadian rhythm.
For example, you may have an automatic feeder that meets their biological need for food. If you return home two hours after their last feed, your cat can use this as a clue. A cat won’t be actively trying to predict when you return but can use clues to get an instinctive feel of when you will.
Routine and Conditioning
Cats have good memories, and their prediction won’t just be based on their biological responses. They also like routine and can condition their brains to start to expect you at certain times.
Cats are good at associative learning. They can associate a wide range of things with your arrival. For example, if you come home shortly after the streetlights come on, your cat will associate this with your imminent return.
They may even associate your arrival with behavioral changes in the household. An example here would be if one family member started making food at the same time every day in preparation for another’s arrival.
Sensory Abilities: Hearing and Smell
Rather than predicting when you’re going to be home, your cat may have simply sensed you instead. Cats have hearing far above human capabilities. This involves hearing high frequency sounds that we can’t.
Along with frequencies, a cat’s ears are around three times more sensitive than ours, allowing them to distinguish sounds from much further away. Cats won’t just be listening out for your voice, as they may memorize familiar sounds, such as your car pulling up to the drive.
A cat’s sense of smell is equally impressive. They can detect familiar scents from great distances. If your scent lingers or drifts into the home, your cat may recognize that you’re nearby before you’ve even come inside.
Do Cats Have a Sixth Sense?
No, but it can feel like it. Cats are amazing creatures that are vastly different to humans in many ways. Due to them being so unlike us, some of their behaviors can seem supernatural and hard to explain.
It’s easy for us to anthropomorphize animals, attributing our human behaviors and abilities to them. An example of this is a cat’s ability to navigate in near total darkness, making it seem as though they have a sixth sense of where they are. Instead, a cat’s night vision is simply far superior to ours.
Due to this, many cat behaviors can’t be understood through a human lens. But when we look in greater detail about their abilities, their behavior becomes easier to understand. It’s also worth noting that some people can underestimate their intelligence.
When it comes to predicting when you’re coming home, a cat can put together several puzzle pieces. If the time of the day feels right and they hear your engine in the road or footsteps in the gravel, they will often head to the door in eager anticipation.
Separation Anxiety and Attachment
The duality of cats causes endless fascination. They can ignore you at times but at others, they seem inseparable. Despite the thoughts of non-cat lovers, cats can become closely attached to their owners and have separation anxiety when apart.
We’ve mentioned how different they are to humans, but they are also similar in many ways. The more time passes, the more they’ll miss your familiar comfort. This can lead to them anxiously waiting by the door or window. Here there is no prediction, simply patiently waiting.
Thankfully cats are extremely patient, and therefore this shouldn’t affect their mood too much. Although, some can act out with destructive behaviors. But if your cat always seemingly anticipates your arrival, it could be the sign of a strong bond rather than a supernatural prediction.
Can a Cat Predict an Owner’s Unexpected Return?
No. Cat’s don’t have any ability to predict the future. While they may rely a lot on routine and environmental cues, they have plenty of other ways to know when you’ll be coming home. As mentioned, it’s easy for us to underestimate their abilities.
Beyond what we’ve already mentioned, it’s good to remember that cats are incredibly quick creatures. Just the sound of you putting the key in the door will give them enough time to dart towards you before you’ve even opened the door.
A cat’s memory isn’t just bound to physical routine either. It will memorize familiar smells, sounds, and sights. An example here would be the sound of tires on gravel meaning your return. Cats are incredibly special, but their super abilities are still all natural.
How to Keep My Cat Happy When I’m Out
You may be reading this feeling a little bit guilty about leaving your cat home alone. Cats have active brains and need entertainment, especially if they are indoor cats. Outdoors cats will find it much easier to get the stimulation they need.
Some ideas include interactive toys, a window perch, cat trees, and background noise. Cats get bored and frustrated like humans do if they have nothing to stimulate their minds. These ideas will not only keep them entertained, but also reduce any separation anxiety.
