Am I Crazy, Or? and How long is a Cat's Memory.

I've heard that cats only remember a few weeks... well, I doubt that is so, and that's because I've seen things last longer. Now, Taj had a traumatic beginning to coming here like your Freddie. He came to my house at 4 weeks old, and for the first year, if I even carried him outside, he became quite upset, shaking and cowering. When he was almost 4 he spent a week in a tree outside, and included a night during a bad thunderstorm. After that, he was again quite upset about outside, not even going out on the porch, nor spending much time in windows. And for about a year he was upset when we had a thunderstorm, and I would have to go hold him during it. He's fine about the porch and windows now and ignores thunderstorms like all the other cats. He is now over 8 years old. Oliver came to us at a week, and while he's not afraid of outside, he does have some issues with being left. The fact that the roommate spent a few weeks in December with her parents after her surgery did make him a bit clingy to me while she was gone and very happy to see her when she got back. But remember, we are his "mom" since we had to bottle feed him, and he doesn't "remember" spending a night outside, but he does have some abandonment issues because of it. Oliver, is almost 5 now and has NEVER spent a night away from our house since the day he came.

I don't think that cats have memory as people have. They just have some instincts to help them survive. They keep everything that comes into their senses in their instincts box (that most people think it's their memory).

Do cats have long term memeory - of course. But, just like humans, some events are more memorable than others. Cats (like dogs) have been known to travel great distances to return to a happy home or loved one (sometimes they search for a person who is no longer at their home). It would only make sense that they would remember a traumatic experience (however, if they were sedated for something like declawing they would only remember the aftermath). I am sure there are exceptions to this going both directions (once again, like humans). Some may have great memories while others have a hard time remembering where their litterbox is! But, on average, with most cats, memories fade as time goes by; but, memorable events can remain for their lifetime.

i think they remember just as long as humans-particularily the ones that have been previously abused. my russian blue 10 years after i rescued him would whine and wail at the first sign of possible moving-if i was packing up anything,even christmas gifts. despite reassurances to him,he would continue to act worried he was about to be abandoned again until packing came and went without me disappearing. he didn't like people raising their voices either.he would raise his to match. we often had to tell him we weren't fighting just talking loud,calm down.