Instinct & Learning

The size of the average cat brain is 2 inches (5cm) in length and 1oz (30g) in weight. Since the average cat weights around 7lbs (3.3kg), the brain is less than 0.9% of its total body weight, compared with the average human's brain, which accounts for 2% of its body weight.

Cats learn by trial and error, observation and imitation. The cat's learning abilities are aided by an excellent memory. Cats can remember and recall information much longer than dogs - up to 16 hours, as opposed to a dog's five minutes. In one study it was discovered that cats possess visual memory ability comparable to that of monkey. The feline short-term working memory is less impressive, however. This was proven in one of the STM test.

Cat is born with strong instinct. Its aptitude for gathering and analyzing information, plus learning through experience serves it well. A kitten first learns by imitating its mother. As it grows more independently, it does something and the observes the result. If an action is pleasant, it is likely to repeat it. If not it will be less likely to do it again.

By 2 months of age, kitten will have learned how to hunt by play. By 6 months it will be a confident hunter capable of satisfying its needs, also by imitating its mother.

The kitten is also taught hygiene and cleanliness by its mother. The mother keeps the birth nest clean by licking and eating the urine and feces of her nursing kittens. As kittens start walking and start eating solid food, the mother cat will no longer clean her kittens' rump. A kitten will not soil its own bed and will be able to use a litter tray by the time it is 5-6 weeks old.

Like human baby, kittens or cats explore their environment by putting things in its mouth. This is how they learn what is food and what is not.