Cats and notion time

@beyonce03 (2331)
Canada
January 9, 2007 4:20pm CST
We have always been told that animal don't have the notion of time or at least not the same as we do. But sometimes they can really impress us. I have a couple of example and I hope you do to. -When I was young I had that cat name Grisou. he was in love with me. When I was preparing for school he was there beside me and even walk with me to the school. Well he was always stopping a the park who was 3min from my house. When I was coming back to school he was always there waiting for me. I don,t think he has waited all day long for me. I knew at what time I was finishing school -Another one. When I was with my ex, we were giving treats to my cat Mimi (still have her) everynight near 10:00. Everytime at 10:00 she was sitting beside us waiting for her treats, to be sure we were not forgetting here. tell us your stories :)
8 people like this
34 responses
@ladybear (128)
• Denmark
9 Jan 07
They must have some notion of it. If you have every tried to be late with their dinner then you would know. They also as you pointed out yourself have and idea of when you are going to be home. My two cats sit infront of the door waiting for it to be opened. But how they do it I don't know;-)
4 people like this
@maryannemax (12156)
• Sweden
10 Jan 07
cat - my black cat hiding to play with the chickens at home
cats i believe are intelligent creatures, too. we just don't notice it much but they easily get used to their routines, too like your cats. they wait infront of the door for it to be opened. it's something we can't explain.
2 people like this
@ESKARENA1 (18261)
9 Jan 07
my cat knows to the second when his feed tiome is, he also knows exactly what 4.30 am means, its the time he wants to go out every morning so i would say he has a well developed concept of time, it just conflicts with the rest of the family
4 people like this
• United States
9 Jan 07
When my husband comes home, both of my cats stop what they are doing, (eating or sleeping :) ) and rush to the door and wait for him. It may be a few minutes until he is in the driveway. But they know. And at night, they know to jump into their own place on bed just before we retire. Don't forget to rate "best response" above name if you are happy with this. And a + rating for the members that answer your post the way you like. Thank you.
2 people like this
@sj_chaudhry (1537)
• Canada
10 Jan 07
my cat - this is my favourite cat
ohh yes you are absolutely right. i have a cat too few years ago and she was so sober and cute. She was so disciplined that we were all astonished at her sophistication. she has nap times at specific areas, she knows when we'll give her meal and where she knows her points. She was knowing our college timings too when ever we press the door bell she was just there infront of the door to welcome us. and the times when we wentout for dinner and when we come back we found her infront of front gate welcoming us. these things really amazed us and make thinks about animalss trong sense of timings and obviously their love and care.
2 people like this
• United States
9 Jan 07
My cat Samantha has a heart condition and has to take two medications daily so every morning around 10:00 AM she starts meowing and will come find me wherever I am in the house to remind me "Hey, I am ready for my soft food with medicine". She's been doing this for years now so I think she has some type of internal time-telling system.
• Canada
10 Jan 07
It is amazing. I have a cat that is diabetic and requires injections of insulin twice daily. If I forget he comes to find me. Last year I had company for Christmas dinner and when he came to find me for his insulin injection I explained to my sister-in-law what he wanted. She dubiously raised her eyebrows, but as we have several other cats as well, I said, "Do you see any of the others looking for me?" Of course he was the only one there, so she realized that I was correct.
2 people like this
@Geminigirl (1909)
• United States
9 Jan 07
My cats know that 10 pm is their bedtime every night, and they are always standing by and ready for their treats at that time every night. It is pretty impressive.
2 people like this
@shuz697 (1043)
• United States
10 Jan 07
I believe that animals do have the notion of time especially horses... Our horses know that its dinner time a 4pm every day, without fail they are standing their wanting for someone to feed them.. If nobody has come out to them by 10 past 4 they are running around like crazy making a heap of noise. If they didn't have the notion of time there is NO way they could just guess that its dinner time each day ... Also when I was a child our dog used to wake my father up each day for work at the same time so I totally believe they understand.. :) ...
1 person likes this
@beyonce03 (2331)
• Canada
10 Jan 07
I didn't know that horse could also have the notion of time. I guess a lot of animals as it :)
@oresal (1350)
• El Salvador
10 Jan 07
u know ive actually never ehard of this time notion in animals, but i dont really think its true, cause at least a dog knows when to eat, i mean he gets hungry obviously but u can trait the dog and he will know when its time to eat, they also appear to know when its time to sleep, every animal follows a pattern, i think they might be guided by sunlight, night animals come out when its dark, its an interesting story though.
@rakinitin (685)
• Canada
10 Jan 07
Cats are creatures of habit. This is how they give us the inpression they know of time in some manner becuase we too are creatures of habit and they follow by our lead. We get up at the same time, eat at the same time, and do many things in a timely manner so they adapt. I wish my cat knew when my days off are and would not wake me when I sleep past the usual time I wake up on those days. I never get to sleep in because he thinks I'm sleeping in. LOL If that makes sense.
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
10 Jan 07
Angel Cat - Our cat Angel, our dalmation kitty
Our cat Angel sure knows the time. He always goes to bed with my niece. He will get up and head into her room right at 9:30 even if my neice hasn't gotten up or told it's bed time. He knows. He also knows what time she gets home from school. If the bus is late and she's not home he gets up in the window and starts meowing until he sees her coming down the road. Cats and dogs know time and they know when certain things are to happen and if they don't they let you know.
1 person likes this
• United States
10 Jan 07
I've noticed the same about cats as well. I have had the same cat (MaKitty) now for about 10 years. While she's a friendly cat, she favors me more than anyone. I have found she knows when it's time for me to get up everyday. I work the late shift (3pm - midnight) and I usually wake up to get ready for work about 12pm. I don't need an alarm clock. She sleeps with me and when it gets around 12pm she will sit right next to my head and stare at me which usually wakes me up for some odd reason (another odd thing about cats I've noticed. When they stare at you, you can wake up out of a deep sleep because of it). If I don't wake up then, she'll take her paw and lightly brush my nose. This usually wakes me up but, if I'm still tired and not wanting to wake up, she'll start rubbing her head on my forehead. If I'm still trying to sleep in and pull the covers over my head and tell her to stop (yeah, I like sleeping lol), she'll walk across my body back and forth until I wake up. I don't mind it as I love MaKitty to bits and pieces but it really sucks on my off days lol. So, I do believe somehow cats know about time. This is a good topic.
1 person likes this
@beyonce03 (2331)
• Canada
10 Jan 07
Thanks for the good comment on my topic :) I love making topic about cats life because it,s funny reading that you are not the only noticing thing :) Good life to you and Makitty
1 person likes this
@moudodo (12)
• India
10 Jan 07
I always think that animal have very much time notion than me ofcourse.our dog(megha)always became angry at lunch time as she didn't want to eat those diet.Maintaining time she automatically changed her behaviour.
1 person likes this
• Estonia
10 Jan 07
My cat also remembers things that frequently happen, so for example if I come home she wakes up a little before I arrive (usually she sleeps entire day). Same thing is with food -she wants to eat everyday at the same time.
• South Africa
10 Jan 07
I have horses and at feeding time which is 3:30 pm they stop grazing and start approaching the paddock gates before they have even been called.
1 person likes this
@maryannemax (12156)
• Sweden
10 Jan 07
my cat - my cat who loves to sleep under his favorite tree in our yard. he usually sleeps here between 3 to 5pm.
i do believe that animals have intelligence, too. they know their limits and they know things that will benefit them. the good thing is, they know too how to impress their keepers. so, if we treat them well, they'll make our lives even happier. cats are sweet creatures. that's why maybe they always make us go amazed with what they do.
1 person likes this
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
10 Jan 07
Yes I think the old saying that we humans are the superior race is a bit of rubbish, animals have something that we can never even comprehend, I believe cats especially have a closer connection to the spirituality than us and they have a special gift we just don't know about because man prefers to think they are the superior ones and they just don't want to know about it mainly because they haven't a clie about that sort of thing, maybe even scared of it....
@feralcat (426)
• Canada
10 Jan 07
I beleive they have a very good notion of time. My cats usually start waking me up around 5 in the morning which is when I start stirring. They will walk around myhead until I'm up and of course it's for food. Fingers who is one of the feral cats here is usually sitting in the driveway by the house around 5:30 which is around the time I get home from work. I think they have quite the perception of time and they like us also have an internal body clock
1 person likes this
• United States
10 Jan 07
My dogs know that at 4pm I walk down and get the mail and they are by the door wanting to go with me then at 5pm they are in the kitchen waiting for me to get their dinner ready. This every day not just occasionally.
1 person likes this
@tammyr (5946)
• Etowah, Tennessee
10 Jan 07
My female sometimes wants out all day, sometimes all night, .My kitten stays out all day, in all night, They are at the door at 6 am and 5pm when I am suppose to open the door for them. In the morning if I don't let her in, She climbs the door by 6:15. =)
@bonbon50 (659)
• United States
11 Jan 07
We had a wonderful cat when I was growing up named Voracious. We lived 7 houses down from the Elementary School and if she was outside she would be on the corner waiting for me or be in the front window watching for me to come home. She was also unusual in that we had birds and one could land on her head and she wouldn't do a thing except look a tad annoyed.