5 Signs Your Cat Is Much Smarter Than You Might Think

Every cat has its own kind of intelligence, but some whiskered companions have clearly been blessed with a little extra brainpower. Below, we’ll look at the telltale signs of these especially clever felines.

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I’ve always wondered, based on objective criteria, just how smart my cat really is. Cirmi is the light of my life, but over her 14 years, she’s done one or two things that made even me question her mental capacity. Still, every cat is unique, and as it turns out, there are certain behaviors that strongly suggest above-average intelligence. If you’re curious about how clever your own kitty is, here are the 5 signs that reveal you’re living with a particularly intelligent cat.

Cirmi

The Signs of a Smart Cat

1.) They Recognize Their Name

It’s rare for a cat to show perfect obedience, but that has more to do with their independent nature than their intelligence. Cats are capable of identifying and remembering unique sound patterns, recognizing different tones of voice, and even associating meaning with them. According to experts, they absolutely can recognize their own names—even if they visibly choose to ignore them from time to time.

A smart cat recognizes its name, so I can definitely check this one off on Cirmi’s list. While I haven’t managed to teach her much else, she almost always reacts when I call her and often comes over to me.

A cat most likely recognizes its name even when it ignores your call

2.) A Smart Cat Is Sometimes Mischievous

If your cat likes to knock things off the edge of the table, chances are it knows this will get your attention. Congratulations—you’re living with a very clever cat, even if the broken objects might make that hard to appreciate.

Knocking objects over is often the result of a cat’s curiosity, boredom, or desire for attention, so it’s not solely a sign of intelligence. Sometimes it may simply mean your cat needs more playtime and stimulation.

Another point for Cirmi, who loves pushing small objects off high surfaces—especially when she decides she requires immediate attention and I happen to be busy.

3.) They’re a Good Hunter

Most house cats have strong hunting instincts, but not all of them execute their plans equally well. This means hunting success can actually be a pretty good indicator of feline intelligence.

Hunting requires planning, timing, spatial awareness, and impulse control—all signs of cognitive sophistication,

– summarizes Elizabeth Laura Nelson, journalist for Kinship.

Cirmi spent most of her life as an outdoor cat. When she first came to us, we didn’t yet know much about cats’ environmental impact, and the neighborhood was quiet and safe. Over the past two years, though, that changed, and she became an indoor cat. Before that, however, she was an impressively successful hunter.

4.) They Figure Out How Things Work

Cats are generally great observers, and sometimes they learn how things work around the house simply by watching. This is called observational learning. Some cats learn to turn on faucets, open doors or windows, and master plenty of other tricks.

Observational learning is one of the hallmarks of higher-level cognitive abilities,

– writes Elizabeth Laura Nelson.

For a long time, I doubted that Cirmi was a particularly sharp observer. Sometimes she can’t even find food that has fallen right next to her bowl, and she never managed to figure out treat-dispensing puzzle toys—even after repeated attempts and demonstrations. That’s why the following events surprised me so much. When we were getting her used to living indoors, the door had a dog flap. She had never used one before, and for six months as an indoor cat, she didn’t so much as sniff at it—even though our dog, Kuszkusz, used it regularly. Naively, we assumed she simply didn’t understand how it worked.

Then came her first summer as an indoor cat, and she suddenly revealed that she knew perfectly well how to use the flap—she had just had no interest in doing so before. Since then, Kuszi’s free outdoor privileges have unfortunately been revoked, so Cirmi can no longer sneak out through the dog flap she had become so skilled at using.

5.) They Know Your Routine Well

A smart cat can memorize its owner’s daily routine and behavioral patterns. It knows when you wake up, when you leave for work, and when you come home. Most importantly, it will absolutely keep track of when mealtime is supposed to happen.

Aside from closely monitoring feeding times, I haven’t noticed this sign much in Cirmi. Still, she checks four out of five boxes on this list, which leaves no doubt that she’s got plenty of intelligence—even if some of her actions occasionally suggest otherwise.

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