Re: Do pets really remember?

>From what I have read cats have an excellent memory. 

"Both species were shown a large number of boxes and taught that food
could only be found under the one with a lighted lamp on top. Once the
training was complete, researchers turned the lamp on briefly. Then to
test the animal's memory, the researchers prevented them from going to
the box for a period of time. Canine recall lasted no more than five
minutes. Cats, however, returned to the correct box as long as 16
hours later, exhibiting a power of recall superior to that of monkeys
and orangutans." 
(http://www.50connect.co.uk/index.asp?main=http://www.50connect.co.uk/50c/intelcats.asp)

While my cats are no rocket engineers they do understand quiet a few
words. I would estimate that the know the meaning of at least 25 to 50
words. The tomcat knows what it means when he is asked to go to sleep
with me or for example will jump in the tub if I ask him if he wants
some water, he will also wake me up every morning at sharp 8:30 (give
or take two minutes) so that I can get up to feed him and so on.
Indoor cats might exhibit more seemingly intelligent behaviour than
outdoor cats since they are more focused on humans and their
behaviour. My female learned how to jump on the radiator so that she
can press down the door handle of the bedroom if the door is closed.
Kitty will never forget anything associated with food or pain/fear. I
have a friend who chased the tomcat away once over a year ago and
neither cat will go near the guy anymore.

The thing I don't get are certain unexplainable things (i.e. gravity
test) or outright refusal of activities although the cat fully
understands what you want it to do and it might even be pleasant for
it. In that case I guess they must be receiving different instructions
from the mothership.....