The Feline Brain

Cat's brains are more alike to humans rather than dogs as it has identical areas responsible for emotion. A cat's senses send messages to the brain which then feeds back to the cat's individual response. Cat's cab almost react instantly due to messages moving through the brain at the speed of 240mph.

 Feline Facts
A cat's brain is only 1% responsible for it's body weight but as it works so hard it receives 20% of the blood pumped by the heart.

Anatomy of the brain
A cat's brain is approximately 5cm in length and weighs around 30g. It has three main regions:
Fore brain - this is concerned with the sense of smell, memory and intelligence. It contains the 'thalamus', which responds to messages from the spine, and the 'hypothalamus', which governs the nervous system.
Mid Brain - this area is responsible for the sense of sight. It contains the optic lobes and deals with signals stimulated by light.
Hind Brain - this contains the 'cerebellum', which controls the coordination of muscles and balance, as well as the 'medulla', which deals with the respiratory system and circulation. The pituitary gland which produces hormones is here as well as the limbic system which is responsible for digestion.

Smart Cats
It is difficult to rank cat breeds in order of intelligence, as you will find examples of both ends of the scale in most breeds, but as a general guide, the 'skinny' breeds such as Siamese are considered the most intelligent as they are naturally inquisitive, active and interested. At the other end of the scale are breeds such as Persian who are much less inquisitive so do less learning by experience.
Smartest - Sphynx, Siamese, Balinese and Bengal.
Followed By - Burmese, Devon Rex, Turkish Van, Russian Blue and Turkish Angora
Middle Range - Maine Coon, Manx, Abyssinian, British Shorthair
Less intelligent - Persian, Himalayan

Cat Intelligence
Cats learn in two main ways, by observation and imitation, and by trial and error. For example, kittens watching and copying their mother soon learn to groom and take care of themselves, and can become more effective hunters than those that grow up without a mother.
Alternatively, watch a cat trying to rescue a toy from an out-of-reach area (under the sofa for instance) or attempting to access a cupboard where food is kept, and you'll see him adapting positions and using different paws and techniques to get what he/she wants.

Health Problems
Feline stroke or Feline Cerebrovascular Disease is brought on by a lack of blood to a particular part of the brain, often due to a previous infection. This can cause loss of coordination, circling, falling, blindness, and paralysis. As in humans, this is usually seen on one side only.
Older cats may suffer from Feline Cognitive Dysfunction, a disease similar to Alzheimers in humans where parts of the brain degenerate. This can cause disorientation, loss of house training and reduced social interaction.

I found this information from The Cat Collection magazine and I found it interesting so I thought I would share it with you lovely bunch. :)

Thanks for reading,
Lot's of Love,
Becky
xxxx