If you read everything that comes across your desktop or laptop about the abilities of the cat, like I do, you’re surely developing a new respect for them. I mean, look at the myths and former scientific studies about cats that have been blasted in recent years.
Scientists and animal behaviorists are discovering what many of us have known for years, that cats—at least many of them—are affectionate, thinking (conniving), intelligent beings.
Here are results of another study about the cat’s brain power. Some researchers have decided that cats have a more profound mind than thought. Yeah, how many of us who’ve lived with cats for twenty, thirty, and more years could have told them that?
But this study is about the map of the cat’s mind. Researchers seemed surprised to learn that cats carry a map in their head of their home—each room and nook and cranny. Outdoor cats have an even wider map—a map of their neighborhood. They know where they can go safely and
where there is danger—which houses have kind people and which have scary dogs, where the best hunting grounds are and what to expect at certain times in certain places—children outside, someone with treats on their porch, 
a bowl of water, butterflies…
Yes, now experts say that cats picture the invisible in their mind. They can actually see a diagram or maybe a more detailed picture of places that are familiar to them before they actually go to that place. They carry the picture of it in their mind. This puts a new spin on the term mind-mapping, doesn’t it?”
I think this subject is fascinating as are so many things about our cats. As you notice, I use the mind-pictures aspect in my stories quite often—where the human characters rely on mind pictures to communicate with a cat. Ever try it? Don’t knock it until you do. I’ve sure had it work in very interesting ways.
I predict that you’ll be looking at your cat this week from a very different angle.
