Does your pet seem to know when it is time for dinner every day? Some pet owners have consistently marvelled at the ability of their dog or cat to remind them about meals or walks at the exact same time every day – sometimes right down to the exact minute. Given that our furry friends don’t rely on clocks to tell the time, you may well wonder if this is just an uncanny reaction to being hungry or if it is more than a mere coincidence. Here, we look at some of the ideas that have been put forward to explain why some pets have this knack.
Do Pets Have the Ability to Tell the Time?
Like most mammals, pets are believed to have an internal sense that lets them know when they are ready for food or sleep but there is some debate as to how this actually works. Routine can play a part, as pets come to ‘know’ that certain things will happen at the same time every day. Exactly how they recognise when this particular time is has been the subject of much debate. Some experts have suggested that it is this inner ‘clock’ that tells them when they are hungry or tired, while others have suggested that they may be able to almost literally smell time as your scent within the home declines over the course of the day. This may go some way towards explaining why some pets are able to pinpoint exactly what time you will return home and lie in wait for you, for example.
[Photo Credit – RHiNO NEAL]
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