It is common for owners to wonder if their pet can tell the time as it can affect their happiness, especially if you are a little behind with a routine they are used to! We look at the science behind our pets' senses and help you understand how our feline or canine friends know when minutes turn into hours.
Can my pet see the time?
Sometimes it seems like our pets know exactly what time it is. They can wait by the food bowl at mealtimes or sit by the door because they know someone is coming home. So, can our pets see the time? Not really, it really depends on their routine and something called a circadian rhythm.
What are circadian rhythms or clocks?
All animals (including us humans) have what is called a circadian rhythm, which is the physical, mental and behavioral change that tends to occur within a 24 hour period. A day cycle is responsible for these internal clocks, with our bodies responding to changes in light in the environment. This pattern affects our sleep cycles, hormone levels, brain wave activity, and our body temperature, which can impact our behavior. The same can be said of our pets.
For example, when the sun comes up, it must be time to get up or have breakfast or when it gets dark, our body can get tired. You may notice this in your cat or dog if they come to pick you up in the morning or hide in their bed in the evening while their younger counterparts are still working on adopting a pattern because they weren't born with a circadian rhythm. (This explains all those sleepless nights!)
A cat standing next to a clock
How else can our pets tell the time?
In addition to their physical cues, there are some changes or activities throughout the day that can help our pets tell the time. Traffic noises can vary when people go to school or when working while there are activities around the house, such as changing clothes or preparing food signs during the day.
Our pets will observe these activities and can easily spot a pattern in our behavior without us realizing it.
Can our pets tell the time by smell?
Some believe our dogs can tell when we come home just by using their nose! Your dog may have learned that when he can no longer smell you in a room, or your smell has reached a certain level, this is when you walk in the door. Simply because of your residual smell in the house around them!
Scents can also change as the day progresses, as warm air usually rises and falls in the center of the room. Our dogs can sense these changes in the air and help complete the signals they know
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