Parts of a Cat's Brain

Like humans, and any other mammal, cats have brains that help them think and assess things in their day-to-day lives. Although not exactly like a human's, cats' brains do have a lot of the same parts, with some variation of course. If you are interested in learning about a cat's brain, then learning the different parts can help you to do so.

  1. Cerebellum

    • The cerebellum is an integral part of a cat's brain. Located at the base of the neck just below the skull, the cerebellum takes cues from the rest of the brain and the cat's skeletal muscles, and uses them to output movement. Cats with poor functioning cerebellums may have difficulty walking, or fall down quite a bit, which is typical of older cats.

    Medulla Oblongata

    • Cats also have a medulla oblongata, which lies just under and below the cerebellum. This section of the brain controls internal functions like heart beats, breathing, swallowing and generally all cardiac or respiratory functions. If a cat vomits or coughs up a fur ball, the medulla oblongata is playing a role in that.

    Thalamus

    • The thalamus is another area of a cat's brain that works to help relay sensory information to the rest of the brain. In a cat, the thalamus is located in the center and underneath the cerebral hemisphere. The thalamus also helps to regulate and control sleep, which is why you can blame this part of your cat's brain for all of those lazy cat naps.

    Cerebral Hemisphere

    • The cerebral hemisphere makes up the majority area of a cat's brain. Like humans, cats have two hemispheres, the left and right, that comprise it. However, in humans the corpus callosum connects and relays information between hemispheres, whereas in a cat there is no corpus callosum. The cerebral hemisphere is thought to control dominant personality traits, such as aggressive cats, and a cat's overall association and thought process.

    Olfactory Bulb

    • The olfactory bulb in a cat is located in the front top part of the brain, unlike in humans, where it can be found in the bottom backside. This area of the cat's brain controls the smells your cat takes in, such as when they smell for food or their litter box. Since cats, like dogs, use their noses a lot to sniff out things, the olfactory bulb plays an integral role in their day-to-day lives.