Do cats remember their rescuers?

As some of you may remember, I rehomed Pearl with my daughter and her family when I moved back to Georgia. She is an only kitty, and is very happy for the first time, as she really needed to be an only kitty. My daughter rescued her form her abusers when she was a 5 month old kitten, Pearl just adores her. They will sit on the couch together, like Pearl has never done with anyone until now. She loves the girls, 6 and 3 months, and sil dotes on her. She actually jumped into my lap and gave me little kitty loves yesterday. Do you think it is just because she has no other kitties tormenting her, or does she remember Mary, my daughter rescuing her? I would have never believed she was the same cat.

Over the years, I've spent quite a while doing fostering and rescue with both cats and dogs, and I've had the opportunity to visit quite a few of my "success stories" in their forever homes. In some cases, it had been several years since I had seen the animals. I've found that almost 100% of the time they remembered me! It really melts your heart to see them doing so well in a new home, but to also seem to remember who you were and that you were someone they could trust! Animals are very intelligent; I definitely think they remember the people who help them :heart2:

What lovely stories!      Tippytoes was a stray who we found outside outside around 4 or so years ago.  I was the one who brought her food, water and a towel to sleep on until we could get her to a vet to check her health.   We were afraid to bring her into the house prior to the vet visit, because we didn't want to endanger Tony and Angel.  Anyway, she's now the boss of the house and is especially attached to me.  I like to think it's because she remembers me  taking care of her before she came to our forever home.   Her nickname is Shadow, because she is literally my shadow.   She's here right now watching me on the computer, and at night she cuddles on my arm and shoulder, licks my face, and rests her paw on my mouth!  I've always been convinced that she remembers when I rescued her.

I think they must. If anything, remembering your smell & associating it W/ something positive happening. Also the energy we put out.    They probably remember how our energy "feels."  If you know what I mean. 

I absolutely believe they remember....

I also believe they remember their past lives, the way it was before...we remember them, they remember us. No doubt in my mind and from my experiences.

Very heart-tugging for sure. That we made a cats life better. Each and every one, one at a time.

Most definitely! If they can remember their abusers, they do remember their rescuers. 

I believe so.  Daisy plays all the time.  "She's happy," DH will say.  I know she thinks back to a time when she wasn't so happy, before she came to live with us.