My two cats punish me whenever I leave for more than two days.
Our cats know what time we're supposed to get up, what time we're supposed to be home, what Saturday is (God forbid we are away from the house that day), that when they are tossed in the car, a left turn at the light means we're going to visit favorite Uncle K - so no meowing - and a right turn means we're going to the vet - so lots of meowing.
This study is bunk.