My cat is slowly coming out of hiding.....

[lorajc]

I agree with Kathryn....cats are smarter than people give them credit for. My one cat knows what I'm saying when I ask him where his toy is, or if I ask him where he lost his toy...."show mommy"...sometimes he'll walk over and sit by the stove and sure enough...his toy is under the stove.

I also agree with the part about saying the cats name as you pet them. When I first got my cat, he came from a shelter and was always worried that he wasn't going to get enough food. He'd get really nervous over by the food bowls and act like he needed to scarf it down before he got shoved out of the way. I'd pet him and talk to him and now, to this day, he loves to be petted while he eats and talked to.

Cats also have VERY STRONG memories. My vet once told me this and Hollywood proved it today. Last week, I almost dropped the glass from our glass top table on him (long story - it slid off of the table) and now when I go and stand by the table and put my hand by the glass, he cringes.

 

[kathryn]

>Kathryn, is that for real as far as intelligence level?

I distinctly remember the graphic from the front of the Time/Life (I remember now!) book on mammals.


Scooter used to play fetch (I call it "toss," because I'M doing the work!) with those plastic rings from the top of water or milk gallon jugs (rings from the top of big Gator Ade bottles work well, too). Somehow, since we moved, he hasn't been into it, though I will still find those rings in bed up by my pillow some mornings!

Bobsie is the ball player in the house. She especially likes batting a small Superball around the kitchen. I can hear it hitting the fridge, the stove... and sometimes going "boomp, boomp, boomp" as she hits it down the basement stairs.

 

[catwoman]

All I have to say is "Ssss..." and my cat knows I'm talking to her. Her name is Spookie. She also knows what it means when I say, "You want me to scratch your back?" She's a doll!