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Your cats' vocabulary (or what they understand)?



 
 
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  #1  
Old August 28th 03, 03:49 AM
John Rahn
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Default Your cats' vocabulary (or what they understand)?

Just wondering how many have felines that understand how many words and
phrases.

Of course, all of mine know the phrase "Are you guys getting HUNGRY?".
I LOVE to whisper that when they are all napping - it's an instant
stampede into the kitchen.

Cosmo seems to have a large understanding vocabulary ... if I ask him
"You want to go open the back door?" he FLIES into the bedroom so I can
open the sliding door so he can look out and sniff the air. Or when my
sister pulls up and I tell him "Kim is here to see you." he goes nuts
'cause he just loves her. He understands quite a bit. Or when I get him
a new toy I will tell him "Hey Cos, I got somethin' for ya." he knows
what that means and runs out to see what it is. He enjoys sitting in a
room full of people and listen intently to what everyone is saying.

My Dusty cat goes crazy if I ask her "Where is your toy?" She
immediately starts talking back to me and looks for it. Sometimes she
will find it and bring it to me. Or in the morning I will tell her "You
be a good girl." and she knows that means I am leaving, and she runs to
stand in front of the door to argue with me about going out. Lately she
really seems to be picking up the phrase "Get 'em." She will actually
chase the boys when I tell her that (is that wrong?).

And Oreo ... well ... Oreo is still very much the adolescent male. If
he was human he'd be one of those 14 year old boys with feet that are
too big that he's always tripping over, and starting every sentence
with "Duh....". But he's coming around. He seems to be a very sharp
cat. Cosmo is teaching him a lot. Just gotta work with him some more.

Who else has 'understanding' cats?

John R.


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  #2  
Old August 28th 03, 04:02 AM
Angela Ryan
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"John Rahn" wrote in message
...
Just wondering how many have felines that understand how many words and
phrases.

Of course, all of mine know the phrase "Are you guys getting HUNGRY?".
I LOVE to whisper that when they are all napping - it's an instant
stampede into the kitchen.

Cosmo seems to have a large understanding vocabulary ... if I ask him
"You want to go open the back door?" he FLIES into the bedroom so I can
open the sliding door so he can look out and sniff the air. Or when my
sister pulls up and I tell him "Kim is here to see you." he goes nuts
'cause he just loves her. He understands quite a bit. Or when I get him
a new toy I will tell him "Hey Cos, I got somethin' for ya." he knows
what that means and runs out to see what it is. He enjoys sitting in a
room full of people and listen intently to what everyone is saying.

My Dusty cat goes crazy if I ask her "Where is your toy?" She
immediately starts talking back to me and looks for it. Sometimes she
will find it and bring it to me. Or in the morning I will tell her "You
be a good girl." and she knows that means I am leaving, and she runs to
stand in front of the door to argue with me about going out. Lately she
really seems to be picking up the phrase "Get 'em." She will actually
chase the boys when I tell her that (is that wrong?).

And Oreo ... well ... Oreo is still very much the adolescent male. If
he was human he'd be one of those 14 year old boys with feet that are
too big that he's always tripping over, and starting every sentence
with "Duh....". But he's coming around. He seems to be a very sharp
cat. Cosmo is teaching him a lot. Just gotta work with him some more.

Who else has 'understanding' cats?

John R.


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Gizmo makes sure we don't sleep in, 10 minutes after the alarm goes off she
stands at the bedroom door meowing, as if to say "Get up and feed me" as
opposed to "get up, you'll be late for work"

She definitely knows the word "chicken" and will come from anywhere, even a
deep sleep if it means getting chicken.

She has a different meow when she wants food, another for when she wants to
go outside (to poop), when she wants to be left alone, when she wants you to
pay her attention and when she wants to play with the "red bug" (to name a
few)....they are all quite different

And then theres the noises she makes when she stands guard, translation, she
sits in the front window "keeping all the cats outside under control" and
talks to them, paws the window etc.

Somehow she also knows when I am going to be home as she is always sitting
on the porch when I drive down the street (my other half reckons she is
there for the half an hour before I get home, rain hail or shine, hence
can't say she is only sitting in ths sun).....she is lucky that I get home
around the same time every day

Yes, they are intelligent animals.....can be bad, or good

But we love them anyway

Purrs

Angela


  #3  
Old August 28th 03, 04:13 AM
L. Kelly
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Posts: n/a
Default


"John Rahn" wrote in message
...
| Just wondering how many have felines that understand how many words and
| phrases.
|
| Of course, all of mine know the phrase "Are you guys getting HUNGRY?".
| I LOVE to whisper that when they are all napping - it's an instant
| stampede into the kitchen.

LOL.....I can picture the stampede of rampaging kitties galloping to their bowls... :-)

|
| Cosmo seems to have a large understanding vocabulary ... if I ask him
| "You want to go open the back door?" he FLIES into the bedroom so I can
| open the sliding door so he can look out and sniff the air. Or when my
| sister pulls up and I tell him "Kim is here to see you." he goes nuts
| 'cause he just loves her. He understands quite a bit. Or when I get him
| a new toy I will tell him "Hey Cos, I got somethin' for ya." he knows
| what that means and runs out to see what it is. He enjoys sitting in a
| room full of people and listen intently to what everyone is saying.
|
| My Dusty cat goes crazy if I ask her "Where is your toy?" She
| immediately starts talking back to me and looks for it. Sometimes she
| will find it and bring it to me. Or in the morning I will tell her "You
| be a good girl." and she knows that means I am leaving, and she runs to
| stand in front of the door to argue with me about going out. Lately she
| really seems to be picking up the phrase "Get 'em." She will actually
| chase the boys when I tell her that (is that wrong?).
|
| And Oreo ... well ... Oreo is still very much the adolescent male. If
| he was human he'd be one of those 14 year old boys with feet that are
| too big that he's always tripping over, and starting every sentence
| with "Duh....". But he's coming around. He seems to be a very sharp
| cat. Cosmo is teaching him a lot. Just gotta work with him some more.
|
| Who else has 'understanding' cats?
|
| John R.
|
|
| ----== Posted via Usenet.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==----
| http://www.Usenet.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 100,000 Newsgroups
| ---= 19 East/West-Coast Specialized Servers - Total Privacy via Encryption =---

My cats understand lots too. I recently ran a story about them chasing a slot car set
around my house. You can see pics of that event in my album below. It was a lot of fun.

Linus (Maine Coon) had the most fun of both my boys. He chased, stalked, bit and swatted
the cars. Every time he heard the squeak of the "pistol" he would come running no matter
where he was in the house. He does the same with the laser pointer. As soon as he heard
keys rattle, he comes flying into the room, thinking it's playtime.

When I leave for work, I tell the boys, "You boys behave now and I'll see you after
work." They both immediately jump up on the back of the couch and part the blinds so they
can watch me leave. They even seem to have the timing down so they can watch me
approaching through the front yard.

At bedtime, I say to them, "Hey boys! It's time for bed." They both immediately run in
and jump up on the bed to wait for my arrival.

When Brat (Siamese) wants my attention, he puffs out his tail to about triple its normal
size. When he does this, I ask him, "Do you want up?" He then pulls back a little and
takes a flying leap onto my chest for a cuddle. Once he arrives there, he puts his "arms"
around my neck and sqeezes.

They are both way too smart sometimes, but I love it!
--
Hugs,
Lynn


*strip CLOTHES to reply*
Homepage:
http://members.shaw.ca/sewfinefashions/
See my boys: http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/papavince_29/



  #4  
Old August 28th 03, 04:23 AM
L. Kelly
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"L. Kelly" wrote in message
.. .
| My cats understand lots too. I recently ran a story about them chasing a slot car set
| around my house. You can see pics of that event in my album below. It was a lot of fun.
|
| Linus (Maine Coon) had the most fun of both my boys. He chased, stalked, bit and
swatted
| the cars. Every time he heard the squeak of the "pistol" he would come running no
matter
| where he was in the house. He does the same with the laser pointer. As soon as he heard
| keys rattle, he comes flying into the room, thinking it's playtime.
|
| When I leave for work, I tell the boys, "You boys behave now and I'll see you after
| work." They both immediately jump up on the back of the couch and part the blinds so
they
| can watch me leave. They even seem to have the timing down so they can watch me
| approaching through the front yard.
|
| At bedtime, I say to them, "Hey boys! It's time for bed." They both immediately run in
| and jump up on the bed to wait for my arrival.
|
| When Brat (Siamese) wants my attention, he puffs out his tail to about triple its
normal
| size. When he does this, I ask him, "Do you want up?" He then pulls back a little and
| takes a flying leap onto my chest for a cuddle. Once he arrives there, he puts his
"arms"
| around my neck and sqeezes.
|
| They are both way too smart sometimes, but I love it!
| --

Sorry to piggyback, but I forgot to add that Linus is a good "watch cat" as well. Last
week I was sitting here, working away on my computer. Someone knocked at my front door
and Linus went into action!

He began running between the door and me, meowing the entire time. He did not let up
until I opened the door and found out who was there. As soon as my hand touched the
doorknob, he jumped up on the back of the couch to be within close eye range of the
visitor.
--
Hugs,
Lynn


*strip CLOTHES to reply*
Homepage:
http://members.shaw.ca/sewfinefashions/
See my boys: http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/papavince_29/



  #5  
Old August 28th 03, 05:01 AM
John Biltz
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

On Wed, 27 Aug 2003 20:29:30 -0700, BricksInTheWall8 wrote
(in message ):

My kitty does not seem to understand a single word...but she does understand
hand gestures. If I wave with my hand for her to "come here" or "look over
there" she understands. But no words...not "outside" or "treat" or anything.

Just wondering how many have felines that understand how many words and
phrases.


Maya has a pretty good vocabulary. The first she learned was "are you a
hungry cat?" But if I ask if she will walk me to the mailbox she is off
and trotting. I don't know why she enjoys that so much but she loves
walking me to the mail boxes. Bruiser knows "are you a hungry cat" even
though I never ask him. With him it would be a rhetorical question. I
ask Maya and he comes running hoping to steal her food as well as his.
He will come running from seemingly impossible distances. Maya has a lot
of Siamese in her and talks quite a bit. When she is mad she has a very
"interesting" vocabulary and talks way more than you want her to.

  #6  
Old August 28th 03, 06:14 AM
Hopitus2
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Default

All the cats we've had with a drop of Siamese blood in them talked way more
than anyone wanted......very loudly! Oliver, our RB Oriental Shorthair (red)
had a big mouth on him and that "Siamese" tone of voice.
BT Rowdy seems to understand love baby talk as well as his name; Sylvie
definitely knows her name; and Maluce knows all her many nicknames, as well
as, "Get drinkie now!" when she has her little dark head poised under the
dripping kitchen faucet (she is the only one who is too dignified (?) to
lower her head to lap from the water bowls on the floor).
Oliver and I used to have regular loud conversations; he would answer
whatever I said with a loud bellow (God only knows what *he* was saying). He
outlived DurDur, his soul mate, by about 4 years. It's funny how some cats
really get attached to each other.




"John Biltz" wrote in message
thlink.net...
: On Wed, 27 Aug 2003 20:29:30 -0700, BricksInTheWall8 wrote
: (in message ):
:
: My kitty does not seem to understand a single word...but she does
understand
: hand gestures. If I wave with my hand for her to "come here" or "look
over
: there" she understands. But no words...not "outside" or "treat" or
anything.
:
: Just wondering how many have felines that understand how many words and
: phrases.
:
: Maya has a pretty good vocabulary. The first she learned was "are you a
: hungry cat?" But if I ask if she will walk me to the mailbox she is off
: and trotting. I don't know why she enjoys that so much but she loves
: walking me to the mail boxes. Bruiser knows "are you a hungry cat" even
: though I never ask him. With him it would be a rhetorical question. I
: ask Maya and he comes running hoping to steal her food as well as his.
: He will come running from seemingly impossible distances. Maya has a lot
: of Siamese in her and talks quite a bit. When she is mad she has a very
: "interesting" vocabulary and talks way more than you want her to.
:


  #7  
Old August 28th 03, 07:27 AM
JHBennett
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Posts: n/a
Default

For comparison, I've read somewhere that dogs usually have a vocabulary of
about 67 (why they didn't just say 70, I don't know) words and phrases they
understand. I do think it most interesting what they will come up with, but
do remember that we're a very important part of their lives, and what they
do, most of the time, is observe our actions and behavior. I recall
watching a video of a cat who had learned to turn the lights on and off, by
jumping up to the switch on the wall, however, the most astounding stunt
performed by a pet I've seen was the tape of a dog who had learned to let
itself out of the house, by the front door, and get back in. Something had
arroused the owner's suspicions and he set up his home video to see what was
going on, while he was at work. The tape caught the dog opening the front
door, leaving it adjar, then opening the outside storm door. Some time
later, the dog returned, opened the storm door, came inside, and pushed the
front door closed. Ah...... not that dogs are smarter than cats, but I
doubt a cat would have sufficient body mass to pull off a stunt like that.
Naturally, somebody will prove me wrong ;-)
Jack

"John Rahn" wrote in message
...
Just wondering how many have felines that understand how many words and
phrases.

Of course, all of mine know the phrase "Are you guys getting HUNGRY?".
I LOVE to whisper that when they are all napping - it's an instant
stampede into the kitchen.

Cosmo seems to have a large understanding vocabulary ... if I ask him
"You want to go open the back door?" he FLIES into the bedroom so I can
open the sliding door so he can look out and sniff the air. Or when my
sister pulls up and I tell him "Kim is here to see you." he goes nuts
'cause he just loves her. He understands quite a bit. Or when I get him
a new toy I will tell him "Hey Cos, I got somethin' for ya." he knows
what that means and runs out to see what it is. He enjoys sitting in a
room full of people and listen intently to what everyone is saying.

My Dusty cat goes crazy if I ask her "Where is your toy?" She
immediately starts talking back to me and looks for it. Sometimes she
will find it and bring it to me. Or in the morning I will tell her "You
be a good girl." and she knows that means I am leaving, and she runs to
stand in front of the door to argue with me about going out. Lately she
really seems to be picking up the phrase "Get 'em." She will actually
chase the boys when I tell her that (is that wrong?).

And Oreo ... well ... Oreo is still very much the adolescent male. If
he was human he'd be one of those 14 year old boys with feet that are
too big that he's always tripping over, and starting every sentence
with "Duh....". But he's coming around. He seems to be a very sharp
cat. Cosmo is teaching him a lot. Just gotta work with him some more.

Who else has 'understanding' cats?

John R.


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  #8  
Old August 28th 03, 10:05 AM
lrulan
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Default

Jazz knows a lot of words:

breakfast soup (or lunch or dinner) sends him running to the kitchen meowing
all the way
Go wee-wees for Mama (he stands still so I can pick him up and put him in
the litterbox where he either goes or jumps right back out)
Where's daddy (he look at the front door to see if Daddy's come home)
cookies, snackies, treats (makes him run to the kitchen and sit in front of
his food bowl)
kisses (offers the top of his head to be smooched or gives me big, wet
sloppy licks)
brushes the tiffies (he stands still so I can pick him up and bring him to
the bathroom to brush his teeth)
and tons of other phrases

I think it's the constant repetition that makes them aware of what the words
mean. I think Jazz is sick and tired of hearing some of them g
Jazz's mama

--

Irulan
from the stars we came, to the stars we return
from now until the end of time


"John Rahn" wrote in message
...
Just wondering how many have felines that understand how many words and
phrases.

Of course, all of mine know the phrase "Are you guys getting HUNGRY?".
I LOVE to whisper that when they are all napping - it's an instant
stampede into the kitchen.

Cosmo seems to have a large understanding vocabulary ... if I ask him
"You want to go open the back door?" he FLIES into the bedroom so I can
open the sliding door so he can look out and sniff the air. Or when my
sister pulls up and I tell him "Kim is here to see you." he goes nuts
'cause he just loves her. He understands quite a bit. Or when I get him
a new toy I will tell him "Hey Cos, I got somethin' for ya." he knows
what that means and runs out to see what it is. He enjoys sitting in a
room full of people and listen intently to what everyone is saying.

My Dusty cat goes crazy if I ask her "Where is your toy?" She
immediately starts talking back to me and looks for it. Sometimes she
will find it and bring it to me. Or in the morning I will tell her "You
be a good girl." and she knows that means I am leaving, and she runs to
stand in front of the door to argue with me about going out. Lately she
really seems to be picking up the phrase "Get 'em." She will actually
chase the boys when I tell her that (is that wrong?).

And Oreo ... well ... Oreo is still very much the adolescent male. If
he was human he'd be one of those 14 year old boys with feet that are
too big that he's always tripping over, and starting every sentence
with "Duh....". But he's coming around. He seems to be a very sharp
cat. Cosmo is teaching him a lot. Just gotta work with him some more.

Who else has 'understanding' cats?

John R.


----== Posted via Usenet.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet

News==----
http://www.Usenet.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 100,000

Newsgroups
---= 19 East/West-Coast Specialized Servers - Total Privacy via Encryption

=---


  #9  
Old August 28th 03, 06:52 PM
Seanette Blaylock
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Default

"JHBennett" had some very interesting things to say
about Your cats' vocabulary (or what they understand)?:

For comparison, I've read somewhere that dogs usually have a vocabulary of
about 67 (why they didn't just say 70, I don't know) words and phrases they
understand. I do think it most interesting what they will come up with, but
do remember that we're a very important part of their lives, and what they
do, most of the time, is observe our actions and behavior. I recall
watching a video of a cat who had learned to turn the lights on and off, by
jumping up to the switch on the wall, however, the most astounding stunt
performed by a pet I've seen was the tape of a dog who had learned to let
itself out of the house, by the front door, and get back in. Something had
arroused the owner's suspicions and he set up his home video to see what was
going on, while he was at work. The tape caught the dog opening the front
door, leaving it adjar, then opening the outside storm door. Some time
later, the dog returned, opened the storm door, came inside, and pushed the
front door closed. Ah...... not that dogs are smarter than cats, but I
doubt a cat would have sufficient body mass to pull off a stunt like that.
Naturally, somebody will prove me wrong ;-)


Both DH and I have caught Felix in the act of opening the sliding
screen door to the patio [naturally, he doesn't close it after himself
:-)]. He hasn't taken to opening the glass door yet, we think because
it's too heavy for him and there aren't any good paw holds. :-)

--
Seanette Blaylock
"You attribute perfect rationality to the whole of humanity, which has
to be one of the most misguided assumptions ever." - Alan Krueger in NANAE
[make obvious correction to address to send e-mail]
  #10  
Old August 28th 03, 06:52 PM
Seanette Blaylock
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

"JHBennett" had some very interesting things to say
about Your cats' vocabulary (or what they understand)?:

For comparison, I've read somewhere that dogs usually have a vocabulary of
about 67 (why they didn't just say 70, I don't know) words and phrases they
understand. I do think it most interesting what they will come up with, but
do remember that we're a very important part of their lives, and what they
do, most of the time, is observe our actions and behavior. I recall
watching a video of a cat who had learned to turn the lights on and off, by
jumping up to the switch on the wall, however, the most astounding stunt
performed by a pet I've seen was the tape of a dog who had learned to let
itself out of the house, by the front door, and get back in. Something had
arroused the owner's suspicions and he set up his home video to see what was
going on, while he was at work. The tape caught the dog opening the front
door, leaving it adjar, then opening the outside storm door. Some time
later, the dog returned, opened the storm door, came inside, and pushed the
front door closed. Ah...... not that dogs are smarter than cats, but I
doubt a cat would have sufficient body mass to pull off a stunt like that.
Naturally, somebody will prove me wrong ;-)


Both DH and I have caught Felix in the act of opening the sliding
screen door to the patio [naturally, he doesn't close it after himself
:-)]. He hasn't taken to opening the glass door yet, we think because
it's too heavy for him and there aren't any good paw holds. :-)

--
Seanette Blaylock
"You attribute perfect rationality to the whole of humanity, which has
to be one of the most misguided assumptions ever." - Alan Krueger in NANAE
[make obvious correction to address to send e-mail]
 




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