I've been reading the threads about behaviors in cats and how a lot of them are instinctive. But I think cats are intelligent (at least some of them) and can be trained. I have noticed this with my cats, there are some things they pick up on and remember not just because they associate things with 'instincts'. Like, one of my cats will come anytime someone rubs their fingers together. It isn't because he associates it with pleasure-- sometimes we want him because we need to put him in the carrier and take him tothe vet, sometimes we want him to pet and cuddle with, sometimes we want him so we can get him out of the room so the kittens can eat their kitten food (which he loves). But he ALWAYS comes (if he's in hearing or seeing distance of course). I had a cat who wouldn't eat anything but canned food because she had dental problems, so I let her eat and gave the leftover to my boys. One of the boys taught himself to wait until she was done eating, and when she walked away he would go up and finish. I never chased them away from the bowl when she ate, but I did sit there and pet them and made sure they didn't eat the food. He also does the same thing now with the kittens, even though I don't want him to have the kitten food, he thinks that as soon as they're done, the leftovers are his to claim. I think cats are sooooo smart. Just thought I'd share that