Cat understand human speech

[Alldara]

https://paradepets.com/pet-news/new-study-cat-language-reveals-surprising-comparison-to-humans

I'm always advocating for people to narrate to their cats and talk to their cats about what's happening. It's worked really well for me over the years and it's cool to see a study that cats pick up language so easily and so well.

 

[Biomehanika]

100%

My cats know me as “mama” because I never refer to myself as my real name around them obviously and when I say it my senior girl responds with a short sequence of two meows that sound exactly like “mama” — and she only ever meows like that when I say mama

 

[Thumagia70$]

They will comprehend short simple words with repetition and consistency also giving them positive feedback rewards is a plus

 

[catloverfromwayback]

Daisy definitely knows that "look what I've got for you" or "here's your special drinkies" (always said in the same tone of voice) mean she's getting her spoon of Osmolax, which she likes. I presume it's the sound and association she's learned. Mind you she's also learned that coming out and telling me she's done a poo means she gets praise and a game with her feather!

 

[vampiric_conure]

I learned that with my birds. I'm always talking to them, telling them how much time it is before food o'clock, and other such things. As a result, I've extended that to my cats and dogs. Lots of people don't give their animals enough credit for how much English (or other language) they understand!

 

[catloverfromwayback]

I learned that with my birds. I'm always talking to them, telling them how much time it is before food o'clock, and other such things. As a result, I've extended that to my cats and dogs. Lots of people don't give their animals enough credit for how much English (or other language) they understand!

They're probably const frustrated at how poor our Feline/Canine/Avian is!

 

[Thumagia70$]

They will comprehend short simple words with repetition and consistency also giving them positive feedback rewards is a plus

Helpful? I am curious about feedback

 

[Thumagia70$]

Was that helpful? My girl Gia will meow and my response close to her from another room she has a reaction from my cat communicating between us

 

[Alldara]

Biomehanika Calcifer yells a meow that sounds like Mama! Too. He uses it to call for us.

Thumagia70$ They definitely understand more than simple words that we've taught them. If our friend calls to say she's coming by, he knows it takes her about 20 min and starts meowing at the door and pressing his "friend" button until she arrives. If she just calls to chat he doesn't do the same.

vampiric_conure Right! It always amazes me how much language acquisition they have. But to know they pick it up faster than human infants as well is awesome

 

[fionasmom]

I have always felt that animals understand much more of our language than we think. With my aussie, we had to use foreign words and spellings right up until he learned those words and how to spell.

My cats all have proper names and nicknames and they respond to both and I know that they understand other words. Jamie learned "freshies" which means that I am opening a new container of treats. I have noticed that over a period of time he waits for the new container and won't come for the "not freshies" or will spit them out at me, but get completely excited if I say that I will get the new container.

 

[Alldara]

I have always felt that animals understand much more of our language than we think. With my aussie, we had to use foreign words and spellings right up until he learned those words and how to spell.

My cats all have proper names and nicknames and they respond to both and I know that they understand other words. Jamie learned "freshies" which means that I am opening a new container of treats. I have noticed that over a period of time he waits for the new container and won't come for the "not freshies" or will spit them out at me, but get completely excited if I say that I will get the new container.

That's too funny about the fresh treats!

 

[Maggsy]

Daisy definitely knows that "look what I've got for you" or "here's your special drinkies" (always said in the same tone of voice) mean she's getting her spoon of Osmolax, which she likes. I presume it's the sound and association she's learned. Mind you she's also learned that coming out and telling me she's done a poo means she gets praise and a game with her feather!

Lol, imagine posting this as a reply on a non cat site, hilarious (sorry, I've a warped SOH)

 

[catloverfromwayback]

Lol, imagine posting this as a reply on a non cat site, hilarious (sorry, I've a warped SOH)

There's only one other place I've posted that - a cat thread on a knitting site!

 

[Meowmee]

https://paradepets.com/pet-news/new-study-cat-language-reveals-surprising-comparison-to-humans

I'm always advocating for people to narrate to their cats and talk to their cats about what's happening. It's worked really well for me over the years and it's cool to see a study that cats pick up language so easily and so well.

Quinn is so smart, he understands full sentences... all my guys understand a lot. I was impressed when Quinn brought his yoda to me the next day and left it by my bed after I said a few times, Quinn, where is yoda? The toy had disappeared for a long time. He understands a lot of other things as well. When I used to shut Merlin in the bathroom to feed Zena and stop Merlin from eating his food Quinn would let him out

 

[catloverfromwayback]

Quinn is so smart, he understands full sentences... all my guys understand a lot. I was impressed when Quinn brought his yoda to me the next day and left it by my bed after I said a few times, Quinn, where is yoda? The toy had disappeared for a long time. He understands a lot of other things as well. When I used to shut Merlin in the bathroom to feed Zena and stop Merlin from eating his food Quinn would let him out

Just what we need, them conspiring!

 

[Smarl]

Haha I'm not surprised! Besides their names, my cats seem to understand what "would you like to go to the balcony","are you hungry" and "shall we go to make some coffee (in the morning, when I'm ready to get up)".

This morning I was laying in the bed and asked if we should go to make some coffee and 5/5 cats rushed to the kitchen. They're probably more interested about the breakfast than coffee, but funny how they knew it's time to get up.

 

[catloverfromwayback]

Haha I'm not surprised! Besides their names, my cats seem to understand what "would you like to go to the balcony","are you hungry" and "shall we go to make some coffee (in the morning, when I'm ready to get up)".

This morning I was laying in the bed and asked if we should go to make some coffee and 5/5 cats rushed to the kitchen. They're probably more interested about the breakfast than coffee, but funny how they knew it's time to get up.

Now if only they knew how to make the coffee for you!

 

[Smarl]

Now if only they knew how to make the coffee for you!

This!! Any ideas how to teach them?

 

[vampiric_conure]

Just what we need, them conspiring!

A friend of mine has 3 cats and 2 dogs. She swears the dogs and cats work in tandem to steal food. Someone poses a distraction (usually the big dog, Marley) while the cats (one of which has learned to unscrew the lid of the treat jar) steal food from a lidded crock pot. She calls the two boys the 'Kraken kittens 'and the lone female the 'fuzzy cobra'. LOL!

 

[fionasmom]

My cat Eliot, who is deceased, used to work with one of my GSDs, also gone now. Eliot would climb up into the pantry and toss down the dog treats. The dog got his treats and Eliot had the fun of throwing things off shelves. It happened to often for me to think that it was a one off.