Good News

SorellaLaBefana

(517 posts) Sat Oct 26, 2024, 03:43 PM Oct 2024

Yes, They ARE Listening

Even if your cat hasn’t gotten your tongue, it’s most likely getting your words. Without any particular training, the animals—like human babies—appear to pick up basic human language skills just by listening to us talk. Indeed, cats learn to associate images with words even faster than babies do, according to a study published this month in Scientific Reports. That means that, despite all appearances to the contrary, our furtive feline friends may actually be listening to what we say…

https://www.science.org/content/article/cats-beat-babies-word-association-game?

Perhaps judging as well?

7 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Yes, They ARE Listening (Original Post) SorellaLaBefana Oct 2024 OP

Mine know the word 'cookie' means treats. House of Roberts Oct 2024 #1

"Want a treat?" "Want a Churu?" are understood in this house. :-) spooky3 Oct 2024 #2

Oh, that is SO TRUE SorellaLaBefana Oct 2024 #6

My hubby is the Churu man - they KNOW that word Earthrise Oct 2024 #7

Listening is one thing; OBEYING is something else Martin Eden Oct 2024 #3

Why should they obey when THEY are in charge?? lastlib Oct 2024 #5

They most certainly do. 2naSalit Oct 2024 #4

House of Roberts

(6,633 posts)

1. Mine know the word 'cookie' means treats.

Reply to SorellaLaBefana (Original post)

Sat Oct 26, 2024, 03:47 PM

Oct 2024

They know ‘crunchy’ means dry food, and ‘vittles’ means wet food. There may be other words they respond to but those are the ones they know the best.

spooky3

(38,859 posts)

2. "Want a treat?" "Want a Churu?" are understood in this house. :-)

Reply to House of Roberts (Reply #1)

Sat Oct 26, 2024, 03:50 PM

Oct 2024

“No” and “stop that” are understood but ignored as long as it takes me to reach them.

SorellaLaBefana

(517 posts)

6. Oh, that is SO TRUE

Reply to spooky3 (Reply #2)

Sat Oct 26, 2024, 05:56 PM

Oct 2024

Earthrise

(15,758 posts)

7. My hubby is the Churu man - they KNOW that word

Reply to spooky3 (Reply #2)

Sat Oct 26, 2024, 08:48 PM

Oct 2024

They will run from anywhere in the house to him when he asks who wants Churu…

Martin Eden

(15,873 posts)

3. Listening is one thing; OBEYING is something else

Reply to SorellaLaBefana (Original post)

Sat Oct 26, 2024, 04:13 PM

Oct 2024

Or do I misunderstand our feline friends?

lastlib

(28,603 posts)

5. Why should they obey when THEY are in charge??

Reply to Martin Eden (Reply #3)

Sat Oct 26, 2024, 05:02 PM

Oct 2024

Does your boss at work take orders from you?

2naSalit

(103,806 posts)

4. They most certainly do.

Reply to SorellaLaBefana (Original post)

Sat Oct 26, 2024, 04:18 PM

Oct 2024

I work with cts, teach them things and they are, when in the mood, quite willing students There's one kitten I watch sometimes, abut 7 mos old, and she is sharp and demands that I teach her more every time I see her. Her sister is similar but not as aggressive. Their mom approves and likes to watch while I play with her little girls. She joins in sometimes but mostly she's just watching.

Cats are amazingly smart, as you could see if you pay attention and learn their language too.

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