Can your cat recognise things like birds on the TV?

[Hassled]

When I was a kid - in the 70s - we had a cat who would go nuts if there were birds on the TV. She'd bat the screen, go behind it, make that chattery noise etc. I've never had a subsequent cat who seems able to recognise anything on the TV. Do I just have thick cats, or is it something to do with the change in quality of the screens/pixels/whathaveyou?

[cozietoesie]

I wonder whether cats these days are more used to TVs/various electronic devices going much of the time and have become blase about them? I've seen some wonderful footage of young kittens 'playing' snooker with a television (trying to biff the balls) but not had a grown cat who is much interested in electronic displays in recent years.

[soddinghormones]

Shuri was fascinated by the TV when he first started living in a house - he used to sit right in front of it and bat anything which moved quickly but he doesn't pay it any attention now

One of our old cats used to live watching horse of the year show - no idea why and that was the only thing she liked watching

[JubJubBirds]

Our cat is not bothered by tv noises at all unless it's kittens. But the sounds of kittens, not just their image. She goes looking for them and is generally quite distressed. We rescued her from a breeder and she'd had a few litters so I don't know if that's made any difference.

I like to think that she likes classical music, but my OHs never said anything about it so I might be projecting that!

[cozietoesie]

Many animals like classical music - I don't know why but perhaps they find it soothing and 'fitting' in some way..... (Isn't there some research about playing different types of music to cows in milking parlours?) I do recall that when Seniorboy had his little cerebral incident, it was a lot of music and movie playing that got him through OK and calmed him right down.

[JubJubBirds]

How interesting cozie. I knew it!

[Bedofwool]

Girl cat will regularly watch a nature program with me. She will sit in front of the tv mesmerised!
She especially liked the horizon cat program the other day.

And this is her watching 'Frozen' with my youngest.

[WestEast]

My kitten (5 months) was mesmerised by that cat show this week. She just stared and gave it her full attention! But other than the occasional attempt to catch the football much to my DPs annoyance she's not bothered by the TV.

[CMOTDibbler]

1 out of 3 of ours is interested in the TV. She'll go and look for birds, but also likes snooker and football

[code]

Love the pic of the cat watching Frozen.

[GahLinDah]

Our kitten loves Breaking Bad, especially when Walter White is on screen, he jumps onto the TV table and is glued, when another character comes on he jumps down.
Up and bloody down all through the programme - crackers.

[Clarabell33]

We sometimes put youtube videos of birds on the laptop for mine. It's hilarious, she runs around it trying to figure out where they've gone when they go off screen, which I think is quite clever! Since she started catching real birds though, she's less interested

She is more interested in the sound than images from the TV so not sure that she can see images on TV as she barely glances at it, maybe it is a resolution or brightness thing compared to the laptop. She tends to attack DH's precious speakers instead also hilarious

[tabulahrasa]

Both of mine will sit and watch birds and rodents on the iPad, but ignore the TV.

I don't know if it's a screen thing or just that they're used to it. My dog watched TV as a puppy and now never pays any attention to it at all.

[JubJubBirds]

'Our kitten loves Breaking Bad.'

[EustaciaVye]

Our cat loves the football and tries to catch the ball with her paw :)

[ShakeYourTailFeathers]

older cat - nada. Not a flicker, never has been.

kitten - plays games on the ipad (there are games for cats on there!) and watches TV with interest.

He very much liked Cat Watch this week, and went up to the tv and stood up on his back legs, perched on the unit to get closer

[Hassled]

I'm agog at the cat with the Walter White love :o

So it's clearly not a change in TV screens then, because there are plenty of cats out there who can recognise the shapes of birds etc. I really do have 3 of the world's dullest, thickest cats.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Tail less wonder likes the 'Bake Off' she sits upright in front of the TV staring into Paul Hollywood's eyes. She is a big tart.

[cozietoesie]

Is she interested in anyone else or does she have a crush on him alone?

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Only Paul Hollywood she is not very keen on men in really life. Maybe it's the blue eyes.

[Hassled]

Someone on a Bake-Off thread said Paul Hollywood has the eyes of a dead shark. That's what your tail-less wonder is seeing - food. Is she an over-ambitious hunter?

[NorbertDentressangle]

Years ago, before having children, DP and I had a couple of cats - one day one of them sat and watched the film Babe.

He was absolutely mesmerized despite never really showing any interest in the TV before or after that film.

[cozietoesie]

Actually, it's one of the world's best excuses for watching certain programmes/movies.

'Why are you watching that junk, Darling?'

'The cat likes it, Darling'.

Collapse of stout party.

[GahLinDah]

Walter White's biggest fan.

[Hassled]

:o - that's brilliant. You should tweet that to Bryan Cranston.

[GahLinDah]

I will. I think it must be the voice or something (?) every time WW is on up he jumps and watches him intently. I'll have to try him with Malcolm in the Middle, see if it is an actor thing, or a character thing.