Does yours listen to you?

[EachandEveryone]

I'm used to dogs growing up. My question is do our cats know what we are saying? My six month old knows her name and responds to it yet she doesn't know "get down" from the table/kitchen sideboard even though I say it ten times a day. Are they totally different from dogs in that respect? Does raising your voice make any difference?

[RockinHippy]

All of my cats, both past & present have always understood what was said to them

Whether they take any notice is another matter though


Ive always managed to train them off tables & work tops though, but one of my current ones defiantly ignores the rules if I do anything else to pee her off

Thats cats for you

[cozietoesie]

My own Seniorboy was an absolute hellion with my mother even though he was bonded to her. On the work surfaces at will, scratching what he fancied - even biting her if he felt like it. Her problem was that she used to say No to him in a voice which was really saying 'Who's his Muddy's coochy coochy boy then'? So she was disregarded. Understandably.

We have a very different relationship.

[hollinhurst84]

Yeah I have a "NO" voice which makes my horse jump and behave so the cat is not really an issue
He scratched at the sofa the other week and I turned to look at him and he scarpered

[cozietoesie]

My No voice - if I have to use it - says, more or less, 'Listen to this or I'll sack your village, salt your fields and sell your kittens into slavery!' He pays attention, anyway.

(Not that it's really needed, him being Siamese and therefore eminently trainable in other ways. I don't think I've ever had to actually raise my voice to him.)

[Germgirl]

PicklePig understands a few words. He knows his name, although that could be more a tone of voice thing. He knows the words 'treat' & 'handsome stick' (tasty stick treats, renamed because he gets them for being so handsome)
He knows what 'no' means and generally stops scratching / chewing / breaking whatever he's demolishing at that point.
Although I could be kidding myself, it's probably just that he recognises certain tones of voice.

[cozietoesie]

One interesting thing that I've found is that cats - my own at least - have 'conceptual' understanding if they're so inclined. (Words can mean different things in different contexts or can even indicate a concept rather than a thing.)

An example is the use of 'A Gawn' ( pronounced Awww Goan) at cozietowers. It's used to indicate the specific end of something happening or a return to normal routines or a 'Don't Worry - that didn't count' - all depending on when you use it. Cats are really very bright if it's in their interests and you are utterly consistent in when you use a word or phrase.

[hollinhurst84]

Ollie seems to get "cuds" - I use that for cuddles so it means get on the sofa, in the bed or jump up on me. If I ask him to come "cuds" he meeps at me

[cozietoesie]

But then I'm pretty convinced he's half Siamese.

[hollinhurst84]

Yes, I'm definitely sticking with that... He got the cuddly love human side, stable cat got the I am queen of the world and I rule all side

[herbwife]

My three not only understand me, the little buggers answer back!

[RubbishMantra]

If I point my finger at Little M and say "No." in a stern voice, he just swats my finger.

MCat's sinister, so he does what he likes. Saying that, he's actually well behaved, apart from the times he gets the need to sink his fangs into human flesh. A bit like living with a zombie who tries his best to resist his urges.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Asbo will listen to mil but she tried to murder him with a Christmas tree.

If I yell at him he just acts cute, if Dh yells at him he cowers in fear which means Dh starts the "don't look scared, I would never hurt you' spiel.

He's got us taped.

[cozietoesie]

Yes. It sounds as if he has!

[BorpBorpBorp]

BorpCat1 knows "no scratching" and "get off" (the kitchen surface/doormat etc), and she knows her name. She doesn't come when called, though. When she's told off she'll slink off an do something else she's not supposed to. BorpCat2 would come running when you called him, and look repentant when you told him off.

[ManorMouse]

ManorCat sort of listens to me. More the tone of voice and my body language really than what I say. A loud shouting makes her run for her life and me standing over her and shouting is enough to make her disappear somewhere for several hours and be as good as gold when she eventually returns. The latter is usually me losing my rag at her "I don't know what I want but I want it now. Or, maybe I don't" antics when I trying to concentrate on something.