Do you work for a genius cat?

[iloveeverykindofcat]

Inspired by the dumb cat thread. I can't say I own Habibi, my genius cat, because I don't own her in any way shape or form. First, she tricked me into adopting her. I was intending to get a shy, sweet and submissive cat because my existing cat Zara is nervous and quite small. As I was walking through the shelter, she came up to the bars, caught my eye and mewed sweetly.
"Who's this youngster?" I said. She was about 8 to 10 months.
"Oh she's a real sweetie," they said: "She gets on with all cats and all humans. We've put her in with the grumpy old boy because she doesn't mind him."
Yes my friends. Habibi can act. I picked her up and she began to purr immediately, curling all around and pretending to be the sweetest, most submissive, darling little kitty in the world who would never be the slightest hint of trouble to anyone.
Three days later, she took over my house.
Despite being ill and malnourished at the time, she leapt out of her carrier with a clear pronouncement of "lol tricked u" and STOMPED all around the house, up and down the stairs, with the posture of a conquering lion. Habibi, which is Arabic for darling, was promptly shortened to the more suitable Bibi or Beebs.

Unlike Zara, Bibi is superb at being a cat. Despite being fat, she is fast, balanced, and an extremely proficient hunter. She is an equally brilliant manipulator of humans. Even the most difficult housemate I ever had has been spotted cuddling her. She regularly engineers situations to get what she wants, including the best furniture and pillows. But its more than that - the way she communicates is almost human, staring into your face and using a huge range of sounds with real tone and intonation. If you call her name, she replies in a tone that sounds like 'What?' When you open a door and see her she makes distinct 'hmrr', which is her greeting. She only ever uses it for that purpose. Though I try to get her to exercise, she is rarely engaged by toys, because she knows they aren't real prey. She understands the laser pen. She uses her paws like human hands. She's just an ordinary black and white moggie, no special breed, but I have honestly never met such an animal in my life. I love her, but I don't entirely understand her, and the way she looks at me sometimes is so penetrating its almost scary. Does anyone else have a human genius cat? Tell me some stories about them.

[DontCallMeBaby]

I'm not sure, because he's not done it consistently enough yet ... but I think one of mine has figured out how to use the catflap as a sort of doorbell. He'll sit by it (inside) setting the mechanism off (microchip flap) over and over again until one of us lets him out. Quite smart, if that's really what he's up to.

[HolyStoneOfClonrichert]

Mine is a rescue who was 'definitely not deaf' (she's white) until I got her home and yep, most definitely deaf. Love her even more for it! She's very clever and has learned some signs and learned how to manipulate everyone in the house to be at her beck and call...
P.s I also run a rescue shelter and believe me I've seen the grumpiest of cats come over all lovely and butter-wouldnt-melt when they decide that 'the one' has walked in. Works every time they really are so clever :)

[Fluffycloudland77]

I remember a snow Bengal poking Dh through his pen bars at a show, Dh would have paid good money for him it was instant love. Dh was probably the tenth person poked that day.

Ours twangs the door handle to the lounge if we're upstairs. Why waste energy traipsing upstairs if you don't have to?.

[Iris65]

We never intended to have a cat. Too busy, too expensive, too mich responsibility. Two years ago our genius cat arrived in the back garden and did a great impression of a very sick cat who had decided to die.
She was under a tree but clearly visible from our bedroom window. For three days in the cold and occasional rain everytime I looked out there she was. I kept thinking that she would go home..
We couldn't resist so took a bowl of tuna out for her and set up a box with a blanket. She followed us into the house and is waited on like a queen. 👸🏿

[iloveeverykindofcat]

Ours twangs the door handle to the lounge if we're upstairs. Why waste energy traipsing upstairs if you don't have to?.
Like ringing for the butler
HolyStone Funny how they seem to pick their people isn't it?

[NotYoda]

Frida Catlo has a thousand-yard stare. Chooses the precise time she's going to bestow you with affection (9PM). Has taught us to have squeak (not meow) conversations with her. Sleeps under the covers with you and if you don't stroke her she pats you on the hand with a paw, or gently nips you on the nose.

She looks permanently grumpy (hence the name)

[iloveeverykindofcat]

Here is Bibi being lush this morning. I don't know what she's doing.

[Lillagroda]

LillaCat2 is very clever at mischief and at social interaction. She says Hello back when greeted and Yeees? when called. We had to change her bedroom door handle (early riser cat, small flat) to a knob as she'd worked out that jumping up, hanging off the handle and slowly sliding down it would open it. She never begs for food or treats, as she knows Cat1 will handle the asking. She cannot however open a door that pulls opens to the right. We are firmly right-pawed. Can't be done.

LillaCat1 gets me to cook an extra scrambled egg every single time. She likes scrambled egg. And can open any door. Except any that Cat1 wants to get through - those remain tentalisingly ajar and right-opening.

[iloveeverykindofcat]

That's interesting - I read somewhere that cats actually do have a dominant paw. I'll have to look out for it in mine. I'm pretty sure Bibi pokes my face with the same paw when she wants attention. Zara doesn't use her paws for much because she needs them both for the challenge of walking.

[user1467976192]

Georgie is clever. In fact he's amazing. He only plays with green toys, he is extremly unfriendly doesn't like kids so when the stepkids come he hides in ingenious places, they have never seen him.
He also loves porridge