Does your Cat Understand What you say to it?

by Mary
(North Carolina USA)

I was in a relationship several years ago with a man who liked pets but not to the level that I did and still do.
I had 5 cats then which I had rescued and they was my babies as are all my cats even today.
He would get VERY annoyed when I would Talk to my cats.
He would roll his eyes and shake his head as if you say "I was crazy" for expecting them to UNDERSTAND what I was saying to them".
He also would make negative comments that suggested that CATS ARE DUMB and don't understand what we humans say to them.
This attitude of his caused MANY heated arguments between us in our 7 years together.
I remember always telling him "My cats were here BEFORE you came and they will be here LONG after your gone".
At the time, those comments was made to hopefully get him over his negative ideas about communication between Cats and their humans, but it never worked and after 7 years of this battle (and others not related to cats), I chose to walk away and ended the relationship. (No, we were not married)
Thus, The cats remained in their home and in my life LONG after he departed as I had always promised. ( No surprise, huh)?
But over the years, one thing has stuck in my mind and I wanted to share it with other Cat lovers and get your ideas and comments on a question that he once posed to me.

One day I was relaxing on my sofa and wanted to cuddle one of my cats.
I called out to the cat and said "Come and sit with mama".
Even tho the cat leaped into my arms immediately and cuddled down on my lap, my partner at the time made a statement that has always stuck in my mind.

He said" Do you HONESTLY think those cats understand what you are saying "?
Of course I defended the intelligence of my cats and my partner gave me the silent treatment the rest of the day.

Even today, when I talk to my cats, I think about that day and I still laugh and think to myself " What kind of person don't believe that their pets understand what they are saying"?

My question to you cat lovers is simply this.
DO YOU THINK YOUR CATS UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU SAY TO THEM?

My thoughts on this are simple.
As far as your cats understanding the language you speak be it English, French, etc, I wont go as far as saying that I believe that BUT I do believe that your cats know your tone of voice and they quickly learn what your saying to them by your tone and Repetitive phrases as they learn to associate things with our tone and phrases.

For example: My daughter has a cat named "Breeze".
Breeze LOVES can food and so when she gets ready to feed Breeze her can food she say's "HUNGRY BREEZE" in a soft, yet excited tone.
Breeze IMMEDIATELY responds by running to the feeding area.

Each of my cats KNOW their names (I'm convinced) because even if they are in deep sleep, if I call out to them, they twitch their ears and look about for me.
I know you will laugh when I say this but maybe I am not the only cat owner who does it but ALL of my cats have a GIVEN NAME as well as a couple nick names.

For Example: I have a Beautiful Flame Point Siamese Polydactal (cat with extra toes) who is named KUKI (pronounced COOKIE).
Kuki has several nick names he knows to be his own such as "Kook-a-Mook" or "Mama's KUKI". All I have to do to get his attention is say " Kook-A-Mook or call out "Where is Mama's Kuki" and he comes a running.

I have another cat named "Lenny".
Lenny knows his name but sometimes I call him "Yenny Man"
I can call out " Where is my Yenny Man and he comes straight away.

I have a lovely cat named "Sisqo" who was born in London England and bought to the states by his prior owners when they came home to the states to live.
(They was missionaries and traveled alot).
Several years ago they was sent to Nigeria and opted to NOT take Sisqo as the vet care there is VERY poor and they did not want to jeopardize his health so I adopted him and he has been with me for 4 years now.

Although I LOVE his name SISQO, I sometimes call him by one of his nick names like
"Sis-A-Mo" (Dont ask me where I come up with these nick names, they just happen in my feline communication from time to time). My cats have come to learn that their mama is full of nick names for them.
But Sisqo will come when called by his given name or his nick name.

This all tells me that in some strange but wonderful way, our Cats DO understand what we are saying to them and they respond to our communication as such.

On the flip side of this subject, I also believe that we Cat owners understand our cats when they vocalize to us. I have always said, nobody knows a cat like its owner.
When my cats meow a certain way, I KNOW what they want right away.
I have learned this from constant , daily attention given to each one. I not only know their vocal responses and meanings, but I know their eye fixations and their body language.

I have a cat named O.J that I rescued who is always healthy as an can be but the last few days he has not been his self. For example, his eyes are usually wide open and curious but since he has been under the weather, his eyes are tired and squinted looking. (Sleepy like). this is the first sign to let me know he was feeling poorly.

The bottom line to this is that I believe there is a area of communication between we humans and our pets that cannot be questioned. It is wonderful and in-explained but still present.

Please post your comments on communication between you and your cats.
I'd love to read the different stories on this subject.

Have a GREAT day

MEOW

Mary in NC, USA