Kitty brain training: finding problem solving strategies ;)

[Kirsten]

The idea was to train Luna's and Lily's brains, and make eating treats more interesting for them. This method is often suggested in cat magazines btw. The paper roll has holes with some treats in it, and I fixed the roll to the board (in a previous test, they just rolled the paper roll and the treats fell out, that's why I fixed it this time).

Well, I seriously doubt that this training method had any positive effect on my girls! Luna just took a look and walked away, she immediately decided this was too difficult - or too stupid. She was not interested.

And Lily, well, she had no problem with this. In no time, she figured out how to get the treats out of the hole with her paws, and she ate them all.

Later, I noticed that Luna carefully approached the construction. I tried to help her and showed her what do to, but she did not get in. After some halfheartened attemps, she gave up.

Result: Lily proved once again how brilliant she is, and Luna ended up being frustrated at the thought that she's not the... uhm... brightest kitty under the sun. So frustrated that she attacked Lily in the end...


Look how Lily solved the problem within seconds:













Kirsten

[RICHARD]

THat is way to funny.

It reminds me of the way that monkeys are caught.

I saw and read about this more than once. The locals would cut two holes into a coconut. One was a hole big enought for a monkey to slide their paw in.
The other was for a string that had a knot tied inside the nut and the other end was tied to a stake or tree. A treat was put into the coconut and left for the monkey to find. THe monkey would try to get the treat by sticking his hand into the nut and making a fist-the clenched fist of the monkey was too big to get the treat out. Because the monkey was too greedy and too 'dumb' to let go of the treat, he would hang on to the food until he was captured by the hunters!

Intersting the way animals brains work-

I bought a container for the bags of cat food that I didn't want to become stale. I left the container on the table near Ed's food bowl. Ed wants 'fresh' food every day, so I would reach over, open the container and grab out a fresh handful of food. I was 'told' this because when the container was put away, Ed sits in front of his bowl waiting for fresh food. I reach over grab a handful and he's eating. Two days ago I put chunks of ham into his bowl and had to throw them out because he only wants fresh food. This morning he got in the table, flipped the top off the container and began to eat.

They are really smarter than we think!

[Karen]

Poor Luna - umm, maybe a simpler "test" for her? Have you ever tried the "Buster Cube" type of treat dispenser where they have to roll the ball to get the treats to fall out? Maybe she'd figure that one out by accident?

[Cinder & Smoke]

Ed wants 'fresh' food every day ...

Boots da Kat used to be "phussie" about wanting FRESH Krunchies in his bowl -
and would refuse to munch on Krunch that was 'left over' from the day before.
Much *YOWLING* would be heard from the Baffroon Buffet Table ( the sink/vanity)
if the Chief Cook & Box Freshener had neglected to toss the stale stuff and
replace it with FRESH - whilst the consumer was observing!

You CAN teach Old Dads a new trick or two ...
I finally wised up to "tossing" the Stale Stuff back into the plastic storage container;
giving a brief *shake*; and then dispensing Boots' sought-after FRESH Krunch.

I got his *snake-eye look* a few times when he must have thought SumKat had
*spit* on his Krunchies ... but he usually ate it without too much backtalk!

[lvpets2002]

Oh Luna are they laughing at you?? Your just too Cute.. Now I dont do it with food; But I do diff things with their toys to make the interest more interesting..

[Kirsten]

I also think that animals are much smarter than people used to think. It's just that we often don't see the potential they have. Meanwhile, scientists admit that monkeys, elephants, dolphins, whales, crows and parrots are really smart; tests that have been done with them brought some amazing results.

Don't know about cats, but my Lily is a very smart girl, very quick in her decisions and in her ability to learn, or to solve problems. Don't know what's wrong with Luna. She'S always taking a long time considering, and before she makes a decision, Lily has interfered. That's frustrating Luna, and that way she's losing interest in many things. I think she would do more if she was a single cat. She has also stopped playing when Lily moved in, for the same reason.

Kirsten