yes I also think cats can understand us at times. sometimes I could swear that Muffin understands me, from the way that she reacts to what I say. and Cookie was the same, once at 2 am, she wanted to go out to the garage, was waiting by the door,
and when I said no you can't go out there at this hour...LOL...she did the equal to a kid stomping their foot, she did this little jump thing, meowed her distress meow and ran off!!! it really was hilarious!