Cats and the English language

[NoahsMommy]

That is interesting...I never thought about that.

I've been trying to teach Micah to be bilingual. I turned to him one night before bed and said "Vous les vu cache avec moi c'est soir?" (Did I spell that right? I only took three years of french in high school and that was seven years ago!)

So, now, he knows when I say that, to run to the bedroom! hee hee

[Edwina's Secretary]

respond to names or words with EEE sounds in them

At least I did something right with the names!

[halliecat]

Not sure about what language cats like best! The only thing I do know is all my cats respond to the "food" language best (Can openers, refrigerator doors opening, someone in the kitchen)

[Kirsten]

Originally posted by NoahsMommy
That is interesting...I never thought about that.

I've been trying to teach Micah to be bilingual. I turned to him one night before bed and said "Vous les vu cache avec moi c'est soir?" (Did I spell that right? I only took three years of french in high school and that was seven years ago!)

So, now, he knows when I say that, to run to the bedroom! hee hee

I think it's "voulez vous coucher avec moi", but I could be wrong, it's ages ago that I had French!
However, did it work?

Speaking about food: my cats favorite word ever is a German one, "essen" - means "eating" or just "food".

Kirsten

[Randy_K]

"Voulez vous coucher avec moi" translates into English (literally) as "Please lie down with me".

[Randy_K]

Mango likes to visit a neighbor down the hall. All I have to do is ask him, "Do you want to go to Sherry's?" and he runs to the door and, when let into the hall, runs to her door. He also knows "bug" and "birdie" and, since he and Peaches ("ee" sound there!) both really love shrimp, he knows "shrimp" too. Because he such a little glutton, he knows and responds to his alternate name "Porcellino" which is Italian for "little pig". No matter what, he always comes running if we call "Mango!"

[Felicia's Mom]

Interesting thread. I hadn't thought about it before.

[sirrahbed]

Originally posted by Kirsten
sirrahbed, Where in Germany did you live btw? Just curious.

Hi Kirsten - we lived in Zweibruecken - Missy was born at Landstuhl

[bisi.cat]

Kirsten,
have you ever tried to talk elvish to them?!
Nellie loves when I read the elvish passages from LotR aloud to her...she's fond of poems anyway, but I think it's the soft pronounciation which is so appealing to cats...

Our neighbor's dog loves it when i tell her "Goooooooood girrrrrl"...but on the other hand I often call Nellie "Feines Määäädchen", which she likes just the same...

This is really an interesting thread and our cats seem to be all little Shakespeares with their fondness for wonderful words...lol...

[Barbara]

Debbie: Zweibruecken - do you know that I'm originally from Saarbruecken? But I moved away in 1979.

I think the cats respond to the sound more than to the words. Filou definitely loves it if you whisper sweet words in his ear

[Kirsten]

Ah, thanks for letting me know, Debbie. Never been there before, it's a few hundred kilometers away from me. Did you have a good time there?

bisi.cat, that's an interesting thought, never watched the cats during the "elvish moments" so far. Unfortunately, my Elvish isn't very good, I'm still learning!

Kirsten

[sirrahbed]

Originally posted by Barbara
Debbie: Zweibruecken - do you know that I'm originally from Saarbruecken? But I moved away in 1979.

You are in a much prettier area now I am sure. We would take the train into the "big city" of Saarbruecken to go shopping, etc, or drive in on Sundays just to walk around. Our favorite weekend getaway was to Erding - north of Munich, where we would stay at a military billet and take the train into Munich for the day. My husband went there pretty often on business and I would come along with the kids and stay there. Erding itself was also such a charming little town. We would walk around and enjoy it, kids would play in the park, - there was a little place we visited - above the road in an old building, where they would serve different wines in little cups. I sometimes wonder if these places are still there! We had great times there! This was back in 81-84.

[sirrahbed]

Originally posted by Kirsten
Ah, thanks for letting me know, Debbie. Never been there before, it's a few hundred kilometers away from me. Did you have a good time there?

Kirsten

Nothing much to miss at Zwei itself- the Rosengarten and Fasanerie was pretty - but the location allowed us to travel to France, Netherlands, etc. I totally loved being in Germany though. We got out on weekends and went into the smaller villages and just took it all in. My middle son was bilingual and I regret that we did not keep him that way. Since Missy was born there, the last years, I was pretty much stuck close to home and so we had a cleaning lady come in. She did not clean though! She took care of Missy so I could get out, cooked for me and she taught me how to bake!! Then, I would drive her home to save her busfare and she would fix us wonderful lunches:-) and have our family over for dinners and streetfairs. During my pregancy, since Missy was born in August, I was always telling everyone how "heiss" I was - she quickly corrected me on THAT one!! "ich bin warm "...nicht HEISS!!

[Barbara]

Debbie I am following your traces because now I am 6 km away from Erding

It's really much prettier here but as the heavy industry in Sarrland has died in the last 20 years it's much cleaner and greener there too. In Zweibruecken there is now a factory outlet that is evry American- I love it and every timne we go to see my parents we go there to shope some cheap Adidas stuff

The place you describe in Erding with the wine is nothing I know now but there are other nice places around here -little ponds where you can go swimming and gorgeous beergardens with big chestnut trees

[catcrazylady]

Hey Sirrahbed we were in Germany at the same time! I was there from 1983 to 1987! Our time crossed over briefly anyway. I was in Hanau which wasn't too terribly far from Frankfort. I loved my time in Germany!! We traveled to so many places and had such wonderful experiences. I would'nt trade those three years for anything!!