How many (hooman) words do your cats understand?

[Kirsten]

I'm pretty sure they understand a lot, and are also able to associate the correct meaning. And they have a long time memory for words!!

Luna surprised me a while ago. When she was young we used to play a lot with a laser pointer, I called the game "kitty light", and every time I mentioned the word she would come running and sit down in her "hunting position", ready to chase the red spot. Then, after a while, the laser pointer broke, so we didn't play for at least one year, or even more.

Then, one day, I just mentioned the word, "kitty light", and to my surprise, she ran to me, meowed happily, and sat down, ready to chase the light. She had in fact remembered the word, and its meaning, after such a long time. Well, what else could I do but buy a new laser pointer?

Except for kitty light, there are a few more words (or short sentences) my girls know very well:

"Komm zu Mama!" ("Come to mommy", I usually say this to them when it's cuddling time)
"Essen" ("eating")
"Frühstück" ("breakfast")
"Hill's i/d" (Lily's favourites)
"Toy"
"Tablette" ("pill, meds")
"Treats"

These are the words they definitely understand, but I'm sure they understand a lot more.

Which are the words your kitties know?

Kirsten

[sasvermont]

treat

[sumbirdy]

Aza is only 1 1/2 month old so I don't think she really understands anything yet (or maybe she is just fooling me)

[RICHARD]

For Ed it's the opposite..

What words do he not understand?

GET OFF THERE!

[kimlovescats]

"Out" ... when they are in a room that I am trying to keep them out of ... like my bedroom when my asthma is flaring up!

"Get Down" .... although they understand it, many of them toy with me until I get a few steps closer!

"Treats" .... I do believe they know this one too!

Every single one of them knows their own name without a doubt! I can call one of their names in a full room, and only that cat will respond!

[Barbara]

I am afraid F+ T do not even understand their own names.
However they understand when I THINK "vet" or "meds".

And I understand a lot of their language:
Like Bloody f... heck where is my dinner? (I am sorry that's Tigris' language- I have no idea where he learnt it )

[Kirsten]

LOL@Tigris!!

Well, sometimes it may be a good thing that we don't understand everything they say!

BTW, I forgot to list "Get down", mine understand that very well, too!

Kirsten

[RICHARD]

And I understand a lot of their language:
Like Bloody f... heck where is my dinner? (I am sorry that's Tigris' language- I have no idea where he learnt it )

I'll clean up the emails I send to him....

[mruffruff]

I don't know for sure that Mac knows words. He certainly does talk to me though. He always says "Thanks" when I let him in from the back yard by giving me a small mew. He definitely knows his name when I call him. No matter what I call it, he knows when I'm going to feed him and jumps up on the washer (where his dish is). We communicate more by tone and looks.