It's time for me to admit I have a problem...

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Do you see the halo over his head? That's because he decided to gnaw on my ankle when I got out of bed because he was hungry. Thankfully, he never bites hard.

 

[Chicken poppy]

I think people misunderstand cats. People always say they don’t know their name or certain commands, thats not true! They do, they just choose when they want to listen to them and if its worth their time.

 

[Chicken poppy]

Kiwi is being very naughty this morning. She pushed a glass off the table 4 times.

 

[RoyalChick]

Kiwi is being very naughty this morning. She pushed a glass off the table 4 times.

She is just helping you tidy.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

I think people misunderstand cats. People always say they don’t know their name or certain commands, thats not true! They do, they just choose when they want to listen to them and if its worth their time.

That's generally from people comparing them to dogs, which is a completely unfair comparison. Dogs were bred from wolves, who are very pack-centric. It does a wolf no good to ignore what the alpha of the pack is telling them to do; in fact it does them much better to mindlessly follow because they could be punished for not doing as much. Since dogs generally see their owners as the alpha of their pack (and dogs who don't generally are the ones who have behavioral issues), of course they are going to obey commands and hang on their owner's every action in a very subservient relationship, something I don't find appealing, personally.

Cats, on the other hand, are solitary by nature. Can they be trained? Of course, but it takes a different strategy than with dogs to do so because they are not biologically the same as dogs and their brains aren't programmed to listen to anyone but themselves. The fact that they're solitary by nature, yet are willing to ignore that instinct to cohabitate with humans is so lovely to me, though.

Also, anyone who thinks cats don't know their names hasn't been around cats much. Even when Casper doesn't want to listen to me, he perks his ears when I say his name. Usually, he'll look at me when I do as well. He doesn't do that for any of the million nicknames I have for him, so I get the feeling he understands that Casper is what he's supposed to be called.

 

[RoyalChick]

That's generally from people comparing them to dogs, which is a completely unfair comparison. Dogs were bred from wolves, who are very pack-centric. It does a wolf no good to ignore what the alpha of the pack is telling them to do; in fact it does them much better to mindlessly follow because they could be punished for not doing as much. Since dogs generally see their owners as the alpha of their pack (and dogs who don't generally are the ones who have behavioral issues), of course they are going to obey commands and hang on their owner's every action in a very subservient relationship, something I don't find appealing, personally.

Cats, on the other hand, are solitary by nature. Can they be trained? Of course, but it takes a different strategy than with dogs to do so because they are not biologically the same as dogs and their brains aren't programmed to listen to anyone but themselves. The fact that they're solitary by nature, yet are willing to ignore that instinct to cohabitate with humans is so lovely to me, though.

Also, anyone who thinks cats don't know their names hasn't been around cats much. Even when Casper doesn't want to listen to me, he perks his ears when I say his name. Usually, he'll look at me when I do as well. He doesn't do that for any of the million nicknames I have for him, so I get the feeling he understands that Casper is what he's supposed to be called.

Cats and training? I think people are muddled. It works fantastically. Cats can train their humans in a matter of hours.
I consider myself extremely well trained by my cats who all (4) have slightly different desires and would punish me if I got it wrong. Fortunately I rarely make mistakes so I am rewarded with snuggles, assistance clearing all horizontal surfaces of clutter, and strict limits to my ability to use keyboards, read books etc.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

This is true, they are very skilled at training us.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

This ridiculous cat and his naps

 

[Chicken poppy]

That's generally from people comparing them to dogs, which is a completely unfair comparison. Dogs were bred from wolves, who are very pack-centric. It does a wolf no good to ignore what the alpha of the pack is telling them to do; in fact it does them much better to mindlessly follow because they could be punished for not doing as much. Since dogs generally see their owners as the alpha of their pack (and dogs who don't generally are the ones who have behavioral issues), of course they are going to obey commands and hang on their owner's every action in a very subservient relationship, something I don't find appealing, personally.

Cats, on the other hand, are solitary by nature. Can they be trained? Of course, but it takes a different strategy than with dogs to do so because they are not biologically the same as dogs and their brains aren't programmed to listen to anyone but themselves. The fact that they're solitary by nature, yet are willing to ignore that instinct to cohabitate with humans is so lovely to me, though.

Also, anyone who thinks cats don't know their names hasn't been around cats much. Even when Casper doesn't want to listen to me, he perks his ears when I say his name. Usually, he'll look at me when I do as well. He doesn't do that for any of the million nicknames I have for him, so I get the feeling he understands that Casper is what he's supposed to be called.

Yep! Very well said. My cat has never once, even when shes sleeping, not come when i call her name. I think thats actually really intresting.

So i always tell people not to call her name if you don’t have a reason, because if shes napping, she got up for nothing. Which is very rude.

I taught Kiwi how to fetch. (Just a PS. I hate dogs, i know thats a strong word, but i don’t like them very much.) and she has fun doing it, but her excitement doesn’t last long at all. After a good throw or two, she slowly brings it back less, like she’ll bring it back halfway and make me go get it for her, then it turns into me just throwing it and collecting it again.

I think its amazing how any animal goes against their instinct of nature. You can’t tell me cats, a long long time ago, wanted to be picked up and have belly rubs. (Not all cats like belly rubs, but still, flashing their belly and all) but they trust you, and i think thats awesome.

And again, some awful sterotypes are placed on cats, like they pee everywhere and they scratch up the couch. Thats usually cause of stress and isn’t normal (also if your cats not potty trained for the pee part)
No cat i have known has ever done that.

 

[SourRoses]

Those blue eyes

What breed is Casper?

My dearly departed Frosty kitty was very pale cream with peachy ears and tail.
He was actually orange, but had just enough Siamese blood to inherit the dilution gene that excludes most of the color to the points (like your Casper has).