Cats.. Deviously Intelligent

[Deleted member 197709]

I wasn't really a cat person. I am a animal lover though. When I lost my last dog many years ago, collie Lab mix, it broke my heart so bad I never got another.

Some years ago while caring for Dad, after needing to move him into my home, I use to take the trash out on Monday mornings. I have a long driveway and a giant trash can. As i would get to the street this ferocious beast of a cat use to attack me! First few times I was just shocked, trying to shoo it away. It wasn't unhealthy and looked well fed. kinna large for a cat, but not overly so, I was more fascinated than disturbed by it.

The weeks went on, and like clockwork I was attacked on Monday mornings. It was chasing me back to the house now,

I would rush back kinda panting. Dad would just say, damn, taking the trash out is that hard? I finally told him No, theres a wild cat out there after my ass! LOL

It would disappear any other day. Only on trash day, was I attacked, with growling hissing and even biting my pants legs, and swiping at me and chasing me back to the house. OK, I was a little confused and taking the trash out was an ordeal each week. I didn't really know what to do, but was like, what the hell, surely it will give up sooner or later. I'll just deal with it. Dad was laughing as now he was watching me from the window running my ass off from the street with a cat attacking me every Monday morning.

One Monday morning I forgot to close the door as I took the trash out. I was in a hurry running a little late. I was prepared though and got attacked as usual. This time though as I ran back, the freaking cat ran right past me and right into the house! I was like oh shit!!! This is going to be a bad morning! I rushed in and warned Dad there's a crazy cat on the loose in here! He just asked... You let it in? Ugh! I just said not on purpose Dad.

I thought the worse! Dad was anemic among other bad health problems, and if this cat scratched him, I would spend weeks trying to get him to heal. I was like, no big deal. I kept the door open and tried to shew it out. I realized it wasn't attacking me though. Just running away every time I got close to it. It just plain refused to leave! walking right past the open door many times. I decided to take the day off work and kinna got chewed out, but I had a sick day I could take. No biggy. I couldn't leave Dad alone with this beast in the house.

After lots of chasing it around, totally frustrated, I just sat down with Dad to ponder on it a while. Dad kind of giggling just said you can't leave that door open.. I'm cold! Ugh

Dad says.. maybe it just wants you to feed it? then it will go home? I thought OK, good idea! I gave it some leftover meats we had making sure not to get to close. Then a little milk to drink. After it gobbled all that up, it walked over rubbing on my legs purring. Still, letting it out was a no go. It wanted no part of that!

By that evening, it ended up in Dads lap taking a nap. Dad was never a cat person and I just said.. don't pet it like a dog Dad!!! If it's ears go down, don't touch it!!!

Long story short.... Dad got a new friend, and so did I. I stocked up on cat food and even got a litter pan. The litter pan was useless at it meowed wanting out, only to want back in 15 or 20 mins later. Me and Dad sometimes would tease each other about who was going to get kitty snuggles at night. So amazing and I thought about that old saying... People don't choose Cats. Cats choose people.

I looked it up. it's actually a she. She is a Korat Cat, short haired and grey, doesn't shed, big and muscly, with huge teeth and a longish snout. A true sweetheart despite ferociously attacking me for so many months outside. We named her Smokey. She actually follows me when I take the trash out now, and follows me back with a leg rub here and there. Every so often goes out and kills something and tries to give it to me as a gift. Ugh!! Lizards and snakes. The occasional bird.

What an amazing beast! I'm a Cat person now... Kind of! ,,, I think this one is one in a million!

We argue about it, but she insists my truck is actually hers.

 

[Condobloke]

Cats choose people.

That is absolutely the truth.

Every so often goes out and kills something and tries to give it to me as a gift.

And that is pure love.

She knew more about you in the first 4 seconds of seeing/attacking you, than you know about her, now.

Yes, intelligent. perhaps in ways we may never understand.

I love all animals. Especially dogs. Especially Kelpies (see my avatar) She passed in 2022, and I am still not over it. I may never be over it.

 

[Deleted member 197709]

I love all animals. Especially dogs. Especially Kelpies (see my avatar) She passed in 2022, and I am still not over it. I may never be over it.

Ben my best friend / Dog, past so many years ago! Collie Lab mix. I named him after Benjamin Franklin as he was so dang smart! I'll never stop missing him.

I think your right! This cat was probably saying from day one, I'm adopting you, you stupid human! She was scary though, back then.

 

[Condobloke]

I used to talk to Belle, and she would understand. I once told her she was a smart fart. She promptly stood up, and turned around...her backside was then facing me.
She did not approach for a pat for a few hours following that.

I damn near laughed until I cried !.....I'll swear she glared at me. Soft gentle soul that she was. Displayed more empathy towards me if I was upset or hurt, than any human.

 

[KGIII]

I don't mind cats. Indeed, I like many cats. At the same time, I've never had a cat, and I have no plans to get a cat. Cats are great when they live at your house.

I do have a dog. I'll shortly have two dogs. The new dog will learn from the old dog. The old dog will then enjoy retirement. I will always have a dog, with a few short years of having two dogs. My dog hunts, points, and tracks -- if you're patient. He's not as good as some others have been, but he has a good lineage. He's more 'lovable' than 'useful', but that's okay (and partially my fault.)

 

[Deleted member 197709]

I used to talk to Belle, and she would understand. I once told her she was a smart fart. She promptly stood up, and turned around...her backside was then facing me.
She did not approach for a pat for a few hours following that.

I damn near laughed until I cried !.....I'll swear she glared at me. Soft gentle soul that she was. Displayed more empathy towards me if I was upset or hurt, than any human.

OMG, I can so relate... The stories I could tell about Ben!!! He was always cocking his head back and forth, You could see his brain working!! Even as a pup! He learned how to stock birds by watching a neighbor cat doing it. We lived in front of a corn field so huge you couldn't see all the way across it. He always looked at me for permission to take off running. He made friends with neighbors like 10 miles away. One happy doggy!!!

Smokey my cat, not long ago, was in my lap. We were hunkered down so cozy and happy. Suddenly she farted! Surprised me!! I didn't know cats farted in like a audable way! haha. I was like.. dang smoke smokes!!! Even startled her in a way as she meowed then promptly rolled over on her back and hid her face with her paws. I don't know if she was embarrassed or relieved LOL I laughed so hard! She is my cool friend! I do have to turn ceiling fans off if I give her catnip! She doesn't handle her nip very well! LOL

 

[Condobloke]

I will find another Kelpie. Belle would be sad to see me sad.

Time to move on.

 

[Deleted member 197709]

Thinking about it now, as we are bonded and great friends, and her little quirks that sometimes irritates me, I have a my own theory. She is so upset every time I get in the shower. Biting and swiping at my legs. I could just close the bathroom door, but if I do she constantly body slams it till I open it. Anyway, She trying to save me from getting wet as she doesn't like getting wet. I'm assuming.

At night she wants under the covers, but is not happy till my head is under the covers with her. I jokingly call it the hunker cave, as it's time to hunker down and sleep. Perhaps like a domain or layer. Then sometimes I wake up with kitty spit spikes in my hair as she was obviously cleaning me. Not something i'm fond of at all! Ugh.

Wherever I go, she follows making sure I'm at least in sight. She throws a fit if I have to leave jumping on the hood of my truck. If I leave her in the house she will howl and get pissed off.

I unknowingly became a member of her feline clan. I may be the can opener, but she is somehow the boss, or clan leader. She talks to birds sometimes making weird sounds. She loves sometimes hanging out on my shoulders draped around my neck when I'm walking around outside. We are a clan in her kitty brain. is my take on it.

I suppose having a Cat is not for everyone. I didn't think it was for me even, but I love animals. Having a cat that went through so much trouble to have you, to me is amazing! She's not a dog by any means, but I have learned, She loves no less than a dog does. Hanging out in the patio together with a cup on coffee in the mornings is never boring and she talks back to me when I lecture her about the hairdos she gives me sometimes!

She tolerates my guitar playing which is cool, and adores getting petted by company when they come over. Especially men, for some reason. What a best friend she is!!

She misses Dad as much as me!

 

[Mike-BTU]

I do have a dog. I'll shortly have two dogs. The new dog will learn from the old dog.

Really?! I'd like to get a second dog myself. Now if new dogs can learn where to do their business from the old one, that would be great. What are the chances?

I don't hunt anymore, so that's not the kind of thing the new dog needs to learn. Just how to behave in the house is the main thing. And ask to go out. Our dog communicates that very well to us. Can he help housebreak the new one? * Hmmm. Probably, that's not what you had in mind?

No cats, my wife is allergic to them (and most dogs).

A second dog lessens the heartbreak and grief when the other dog dies.

EDIT:
*My wife just said that the old one did indeed shorten the housebreaking period of the new dog. But neither of us can put our finger on the details.

 

[KGIII]

What are the chances?

Warning: This message may offend the squeamish.

Pretty good. It'd take a wall of text to get into the details. Generally speaking, your dog wants to be happy. To that end, they learn that doing what they're told to do results in them being happy. They also learn that doing the opposite will not result in them being a happy dog.

To train a dog, the easiest method I know of is to turn it into a game -- a game that rewards them for doing well, making them happy. If they do not do what you ask them to do, they do not get congratulated, pet (in that instance), and definitely don't get a treat.

So, you basically turn it into a game for them. You can't just swat the dog on the nose, hold them down, and scream 'SIT!' at them. Well, you can, but it's not going to be all that productive. If they do eventually learn to sit with that method, they're doing so out of fear. You don't want the dog to be afraid of you.

An afraid dog will not be useful and will rely on fear as its stimulus. For example, if you take a dog like that hunting, they'll point at things that aren't there, just to stop you from hurting them or making them afraid.

As I age, I change. My current dog is kind of lazy, which is partially my fault. He can point, track, and retrieve. He's a Golden Retriever, as are all of my dogs for the past umpteen years. I did own a Chocolate Lab for a while, but they just take too long to mature.

A good example is that I like rabbit meat, and we have wild rabbits. To keep my skills sharp, I pick them off with a pistol. (Specifically, I tend to use a Ruger Mk II Target model, and distances can be 50 yards or more.)

After I've shot the rabbit, the dog is already nearly trembling with excitement. I then say 'gogetit' (all one word), and he bolts off to get the rabbit and bring it back to me. When he returns, he's praised, pet, and knows he'll get a few nibbles of rabbit later on. It's a game to him.

He's useful for bird hunting, tracking, pointing out game long before I notice it, and generally being lovable. He's kind of lazy and would rather just lie around somewhere underneath a hand. He's got some pretty good sneaking skills. You won't even be paying attention, and he'll get close, then closer, then closer still, until he's under your hand. You might not even realize that you're petting him.

He also does well at 'dock diving', but he's nowhere near the record lengths.

Anyhow, turn it into a game. If a dog sees another dog playing a game, they'll usually learn more easily and more quickly. You need to be consistent, and dogs need time off to absorb what they've learned.

Also, I dislike it when the dog poops on the lawn. Once they learn what makes you happy (which is to come back when they're done), I will say 'eew' and act disappointed if they go on the lawn. Add to that, taking them out past the lawn to do their business helps. They eventually learn that you're happiest when they go off into the woods to poop.

This is just what I've learned. When I was really young, I worked at a kennel that trained police, military, protection, and service dogs. They didn't do it all at once, as it wasn't that large of a facility. They'd do them in runs, where they'd do multiple dogs doing the same training at once. Well, service dogs could be trained throughout.

As I said, this could easily turn into a noella.

Also, this is just what I know and what works for me. It works well enough so that I've won every bet on the matter so far. I'll give you a steak and 30 minutes. I'll bet you $100 that you can't make my dog eat the steak. I will only speak to him once, and then the 30 minutes begin.

Oh. and he hates it, but 'doggy pushups' are fun for us humans. You tell him to sit, lie down, sit, stand up, sit, lie down, sit, stand up, etc... However, that makes him grumpy and moody for a few hours. When you're done, he'll try to stomp his feet, go lie down, sigh, roll his eyes, and then look at you like you've scolded him.

 

[PuppyHome]

Especially Kelpies (see my avatar) She passed in 2022, and I am still not over it. I may never be over it.

I can relate. Lost my American Bulldog of 8 years to an acute pancreatic infection which couldn't be treated. (January 2022)
He's done more for me than any human ever could.

That's the thing with animals when they choose you there is this unwritten bond of mutual recognition and understanding. It's a very profound thing once that happens.