Teaching animals to communicate

Question

Talked about them before a bit.I was reminded this evening of cat's ability to communicate.Sassy, which has been with us, at least 12 years. Knows how to say no, very audible and very clear. Apparently the only word she wants to use. Don't know how she learned it let alone say it except we are constantly saying no to her wanting to use things as a scratching post.Wife was addressing Christmas cards and she came over and started to scratch on the leather seat. Wife said no, no, stop that and she answered back no. She was sassing my wife. Garfield when he sees us starts to "talk" immediately. Cannot understand what he wants but he uses numerous different meowing sounds.Clearly he is trying to communicate. He will taalk with you as long as you respond. Anyone had any luck training cats to communicate so you both know what is going on?

code2high · Answer

My four ferals, interestingly enough, hiss when I walk out to feed them. This does not seem to be as hostile as one would think.... more like a confusion thing.

One of them, the least wild, tried meowing the other night, so that was interesting.

I never have any trouble deciphering what they want, usually through a combination of what time it is (food!) and/or body lanquage, especially if they want attention.

ca_poppy · Answer

Nope, the cat trains YOU. :B  Some are just much better at it than others. When I walk into the bedroom where Edna is sleeping on our bed, she always looks up at me and says Meow? with the question mark in her voice.  It's like she's saying, "You rang?" Some cats are really good at non-verbal communication, too. If you're lucky, you might get one "heart cat" in a lifetime, and with those, you communicate on an almost spiritual level, hard to describe if you've never known one. Mine was a feral gray tabby named Romeo who became one of the best friends I ever had. We "communicated" before I ever laid eyes on him.  I spoke to him in "cat" in the cold, dark night for a week or two before he ever revealed himself to me. I will forever miss that cat.

marly · Answer

CA Poppy, I have had about 4 of the wander in and adopt me cats. The last one,"Toby" talked to me for about a month before I could see him as he  was hiding under a large blue spruce tree. One evening he came out and started rubbing around my ankles. From that time on he followed me everywhere, even out in the garage when i was doing bodywork. He would leave when I painted something. Her often lay on a lawn tractor seat and watch me. when I couldn't see him  I would whistle at him and he would come running. He passed away about two years ago from kidney disease. I think of him often and miss him very much.

azpops · Answer

Not sure bout teaching Anonymous Jr. anything, But I think I'm finally starting to get the hang of talking dog.  Arf, Arf?  or was it, ... Arf Arf, Arf, Arf Arf, Grup? ... :B

deb_and_ed_m · Answer

Ike (my late Aussie) used to walk up to me, and then calmly "say" something that was usually a garbled combination of growls.  My response was usually "You have to enunciate because I didn't understand what you said?"

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Teaching animals to communicate

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