[toss1]

Long and close observation of cats leads me to the inescapable conclusion that the latter is almost always the case. The number of times they understand some obscure thing exactly when I have no expectation that they'll get it at all, and their ability to selectively ignore the things I know they already understand, plus their ability to ask for complex things (where often I'm the dummy in the conversation) makes it a pretty inescapable conclusion. . .

[vmception]

A lot of times they respond or acknowledge as well, just not with their eyes

They wont look at you because its not their primary way of “seeing” or spatializing the world or their etiquette

Their ears might briefly move in your direction, their tail might flick in one of their frustrating ways, they might not move a muscle (which is a conscious response for them as well)

[nisegami]

We thought that our cat didn't respond to her name until we noticed she always flicked her tail when we said it. It really blew my mind.

[lkxijlewlf]

The tell tail cat.

[laylomo2]

Tails tell tales.

[leeoniya]

yep, my previous cat responded with his tail every time. we let him roam outside every day and he would always come home when we whistled or called his name. also walked with us like a dog off a leash.

our current cats are less responsive, maybe cause there's two of them, so they have more cat-like comm.

[nescioquid]

> ...their ability to ask for complex things (where often I'm the dummy in the conversation)...

I love the way you put that.

Whenever my office door opens and the cat walks in, she's either there for a visit or to collect me, in which case she waits by the door to lead me to her dish, her toys, or whatever she has in mind. Beyond communicating with humans, cats are pretty good at training them, too.

[Zancarius]

> cats are pretty good at training them, too.

Mum has a cat who has this particular (and peculiar) habit of drinking from the faucet whenever he's had treats.

It's pretty hilarious how well he's trained the humans. Whenever he's had a treat, he'll walk toward the bathroom and flick his tail, ears turned back, expectantly waiting for someone to follow. If no one follows, he'll continue on his way and jump up on the counter top. If he still hasn't collected anyone's attention, he'll emit a distinctive (and very squeaky!) meow that he uses for no other purpose than "I want a drink" and will do so periodically until someone comes to turn the faucet on. Otherwise he'll lay there until he's noticed (if not, he'll give up and finally go to one of the water bowls).

He's also finicky about the flow rate. If it's turned up too high (he prefers a gentle stream—almost a dribble) he'll stare at you until the flow rate is corrected.

Talk about training his humans indeed!

[TheBigSalad]

tbf I ignore my cats too.