Both are my cats but this is about the black one, Rowena. She’s 7 years old now and we got her as a rescue at 5. She seemed to settle right in at home but she looked lonely so a couple months later we got him, Colby Jack. He is both named after and literally a cheese, orange cats are truly something else. When we rescued her we were told she had just had kittens so we figured she would be a perfect match for the little guy who lost his mom too soon. He’s about 2.5 months old in that picture.
For about a month Rowena ignored both my partner and I, we existed only to feed or scoop her poop. She would hiss, growl and generally not be nice to him so when after 30 days she finally started to accept him we were pretty relieved. Only lasted until he outgrew her and could bully her back, pay back for a month of terror. We weren’t sure if they would ever get along but after about 2 years they can finally play together and share space. They might not snuggle anymore but we’ll take what we can get.
Today I was walking from the living room to the kitchen and there’s this box filled with toys that we got when we brought Colby Jack home. He likes trash; twist ties, bottle caps and rings really any bits of plastic and paper is his jam so that box of toys has been sitting there unused for a long time. Rowena is just staring deep into it. I’ve caught her looking at it wistfully before but I figured if she wanted anything in there she’d just fish it out.
She has this stare she’ll give you, it pierces your soul. She only does this when she wants something, usually to sit in your lap. She will look you in the eye then at your lap, then meet your gaze and look at your lap again. It’s at this point she expects you to acknowledge her need for pets and warmth which is done by reaching out to pet her.
There’s this fabric toy that looks like a Chinese finger trap with feathers sticking out the ends sitting on top. She notices me noticing her and she gives me the stare, first at me then the box and then again. I don’t speak cat but that seemed like communication to me so I grabbed the toy and handed it her. She immediately snatched and went ham like it was the greatest thing since catnip.
Greater part of two years she’s wanted that toy but it wasn’t until it was given to her that she thought she could have it. Cats are a mystery. I’ve dumped out the box of toys, she could only be happier if she was in a field of sleeping mice.
edit: for non-Americans Colby-Jack Cheese
I absolutely believe that cats understand more than what they let on.
My parents have two cats, Odin and Honey. Odin is a senior cat now but he’s always been sweet as pie. His default position when someone shows up to the home is that they have come for him and must pay tribute to his belly. Honey is pretty typical, if she smells something funny in the air she’s gone before the dust settles.
So one day I come over to my parent’s house to mind the place while they are away and after successfully tithing Odin’s belly I start to look for a place to set my belongings. Off-hand I remark to the cat that I haven’t seen Honey in a while and he should go get her. Odin leaves and I don’t think much of it, kitty shenanigans or whatever they do. I finish putting away my things and I see Honey trotting down the hall, then I hear her yelp because Odin is hot on her heels nipping at her legs.
You believe what you want to about but I know what I do.
Some cays are definitely a bit higher on the brain utilization. My close relatives and I have seen cats ask for things, specifically do things they know piss you off in front of you, learn and play fetch, tattle on humans, attack door-to-door salesmen that were getting too pushy, and use a mirror to examine themselves. There's also stories of cats that got help from several miles away, woke up their humans when a fire started, chased bears off, comforted the dying specifically in their last week, and more than one that could rather reliably smell cancer.
And then there are those cats that are surprised when their whiskers are still there! XD