As most kitties know, one of the biggest issues cats have when it comes to human behavior is the way they anthropomorphize us. We are not little humans, and we have our own instincts, language and behavior patterns. When humans forget this, and expect us to act or behave as they would, it’s a recipe for trouble.
But… what about us kitties? Do we felinamorphize humans? Do we expect them to behave like other cats? Are we disappointed and frustrated when they don’t, the same way humans are?
You know what? I don’t think it’s the same thing. Sure, humans disappoint and frustrate cats sometimes, and that’s because we expect too much out of them. We think they should show the common sense that cats have, and to behave accordingly. Which, of course, rarely happens. But it’s not the same thing as believing that humans are just big, dumb cats.
I’m sure that the majority of cats out there know that humans aren’t other cats, or even close. Other family members, of course! Servants, definitely. Adversaries occasionally. But they don’t have the cat smell, they are mostly clueless about cat ways, and they certainly have communication issues with us. So it’s pretty obvious that feline blood does not run through their veins, and they vibrate at a much lower frequency than we cats do. So yeah, humans are not cats, and we cats understand and accept that.
But we cats have gone the extra mile that humans can’t or won’t — we try to help humans understand us by trying to communicate with them on their level. Many humans don’t realize that we don’t usually meow at other cats to communicate. We do it by blinks, body posture, and ear placement. It’s actually a very effective method! But humans can’t seem to do this and spend their time chattering at each other instead. So we do the same — we just don’t have the same jaw structure or muscles to speak human language. So we just meow until we get our point across. And while not as effective as cat-to-cat communication, it works.
We cats also modify our behavior to better interact and live with humans. Humans think we cats do what we want, and we don’t care what humans think. The truth is that much of how we behave is calculated to get a response out of humans. We figure out the best ways to get their attention at mealtimes, whether it’s tapping them on the cheek to wake them up for breakfast, or jumping on the kitchen counter when it’s dinner time. When we want their attention, we have very specific ways of getting it, tailored to our own humans’ specific likes, dislikes and behavior.
Come to think of it, can you imagine what life would be like if humans did the same thing? If they made the effort to communicate better with us, on something close to our terms? Of course, it wouldn’t be perfect (the same way as our communication with humans isn’t always perfect). But it would be so helpful and make it so much easier for everyone to get along. Plus, it wouldn’t leave everything up to us.
Maybe someday, humans will figure out that we cats aren’t small people, and will work harder to communicate with us on our level. Until then, we’ll just have to keep carrying most of the load. But that’s okay. There are times, like when we are pinning them down on the couch so we can hang out together and relax, that everything is copacetic.
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You have such brilliant insight, Summer!
This is really an interesting perspective thank you for the insight.
Very interesting…
When you think about how different we are from each other (humans and cats I mean), it’s amazing we get along as well as we do! It’s give and take on both sides…..until we LEARN what works.
Hugs, Teddy
We’re catching up on your blog today, and we could have sworn we commented on this post! This is a great topic! Our mom talks to us all the time like we’re going to answer her. Lexy never answers, but I do. She just doesn’t know what I”m saying. MOL!
Yes, if humans pay attention to our postures and movements they can learn a lot from them and better understand what it is we are wanting. This morning I rubbed my cheek up against Mom’s cheek and lightly pawed at it, too, which she has learned is my signal to her. It tells her to move her head over to make room for me so I can curl up in her arm. Her arm is warm against my furrs and laying beside her like that makes me fall fast asleep. Tee hee hee.
Now you have petcretary wondering what I think about her, MOL! I do like to remind my peeps that I am there, and not to forget me…I tap on them…and if that didn’t do it, then I add those mrouws and miaows. I have other sounds that I use to keep Dalton under my paws…and I for sure know he is NOT any kind of a kitty…MOL!
Interesting question. I think cats know that humans are not cats, but they do sometimes treat us as another cat. They sleep with us in a pile, as cats do with each other, and the hunting cats bring us prey they’ve caught, as cats do to other cats who can’t hunt.
One thing I read in Tribe of Tiger by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas is that cats remind people of babies, both in size and weight and with their round heads, large eyes and small chins, and the sounds they make. But also, humans remind cats of their mothers – a human is the same size to a cat as an adult cat is to a kitten. So cats evoke parental instincts in humans, and humans evoke kittenish maternal comfort to cats. It’s a fascinating book, if you haven’t read it; here’s the link to the passage I’m referring to: https://books.google.se/books?id=3eYUt7Y-PS4C&lpg=PA104&dq=tribe%20of%20tiger%20elizabeth%20marshall%20thomas%20104&pg=PA104#v=onepage&q=tribe%20of%20tiger%20elizabeth%20marshall%20thomas%20104&f=false
Fur. They don’t gots furs. They must be so COLD all the time. And their tongues just don’t work as well as ours. And honestly, how do they get through a day without purring?
You sure are one smart kitty, Summer. We sure know Jan isn’t like us!
That is an excellent question and answer 🙂
You said it, Summer! Humans occasionally deserve an A for effort, though.
That is all so true. You have to think like a cat in order to communicate with them. Anyway, great post.
This is a question I’ve never even thought of but you make some very good points!
ACTUALLY, cats treat us as other cats according to John Bradshaw in Cat Sense. They communicate and act the same toward us as they do other cats. Dogs modify their behavior and act different around humans than they do around other dogs. Or so the “wisdom” goes. I just wrote a post about this (that’s why it’s fresh in my mind): mommakatandherbearcat.com/2018/12/do-cats-need-human-interaction-or-are.html. I remember when his book came out a bunch of outlets claimed that he said cats think we’re big, ugly, dumb cats. Sometimes the media goes out of its way to malign cats.
Yeah, thats why we just call our Bein “TBT”. We dont really unnerstand quite what he is, but we sure know he isnt a cat! And, it is funny listening to him meow to us. None of that makes much sense. We understand his clicks and other mouth sounds a bit. He, in turn, seems ta unnerstand our ear positions, posture, etc some.
Mew mew mew Summer you made LadyMew laff so hard shee choked!! You gotted yore point across! Mee has had little trubbell trainin her. Shee iss purrty clevurr (fore a Hu’Man) an shee doess her best to ‘listen’ to mee. Shee watchess mee tail an mee eyess an earss a lot! Sumtimess shee not quite get what mee says an when mee smackypawss her shee apawlogizess fore NOT understandin…mee thinks shee iss purrty kewl.
Grate post mee frend. Yore furry clevurr….beeutee AN brainss!!
***pursss*** BellaDharma
That is a fascinating topic, Summer! We need to think more deeply on it, and see how we might be able to help #1.
Purrs,
The Chans
Very profound and thought provoking. I hope those hopelessly anthropomorphizers read this and take it to heart.
You are very wise and understanding Summer. I think there
is often some esp going on between people and their cat
friends – especially when they have been together for some
time.
Humans just aren’t as bright as cats, in certain ways, Summer! We have less developed hearing and smell, and we are so big and clumsy! Those of us who are fortunate enough to have cats in our lives, are in good hands…er, paws…
Summer, I have said it many times and will say it again, you are one wise kitty!
We are use to carrying the load around here sweet Summer and we sure enjoyed your post!
I think Chris doesn’t consider that I am human, sometimes. He kneads and digs his claws into my bare skin, not realizing I don’t have a thick layer of fur to protect me.
thompson taught theo to be a talker. i’m sure the boyz think i’m a big clumsy ape.
True but I do think TW IS a cat and that’s why I try to play rough with her like I would another cat. I have fun when she chases me around the apartment like a cat would. She is my play toy and play companion and I wouldn’t think of not including her in my play. OTOP, she doesn’t treat me like a human. She’ll never dress me up (sorry Summer) or pretend I’m getting married to another blogging cat (Brrrr!). I do play many parts on the blog but I’m just a stunning cat in real life. She says that Chizzy used to think he was a furry little human by the way he acted.
Well said SUmmer. I cannot tell you how many times I heard cats are odd, weird, independent, not loving from people when I said I have a cat. I immediately would ask have you ever taken the time to interact with a cat? NO was usually the answer. Most people want instant gratification and totally devotion from a pet w/o earning it.
Hugs Cecilia
Lately Buster has been more vocal than ever because obviously the humans don’t get it in one meow!
I know that Miss Frankie is very frustrated with me – that I don’t always understand what she is trying to communicate. I do hate when humans get ticked off at cats (or dogs or any animal) for their natural behavior – they are NOT humans, they are who THEY are and behave accordingly.
I know Summer…good points and well taken. I know mom wishes people would stop thinking cats should act like dogs. They don’t seem to “get” that they are two different species and not likely to act like one another.
That’s a big word!! We try to communicate with Mom and she tries to answer us. Her meows are kind of weird though.
The Florida Furkids
Our mom always responds back to us when we talk to her no matter what’s going on. We are still working on her of course to understand every mew and meow. We are thankful that she and dad are patient. You are so correct in pointing out that humans think of us as mini humans. It’s a slow process but so far so good on the training. MOL. Great topic Summer. Purrs
I wonder what cats would say to us? Are humans good conversationalists? Thought provoking stuff.
This is really interesting and spot on, Summer! I don’t think we humans will ever communicate on the cat level, though. We simply cannot move our ears like you do! Uhoh, right now both of our cats are sitting with their backs to us. I think we’re late with tonight’s treats.