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Does your cat often watch you? Do you see her staring at you as you read, putter in the kitchen, dust, comb your hair, sleep\u2026? Cats stare. That\u2019s what they do. But are they really interested in what you\u2019re doing and how you do it? Some experts say that cats can mimic us\u2014that they may have the same abilities as dolphins, parrots, apes, and killer whales when it comes to observing and duplicating our actions.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve all heard of cats that use the toilet. Where else![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Lilyclose4-225x300.jpg\")
would they learn to even try that unless it\u2019s because they saw a person doing it? Our tabby, Lily, would eat anything I ate. Obviously I didn\u2019t allow her to have the things I knew weren\u2019t good for her, but I also had fun experimenting with her to see if she would shun anything she saw me eating. Never. Was she imitating me or did she just have a huge appetite?<\/p>\n
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I love the video on FaceBook of the kitten imitating her look-alike mother as she took a lick bath. But would a cat also mimic her human in a similar way? Well, they can be taught to give a high five, slap a bell to get a treat, and numerous other things\u2014what about the simple act of opening a door. Have you ever closed the ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/oliviajapancat-225x300.jpg\")
bathroom door with your cat inside with you and notice her staring at or trying to reach the knob? How does she know that the knob is the key to getting out of the room? Because she\u2019s watched you use it to open the door numerous times, perhaps.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a fascinating topic and I\u2019m pretty sure that you\u2019ll spend more time this week watching your cat\u2019s reaction to your actions. Please report if you see her mimicking you.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, here\u2019s an interesting article on the topic by cat cognition researcher and animal behaviorist at Unity College, Kristyn Vitale in Science Magazine<\/em><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.sciencemag.org\/news\/2020\/09\/kitty-see-kitty-do-cat-imitates-human-first-scientific-demonstration-behavior<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Does your cat often watch you? Do you see her staring at you as you read, putter in the kitchen, dust, comb your hair, sleep\u2026? Cats stare. That\u2019s what they do. But are they really interested in what you\u2019re doing … Continue reading