THE JOY OF HAVING A CAT AS A PET- CAPT AJIT VADAKAYIL

THE JOY OF HAVING A CAT AS A PET -  CAPT AJIT VADAKAYIL

Cats are underestimated. They can learn complex tasks, especially if the reward is food.

In highly structured tests of learning ability, cats often outperformed dogs in the ability to master conceptual problems.

Cat's have the ability to master "oddity learning" in which the animal is shown three objects and is rewarded for selecting the one that is most unlike the other two. In the test, cats learned to paw a square block rather than two round blocks presented at the same time, because food was hidden beneath the square block.

They are capable of forming attachments to people and communicating their needs and wants. They are capable of "instinctual thought."

They have personalities - and that may mean that they don't hesitate to demand whatever they want, be it food, play, or to be left alone.

How do cats get our attention? Those with louder "voices" may meow at their owners endlessly. They may also follow you around, insist on sitting on your laps , or rub against your ankles. All of these are signs that the cat uses to say "I'm here! Pay attention to me!" 

I saw my cat up on my dining room table, trying to eat the fired fish from the top floor . When I walked down the stairs to the dining room, she quickly jumped onto the chair that she usually sleeps on, and pretended she was sleeping!

All my three cats know how to open door handles. They know how to press the knob and open the microwave too.

Cats, like humans, have binocular vision that gives them depth perception.

Twice my cats warned my wife when a snake came into our compound.  Once when it entered our house.

Cats are far more independent and can take care of themselves better.

Provide adequate food and water and a cat can be left home alone for a few days while you go on vacation, dogs can't.

Cats have a personality are too intelligent to perform on command, unlike dogs who are “follow the leader” type pack animals..  The solitary cat answers to no one and is motivated by the sole need to survive. 

Cats have excellent memory, and positive experiences are just as easily stored and recalled, particularly if they have to do with food or play.  

Many of them also have an uncanny ability to know the hour of their regular feeding time.  They will wake up the sleeping owner by nibbling on the toes.  

Our cats respond to the name call by looking into the eyes, with an instant MEOW.

Cats can be toilet trained.  Outdoors they dig a hole for a crap and cover it up. Indoors they go through the same motions as programmed in their DNA.

Dogs will take a command, cats do as "they" please. Owning a cat is a good forerunner of marriage. You learn that you cannot control another living being, or expect someone to do everything you want.

Cats give themselves a bath.

Cat owners are smarter than dog owners. The purity of a person's heart can be quickly measured by how they regard cats. A cat has absolute emotional honesty, human beings, for one reason or another, may hide their feelings, but a cat is not a hypocrite.

If you are worthy of its affection, a cat will be your friend, but never your slave.

It is such a joy to see them early in the morning chasing butterflies and squirrels. 

I have seen a squirrel PLAY DEAD for 3 hours , and then when I shooed my cat away ( who was toying around with it with such determination ) , the squirrel just took off like a bullet.

When it comes to small babies, cats show some uncharacteristic patience!

And remember-- a cat MEOWS only for a human being -- for nobody else!-- unlike dogs who are "bark and growl happy" !!

CAPT AJIT VADAKAYIL

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