Cats developing human-like behaviors?

When my cat was a baby, she used to get poop on her paws almost every time she used the litter box, so my fiance and I would take her to the bathroom and wash her paws. Eventually she stopped doing it but since then we had to give her away (family member has allergies, but we're getting her back when we get our own place), and my fiance's best friend has her.

He told us recently that almost every time she goes to the litter box, she'll go right to her water bowl, dip her paws, and then lick them clean. Is it possible she's actually washing her paws because she remembers us doing it for her? I think it's just precious!

 

Ew.

Can't say I've ever licked my fingers after wiping my ass.

 

Cats are innately clean animals and most animals that could be deemed as relatively intelligent can form conditioned responses. I think it's more an example of feline intelligence rather than it developing human-like behavior.

 

my cat sits like a person, and wags her tail like a dog when shes happy and purrs.

 

Some cats drink water by licking it off their paws...

 

I'd considered that, but he said she does it directly after pooping every time.

 

You gave poor pussycat away cos a family member had allergies? You should have got rid of the family member


You can make new family members anytime, but puddy tats are irreplaceable

 

That's What I Thought, Kick The Family Member To The Kerb, And

Keep The Cat...



Cheers Glen.

 

At least get your priorities straight.

 

Lol well cats lick their asshole directly...

I didn't give up easily, I was bullied into it. It was either give her to someone we know and can get her back from or have someone we don't know well come by and take her and we never see her again. At least with his friend we can guarantee he'll keep her an inside cat and treat her well.

 

My cat carries on whole conversations with me.

It's just a pity I don't speak Miaow

 

Hahaha that's hilarious. :2thumbsup:

 

I never updated anyone about the cat! Like four years ago, when I moved back home I asked for my cat back, my ex's friend told me he had lied the whole time. Every time we asked how the cat was, he would make shit up. Turns out he lost her on the first night he had her and she ended up a street cat and I never saw her again.

Which is ridiculous because she never had a desire to go outside. If I left the door wide open the cat would sit there and wait for me to come back. I almost killed him when I found out.

 

...so it hadn't learned to wash it's paws?

I did see a youtube video of a cat in front of a mirror waving a paw at it's reflection, then uncertainly trying the other paw. I found that amazing to see... It was clearly developing an understanding of mirrors.

We're basically giving domestic pets extended childhoods, and it's thought that a long childhood helps develop intelligence since they have more time to play, less danger and no difficulty finding food. So I'm really interested in how they change due to our involvement.

 

Flat bottomed girls make the world go round.

Not technically germane to this conversation in any way shape or form, but a true statement all the same.

 

Yes, I think that's accurate. When I was a kid, we had a cat that copied things our Maltese poodle would do because they were really close buddies. It was the damndest thing to see, because I never that cats could be trained and were extremely independent.

 

As I started readin' this thread I had the thought oh he's just fuckin' with you. Utter bullshit....then I saw the OP date so was gonna leave it alone. Well not to brag but yup...called it

 

Cats don’t want to be like us. They wish to rule us!

 

You're welcome.

 

Damn, you’re right