by Elisa Black-Taylor
(USA)
Good morning readers. I got the idea for this article after reading Michael's story Leaving A Cat Home Alone. I believe the length of time I'd leave a cat home alone is tied into my belief that cats can tell time. After all, if we know for sure our cats can tell time it will make us hurry all the more to get back to them.
Even though cats don't hold grudges if we show up late, it's always best to respect the cat and not be gone too long. Just in case they can tell time. Cats are like children in the respect they bore easily and can get into all kinds of trouble if left alone for too long. Personally, I'm running out of places to hide the toilet tissue where the cats won't get too happy with spreading it all over the house. And I've learned the value of a DVD made especially for babysitting cats (see an example below). I ordered it on Amazon and it's been worth it's weight in gold (Music For Cats)
I was listening to a radio show just this morning and the announcer (John Tesh) was discussing how dogs can't tell time. That's why a dog is jumping all over you when you return home after a five minute walk to the mailbox. This is also a conditioned response that usually earns a dog praise. Plus studies show dogs can't tell time.
I believe cats do tell time. After all, cats are more intellectual than dogs. I say this because dogs may serve man, but cats have humans to wait on them for every whim. Therefore, cats are more intelligent.
I believe cats can tell what time of day it is. Whether it's from hunger pangs or simply wanting to go out to play, cats are usually good at telling what time it is. Back in the days when I had to feed the neighborhood ferals (and possibly every cat in the neighborhood who liked the food), they would always show up between 5p.m. And 5:15 p.m. This time only varied when the time changed.
I never knew if they only got hungry at that time of day or if the position of the sun or a drop in temperature played a part on the time of their arrival.
On my last job I entered into a lot of interesting discussions with the helicopter pilot for the trauma center I worked for. Sometimes I miss intelligent discussions. His opinion was that animals associate certain actions with what we're going to do next.
Whether your cat sees you getting your keys out of your purse your man pocketing a wallet, it signals you're about to leave. If you leave every time you get out your keys or grab your wallet, then your pet knows you're heading out for awhile.
If your cat jumps on your bed five minutes before the alarm goes off, perhaps you have a turn over in bed pattern the cat associates with getting up time. I would imagine the aroma of fresh coffee set to perk using an automatic timer would also serve as a clue that the humans will be getting up and preparing cat breakfast.
So what do the readers think? Do you believe your cat can tell time or do you think it's all tied into little rituals we aren't aware of that cues a cat that food will be ready shortly or an outside potty break is soon coming.
Elisa
Reference:
http://www.catkb.com
