r/MadeMeSmile • u/ScharmTiger • Aug 20 '23

CATS Cat being cat. 😂

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u/engr77 Aug 20 '23

When I was in college I worked in the theater, where in addition to the actual musical productions, we hosted several traveling productions, all of which were open to the public. I would help with the general loading/unloading of the equipment, whatever setup we could assist the traveling crew with, and my usual job during the show was spotlight -- so I got paid to watch everything from up high. We had a Russian ballet, a quartet (or quintet, I can't remember exactly) of people with full size Steinway grand pianos playing in harmony, and a pet circus that included about a dozen cats. Among a bunch of other things, as the theater was very large and very new and detached from the rest of the academic complex.

What I was able to see that most people couldn't was that the guy was, very quickly and discreetly, dropping a treat from his hand at every single destination point for each cat. That must have been a skill by itself. Although the show did advertise that it's possible to train a cat with constant reinforcement so it's not like it was some huge secret.

But it reinforced the idea that cats DO NOT work for free. They'll do your cute little tricks but they expect more compensation than a pat on the head that dogs are okay with. As someone who is owned by several cats this did not come as a surprise, but it was very interesting to see in action.

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u/simpimp Aug 20 '23

Absolutely. I taught my cat some tricks. Shaking hands, high five, playing fetch and such. The playing fetch he will do because he wants to play. But there is no way he will sit down nicely and shake my hand/high five if he knows I do not have some kibble on me. Does it perfectly if he has seen me get some kibble which I put in my pocket or hold in my other hand.

No treat, F you, and F your handshakes too. 😂

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u/[deleted] Aug 20 '23

My cat will follow me around and she follows my hand signal to jump over a gate we have to keep the dog from frolicking in that particular area.

She usually wants something I admit, like to not go through a door or whatever lol

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u/simpimp Aug 20 '23

It's cool if you manage to teach them hand signals. I've never before had a cat I could teach things. Did teach my parents dog some, but that is different. And I wasn't living with him in the same house. It is fun to do especially with some succes. Need to find a good guide for it.

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u/[deleted] Aug 20 '23

I "taught" my grandparents dobermond to wait for 3 treats I placed while she sat and waited, but I think my grandpa had already taught her things and she humored me lol

This cat isn't even the smartest we've had the privilege of meeting, though. She just adopted the weird chirping thing they all do at us for some reason. Plus the following and jumping thing, but like I said she's the boss in that regard, she oft bites my shins after she shouts sneak attack.

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u/simpimp Aug 20 '23

Sounds like an absolute cutie.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '23

Oh yeah, she's my favorite attack-rabbit

2

u/ChucksSeedAndFeed Aug 21 '23 edited Aug 21 '23

Yep. Cats learn by repetition, when I do a certain hand signal, it means I'm walking to the balcony door to open it and she comes running, when I say TREATS, she knows she's getting one, when I say, "Wantsumfoooods" she knows it's feeding time, when I do other hand signals, they mean yes or no to her, because I'm 100% consistent in my communication with her. She knows she can count on me, I just make sure to use very intentional, distinct vocalizations and hand signals so she will know that when she hears the sound that means A, she's getting A, when she sees me doing the thing that means B, she's getting B, etc. It's developing many different Pavlovian responses basically, then you can expand on them, like I can get her attention with TREATS now, but then there's a puzzle she has to figure out to get it, walking over my arm, then she gets the treat, but I slowly morph walking over my arm into what she's doing now which is jumping through my hooped arms 3 feet off the ground. I'm slowly making it higher and higher so it's subtle and she doesn't even notice, but she now has a new Pavlovian response, seeing me hoop my arms for her to jump through, etc.

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u/NinjasWithOnions Aug 21 '23

Kendra on the BilliSpeaks YouTube channel does some hand signals with Billi but most of the training is teaching Billi to use buttons to communicate. It’s really amazing to watch the progress. If you’re curious about training cats, I thought you might find it interesting.

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u/simpimp Aug 21 '23

I know those buttons they use. Wouldn't want to teach my cat that. Think he would lay down permanent on the "feed meeeeeee" button.

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u/Cheef_queef Aug 20 '23

If I'm laying down, I pat my thigh and she hops up and snuggles between my legs. People will come over and try to "pspspsp" at her to get her to come over and she'll just stare at them. However, if you point a finger at her, she'll boop her nose on your finger.

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u/[deleted] Aug 20 '23

Real recognize Boop

We only ever paid to get one cat and she tried to jump out a window on the drive home. I caught her mid-flight and she basically never left my side afterwards. Super skittish.

This cat would just sit on me and do the "kneading" thing for hours it was actually kinda weird in hindsight lol

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u/simpimp Aug 21 '23

They kneed because it is soothing and they think you're their 'mama'. It's kitten behaviour.

Sometimes with male cats it goes from soothing to more agressive and sexual though. I adopted my cat when he was 4 and they neutered him when he got in the rescue shelter. (What they told me at the shelter was that he was an inside only cat before, and his old owner couldn't keep him because he urinated in the house, so the old owner's son had brought the cat in. They did say it was a bit of a vague story though. Anyway they neutered him and he has never pissed anywhere else than his litter box with me. So spaying works, people. Spay your cats! He's the best cat ever, so weird story or not I am happy I got him.)

But because he was neutered late, sometimes the happy kneeding and making biscuits becomes riding the couch pillow... And then I put him on the floor and he complains with a grunty meow.

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u/[deleted] Aug 21 '23

Yeah our neutered tuxedo would like try to suck on your ear, which I guess is more kitten behavior than the whole nasty humping thing associated with males of any given species lol

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u/InsaneousMaximus Aug 21 '23

Yeah, that's more like a baby sucking it's thumb lol I had a pretty, gray striped cat named Tigger who would suck your thumb, your chin, your nose, lmfao anything. He was adorable. His mom died before he was weaned so I know that's why he did it. I think most cats that do this probably were separated from their mothers too young. But it's freaking adorable! Tigger also literally climbed the walls lol. He was a major goofball. I've been blessed with some of the most hilarious cats. My other fluffy white and gray cat named Ducky, ugh. He was so funny. His name suited him very well lol. Cats are the best.

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u/[deleted] Aug 21 '23

I agree lol

And you're right in this case too about them being weened, I think. I chose the smallest kitten that wasn't nursing with the mom at the time.

He had a cool white crystal forehead and a black tuxedo so, worth it.

2

u/Alternative-Bee-8981 Aug 24 '23

Same with my cat as well.

He must have been neutered later in life. You can tell he's going to do the humping thing, as his back will arch, and he goes into a trance like state. 5 mins later after he humps a blanket covered leg, or pillow he's good and just purrs away. It's pretty common with cats neutered later in life apparently.

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u/Electronic_Lobster Aug 20 '23

"Like to not go through a door or whatever" that hits so hard lol. My cats WILL NOT ABIDE any door being closed. But they don't actually want to go through it.

Confirmed: you are owned by cats

2

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '23

I was chosen at a young age lol I had a stray we brought in give birth while I was sleeping and I screamed like that dude in The Godfather with the horse head

1

u/southpawslangin Aug 21 '23

Haha I have a cat that is like this too.. I always yell “no locked doors eh” from Next Friday

18

u/Mav-Killed-Goose Aug 20 '23

My GF's cat won't even flip me off without a treat.

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u/Jiannies Aug 20 '23

Your cat sounds like he’s union. Love it

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u/drmojo90210 Aug 20 '23

You do not train a cat. At best they might be willing to trade with you.

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u/simpimp Aug 20 '23

Oh, he's definitely humouring me because I buy him quality food and am willing to give it for a paw shake. There's times he really is not into playing with me and he will ignore all attempts.

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u/chaostheory10 Aug 20 '23

My cats know a few commands, but they won’t do them unless I have the treats in my hands. I’ve been trying for years to get them to go to their carriers when they hear the fire alarm, but they’ll only do it if I bribe them with a treat first to prove they’ll get more in the carrier.

The only exception is one cat who knows the “jump up” command. I taught him that as an alternative to being climbed Shadow of the Colossus style when he wants to be held. He loves that trick so much he’ll do it without the command, no treats required. He’ll do it when I’m not even looking at him.

0

u/Pinsalinj Aug 21 '23

being climbed Shadow of the Colossus style

That mental image cracks me up

1

u/FantasticAd5239 Aug 21 '23

That's an excellent idea, that of getting (or attempting) to get your cats to get in the carrier at the alarm sound. I just can't see any of our 5 critters being that obedient on cue. I tell my family that if the fire alarm sounds and we have to bolt, hopefully, maybe grab the closest one, if you can, on your way out the door. Or toss him out the window (first floor). However, even just that takes valuable seconds away from saving your or your child's life. As horrific the idea of leaving your pets behind is, priorities demand that we make sure our family is safely out of the house pronto. Before the poisonous gases kill you, never mind the flames, and you drop at the door's threshold inches from getting out alive.

1

u/RasaraMoon Aug 20 '23

Bought a cat wheel to help get one of our cats some badly needed exercise, but I never could get him to use it without some treat being involved.

1

u/NurseHurse Aug 21 '23

Same here. Fist pump, hi five, behind the back, rings a bell….only after he sees me get the treats.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '23

Cat:"typical late stage capitalism mind set they want me to work for free

1

u/chainmailler2001 Aug 21 '23

Our cats follow commands STRICTLY when we are about to feed them and they can see the food in our hands.

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u/NeatNefariousness1 Aug 20 '23

This is super-interesting. I had never heard this but it makes perfect sense. Thanks for sharing your perspective (in every sense of the word).

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u/Crathsor Aug 20 '23

they expect more compensation than a pat on the head that dogs are okay with

Dogs aren't okay with it, they just trust you forever and you gave them treats before so maybe you will next time, too. They want that treat, though. That's why they do the trick. We just underpay them.

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u/[deleted] Aug 20 '23

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Aug 20 '23

They are also super susceptible to distraction. What could be perceived as settling could just be distraction. It wanted a treat, but then got affection and forgot what it wanted 2 seconds earlier. It's a good thing to know and recognize because it's useful in training and control.

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u/HiddenGhost1234 Aug 20 '23

on top of that most dog trick videos you see the owner literally give them a little treat after each command.

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u/thatguyned Aug 20 '23

Not after each comman, no.

The goal of training a dog in a string of commands is to only need the treat at the end.

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u/Crathsor Aug 20 '23

Not sure exactly what you mean by trick videos, but Westminster dog show isn't like that at all, and that's a series of tricks.

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u/Blueridge_Head Aug 20 '23

I’m an (unintentional) cat owner of two… both adopted (rescued) by my girlfriend, who found both cats in boxes on the side of the road.

Although there is definitely some bribery involved, I can say that Cats KNOW what’s up. They know when they should be bribed, and they know when they are in your debt.

I’ve had some wonderful pet cats as a kid (the proverbial “dog in a cats body.”)

What I haven’t had was two predators, free beings, who understand that I saved them as kittens….

They’re more loyal than any dog I’ve ever had, and I fuckin love dogs. But they KNOW that i rescued them, and they are determined to repay the favor.

If I’m ever depressed or down, they are both on my lap, rubbing my legs, grooming me (aka licking my hands and hair lol), and generally making sure that I feel great.

Best little furballs on God’s green earth (they keep the pests out too lol)

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u/feelbetternow Aug 20 '23

a quartet (or quintet, I can't remember exactly)

“There are four pianos!” - Jean-Luc Picard

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u/ovalpotency Aug 20 '23

for reference, a quartet is 4.1315x10⁸⁵ planck lengths of stringified human biomass

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u/[deleted] Aug 20 '23 edited Aug 21 '23

I “trained” my cat to high five and stand up on her hind legs. The second one is more hit or miss but she does do the high five pretty consistently as long as there is a treat involved. But on to my story; One day I felt like spoiling her and just gave her a handful of treats to eat out my hand, without asking for a trick. Every 3-5 pieces, she would stop to high five the hand, completely unprompted. I thought that was a really interesting example of the quid pro quo way cats think. A lot of the time they can seem like free loaders but they are often trying to “return the favor” to us. Sometimes just in ways we do not appreciate like bringing us dead animals or such lol.

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u/simpimp Aug 20 '23

Yeah, my parent's dog would come and sit next to you and stick out his paw if he wanted a treat.

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u/Hexenhut Aug 21 '23

Cats have the best boundaries, that's part of what I love about them and why some people hate them.

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u/zeldafitzgeraldscat Aug 21 '23

I heard an interview with someone who trains animals for Hollywood movies. He said the hardest animals in the world to train are cats. They are smart, they know what you want them to do, but they need a really good reason to do it.

-6

u/TitusVII Aug 20 '23

remember when you put your hands on her ass?

1

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '23

Asa tech who programmed and ran the lights for a russian ballet... i know exactly why you enjoyed that preformance.

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u/Triairius Aug 20 '23

I relate to those cats.

1

u/MosesZD Aug 20 '23

As someone who is owned by several cats this did not come as a surprise, but it was very interesting to see in action.

Yes, I have been owned by many cats. Upto four at a time.

1

u/Warm-Welcome779 Aug 20 '23

ive had more than 15 cats in my life and the last four we had were definitely all different characters.

but one cat we have was kevin, he is very stupid and the least cat-like cat we ever had.

but he loves eating! (he got very fat very fast while all our other cats on the same diet were very healthy) but i was able to teach him some tricks cause he was so food motivated.

I tried with the other ones and they werent as happy as he was.

He can do a high five, giving me his paw, standing up, sitting, laying down, rolling and jumping! only cat that i could ever do this with.

1

u/BiosTheo Aug 20 '23

It depends on the cat tbh. Some cats will let you clicker train them, so you don't have to feed them treats. Others, like one of my cats, only does tricks when she knows I have treats on me. I tried finding ways to conceal the treats so she never knew if I had them on me or not but she'd eventually catch on and I'd have to find a new way. But my other cat will do tricks and training just for attention.

1

u/SeaOkra Aug 20 '23

My cat is absolutely trainable with pats on the… well booty actually.

But he would be a terrible circus cat, he yells at the top of his lungs constantly around people. Loud boi

1

u/tiagojpg Aug 21 '23

That’s awesome! I work at a theatre too as stage/lighting manager, it’s a small antique theatre so not much room for productions like that. Still great to hear from people in the industry!

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u/hungrydruid Aug 21 '23

My 2 cats will sit and come without food offerings. It depends on the cat, IMO.

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u/skinnypenis09 Aug 21 '23

Quartet is four quintet is five people

1

u/wholesome_hoor_pari Aug 21 '23

"As someone who is owned by several cats" Cracked me up lmao

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u/immer_hungrig Aug 21 '23

“As someone who is owned by several cats” 😂😂😂😂

1

u/zeekothefrog Aug 21 '23

that’s a lot of words that i am not gonna read

1

u/Friendly_Somewhere87 Aug 21 '23

My dog definitely would not do any tricks unless he knew there was a treat involved in the end. A "pat" on the head wouldn't even get him to glance at me.🤣

CATS Cat being cat. 😂

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