Can Animals Think?

***Red Shift*** · May 17th, 2004 1:44 PM

I supose this could go under the nature topic so here goes!

Do you think animals think? Because for years i imagined that they just did things on impulse but now im not so sure!

The part that confuses me is that if they think like we do, they must have think in there own language because i asume that we think in english! Because when i think to myself, i hear my own voice in english!

What are your thoughts?

PS i guess they think to some extent but do you think they think as much as us?

***RavenWhitefang*** · May 17th, 2004 2:34 PM

I would say most animals do think. If you've ever owned a cat you could see it lol, they are devious. Birds think also, its not just impulse when they do some of the things they do. I lived on the 3rd floor of an apartment building, and pigeons made a nest on the patio...not above it, on the flooring of it in one of my flower pots, with my cat watching them not 2 feet away. Either they were really stupid, or they struck a deal with my cat. She would never try to go after them, but she did go after other birds and squirrels that came near the nest, with babies in it. Now if that doesnt go against natural impulse, I dont know what does.

I would imagine that animals think in pictures, if they are domesticated animals, they would think in pictures as well as their peoples language. Wild animals have their own languages that they think in too I believe.

***Red Shift*** · May 17th, 2004 2:46 PM

It is because of owning cats that i asked this question! lol

Some people think they are psychic! That would explain why my cats looked at each other for a while yesterday then simultaniasly looked at me slowly turning there heads! Creeped me out for a bit!"

***Marajadex*** · May 17th, 2004 3:13 PM

I have 5 cats. I am sure that not only do they think, they like to communicate. I can watch them as they go thru their decision making process. When they are outside and I whistle 3x they come to the door. They know that means to come in. If they are doing something they know they are not supposed to do when I say their name and they know they are caught they stop and slink off. Often when I say something to them they answer back. After living with some of them for over 15 years you get to understand the suttle differences in the sounds they make. They can also understand the suttle differences in the sound of my voice. They definatly have a language. Just can't figure it out!

**SeekNDestroy** · May 17th, 2004 4:52 PM

The part that confuses me is that if they think like we do, they must have think in there own language because i asume that we think in english! Because when i think to myself, i hear my own voice in english!

You're assuming you need language for thought, which studies have shown isn't true. Have you ever known what you want to say but not been able to find the word?

Wild animals have their own languages that they think in too I believe.

Animals do not have language in the scientific sense of the word. The capacity to acquire language is the one thing that sets us apart :) Communication is different from language - your cats couldn't tell each other that it rained yesterday, or what their old home was like, or why they like one type of food more than another. There's a link about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Language .

I'll get round to actually answering the question tomorrow :)

***Marajadex*** · May 17th, 2004 6:11 PM

Originally posted by Mike:
There's a link about it here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Language .

This was a cool article Thanks for posting it Mike. :yeah:

***Bigsky770*** · May 17th, 2004 11:34 PM

. . .There is understanding on a certain level with them, by the sound of their "meows", the tone, inflection, vocal range as well as loudness, they are communicating certain needs and/or wants.

. . .I've heard that cats that co-habitate with people who are HIGHLY vocal are more likely to be quite vocal themselves; I have noted that my oldest cat, (IF I call him by name, "Carmen") he will respond to this quite well, in that he will come to me no-matter where he is in the house. Further, there's no confusion over this. If I should (instead) call one of the other cats, he will ignore me, and just go-about his own business.

. . .Also I've witnessed that my cats seem to be pretty well able to read human emotions and will respond accordingly (of course, these emotions need to be more 'overt' so that they can be read accurately. . .Cats aren't 'mind-readers' at least, insofar as I know. . . .)

Joe (Bigsky770)

***mickydoolittle*** · May 18th, 2004 8:23 AM

you have a cat named Carmen?

***Red Shift*** · May 18th, 2004 8:46 AM

Whats wrong with carmen?

You could call it ash tray if you wanted. the cats dont seem to care

***Marajadex*** · May 18th, 2004 3:08 PM

Cats do seem to know when you mean them. My cats each have their name and a nickname or 2. They seem to know we mean them no matter which one of their name or nicknames we use. Then there is my Bart. He will show up no matter which cat you call. It has become a saying around here call a kitty and get Bart. BTW my cats are Mai Tai, Chi Chi, Bart, Barnie and Clyde.

***Bigsky770*** · May 18th, 2004 6:32 PM

- - -He's actually the "Boss Cat" Alpha Male if yah know what I mean. There names are (proper) as follows: Carmen, Toby, Tigger, Tanto, Tamera, Taz & Sassie. Carmen and Toby are brothers, got them both in 1996. Oddly enough, Toby was the runt of the litter though now he weighs in roughly @ about 18 Lbs. He's the fat one. Carmen weighs in @ 14 Lbs, and though he may be lighter, he's still 'boss'. .(for some strange reason he always wins physical conflicts between himself and his brother. Why? haven't a clue.) Tigger is a Calico that is a wierd bitch of the bunch; She does'nt get along with ANY of the other cats, she keeps to herself pretty much.
- - -By all accounts none of us really know WHERE Tanto came from; He just showed-up at the door one summer a coupla years ago and walked into the house and made himself at home. He's big and ranges in colour to coffee-creme to grey seal-point, has big-blue eyes that are crossed, and on occasion suffers from seizures. Has the stance and stature of a 'Himalayan' though no papers. as said before, he just showed up. Tamera is without a doubt the FRIENDLIEST; a black-and-white bi-colour like Carmen and Toby, (though no-relation) she hangs out with those two almost exclusively. (makes me wonder/can CATS be racist?. . .heh. . .)
- - -Finally, there is Taz & Sassie, brother & sister 1 year olds orange & white tabbies. Got these two from a chicken-farm, they seem to get-along pretty well with all the others no problem.
- - -One great story to tell; a coupla years ago Carmen came running into the bedroom and you could tell he seemed pretty upset/mewing and carrying-on like all holy-hell. Shirley and I looked at each other, not knowing WHAT too think. It was (as it seemed) that Carmen wanted US to FOLLOW him, (which we did). He led us to the laundry-room where we have a washer and dryer sitting there, the dryer was on and tumbling clothes (we thought) he kept-up his acting-out until we figured-out that he wanted US to turn-off the dryer, (which we did), and opening-up the door on the front-loader, who should we find inside the dryer but Tigger? dizzy as all get-out/she couldn't walk-straight for awhile but was seemingly no-worse for the wear. The strange thing is, that Carmen and Tigger do NOT get along, (and yet) he cared ENOUGH to not want to see her dead. I was amazed by this/though everyone in the houshold can vouche that this happened. So I have no-doubt, cats and dogs may NOT be as complex thinkers as human-beings, BUT they do think, and given certain situations will act, (like Carmen) it's not even so-odd that they can act in a 'selfless' manner. . .Wierd? for sure. . .

Joe (Bigsky770)

***Marajadex*** · May 18th, 2004 9:15 PM

Great story Joe. BTW my one and only female cat is a loner as well. She stays in her own room. Hisses at the other cats whenever she sees them. Strange thing about female cats. Heard this from more than one cat owner.

***midnightsonblaze*** · May 18th, 2004 10:11 PM

Got 3 cats.......to me animals have to think. If they didn't how would they know how to eat, shit or sleep? I don't think it just comes down to survival tactics. Cats imo, use strategy to get prey as well. My oldest cat CJ knows who I am and comes to me when I'm around. If he 'thought' I was a danger why would he want to be around me?

**SeekNDestroy** · May 19th, 2004 4:39 AM

On the subject of calling cats after operas, when I was a kid my family cat was called Figaro :) Weird, huh?

I'm assuming you didn't name it after Carmen Electra...

***midnightsonblaze*** · May 19th, 2004 4:54 AM

Originally Posted by Bigsky770

Carmen and Toby are brothers, got them both in 1996. Oddly enough, Toby was the runt of the litter though now he weighs in roughly @ about 18 Lbs. He's the fat one.

Joe (Bigsky770)

Joe........I see you got a 'fat cat' that weighs 18lbs......

My man CJ....Maine Coon Cat.....26lbs......he's a monster.....and keeps the other two in line......

The other two Mikey.....another coon, but he only weighs about 10-12 lbs.....and the other Merlin.....Canadian Siamese......must weight about 5-6.....and he's a total wuss....

***Bigsky770*** · May 19th, 2004 6:57 AM

- - -Thank-You Marajadex for the feedback, I do not know why that is, but it seems as though FEMALE cats suffer from the most severe 'mood disorders' (heh. . .something that must be a shared thing betwixt & between female cats and female humans. . .J/K!

)
- - -Actually, Mike, you are quite the perceptive one; I did in part name the cat after "Carmen Electra" but also "Carmen" 'cause I just plain LIKE the name.naming a cat after operas and musicals as well as ballet'? think I'll name the next cat "Nutcracker"? HAhahheeeeee

Midnightsonblaze, 26 Lbs. is too much for the health of the cat; time for a diet, I've already got Toby on one, as cats CAN come down with many of the same disorders "Humans" do who suffer from being "overweight". . .

Joe (Bigsky770)

***midnightsonblaze*** · May 19th, 2004 7:00 AM

Originally Posted by Bigsky770

Midnightsonblaze, 26 Lbs. is too much for the health of the cat; time for a diet, I've already got Toby on one, as cats CAN come down with many of the same disorders "Humans" do who suffer from being "overweight". . .

Joe (Bigsky770)

Joe.......vet said he needs to. I actually got him on a Science Diet formula....cost an arm and a leg for the stuff, but I want him to stick around for a while longer he's only 8.....but I know what you mean about the disorders....he actually does have a hard time breathing and huffs sometimes.....the vet almost shat his pants when he saw him....

***Bigsky770*** · May 19th, 2004 1:43 PM

- - -And good for you that you've put him on a diet (or, rather I should say GOOD for him!)

Joe (Bigsky770)

***Marajadex*** · May 19th, 2004 4:32 PM

My oldest cat Mat Tai, now 16 was a heafty one when he was younger. Somewhere between 16 and 19 pounds. We never worried about diet because he seemed so healthy and he was the first cat we had ever lived with. Then... Last year we noticed he was loosing weight fast. Took him to the vet and found out he had a hyperthyroid problem. This caused his metabolisim to rev up way past normal. We chose to go the route of radioactive iodine treatment. It was pricey but it totally took care of the hyperthyroidism problem.

With in 2 months of the treatment we discovered his blood glucose was was way above normal. Seems now he was diabetic, a condition quite possibly caused by his extreme weight in his youth. We tried to control it with diet. (Midnightsonblaze you think Science diet is pricey try feeding 5 cats diabetic maintaince formula! I now pay $33 for a 12 pound bag of dry food.) Between the dry and wet food we were feeding Mai Tai we wern't controling the diabetes very well. Now we give Mai Tai 2 shots of insulin twice a day.

Maybe... if we had controled his weight when he was younger we would not have this problem now. Today all 5 cats are on a High protein low carb diet. We call it the catkins diet!

I have included a couple of pictures of Mai Tai.

***DontBeAfraid*** · May 19th, 2004 6:32 PM

Tigger? Wouldnt the PC name be Tegro?..... I have amused myself.

If you wanna show a cat who's boss then just dunk it the next time you give it a bath.....

***mickydoolittle*** · May 21st, 2004 7:05 AM

"Mice Living the Good Life: University of Southern California researchers announced in February that they were able to breed mice with a certain skin gene "overexpressed," resulting in the mices' growing thicker hair, more whiskers and "significantly larger" "external genitalia."

How could the human race not want to fund this research further?

yeah, I know it's not about animals thinking, but think about this animal development!