A lot of us talk to our pets. They’re part of the family, so talking to them seems quite natural. But most often it’s a pretty one sided conversation. But it seems that some times they talk back.
I know I’m probably giving them too much credit. Or maybe I’ve been spending far too much time with them over the past couple years, but it sure seems like they are trying to tell me something.
My dog does bark on rare occasion. She never has been much of a barker, but sometimes she lets you know you should be paying attention to her.
She also uses other forms of communication. Staring at you non-stop tends to mean she wants to go out. If she comes down the hall and looks into the bathroom, it usually means she wants water. It is sort of her way of saying “you don’t like me drinking out of the toilet, but I’m going to unless you fill my water dish.” She also has a few other looks that manage to get her meaning across.
Then there’s the mumbling. There really isn’t another good way to describe it. The dog every so often will make fairly quiet, low mumbling sounds. Not really a growl, but close. She just seems to be muttering under her breath about something. Like if you’re not quite fast enough opening a door for her or filling her supper dish. She finds ways to let you know.
The cat, on the other hand, talks a lot. I have had cats that have been more talkative, but this one is pretty good. She tells me when it is time for treats. She tells me when it is time for dinner. She tells me when I should open the door for her. She also tells me when I am not doing it right. Like when I open the door and it’s raining or snowing. This is obviously my failure. I have opened the door successfully in the past to bright, warm sunny days, so why am I not doing it correctly this time?
It’s very much a cat thing. She seems to delight in letting me know of my shortcomings. I try, but not being a cat is a big part of my downfall. At least in the eyes of a cat.
But she talks to me constantly. I have started to pick up on what seem to be some of her meanings. Like “Food. Now.” That one happens quite often and is almost as often ignored, so it keeps getting repeated. But there are also other that seem to indicate other things like let me out or give me treats or telling me the litter box could really use to be cleaned.
So yes, I talk to them. But I also am started to think they talk back. Or at least it seems that way.
