I suppose all cat people consider their own cats exceptional. Some believe their cat is heads and tails above the rest. You know some of these people: They go through life either disliking or simply disinterested in cats until…Yes, until a cat wraps herself around his or her heart. Suddenly, this person (let’s call him Jack) allows himself to know a cat. Hack invites one into his home, begins paying attention to one that’s hanging around his office, or inherits one, perhaps. He comes to enjoy the cat’s company, notices that the cat is kind of cute, responsive, has a fun personality—she’s different from other cats, you know. I love these stories. But rarely, do you ever get people like Jack to admit that cats are okay—no, because the cat he has come to know is different—not like other cats—exceptional.
But then all cats are exceptional. We often marvel at how smart Sophie and Lily are—how
Sophie retrieving a fax
Sophie seems to know when it’s their supper time by what program’s on TV, how Lily comes to me and lays flat on the floor when she wants her back scratched, how they both know when I’m opening the freezer door to get something out to thaw for our dinner or when I’m retrieving their catnip.
There are many levels of intelligence and probably conditioning and even mind-reading among cats. And how they each react and respond as a result of these things is fascinating. Some people have even dared to list the cat breeds they believe are the most intelligent. Since the majority of us are more familiar with cats whose heritage is unknown, we rarely know where their instincts, traits, characteristics, personality comes from. Surely it’s from some of the most intelligent cat breeds on the planet. Here’s a partial list of those: Siamese cats, they say, enjoy mental stimulation—they’re extremely inquisitive. So often, when you’re filing, fixing a leaky pipe under your sink or doing needlework, your Siamese is in your face over-helping.
Everyone knows that an Abyssinian is physically agile, but she also needs a mental workout or she will get bored and maybe a little destructive.
The Bengal is fun loving and likes to be the center of attention. They’re climbers and very good at using their paws (and claws). They’re also thought to be among the smartest cats in the world.
Burmese cats are good at figuring things out. That takes brains.
The Turkish Van is particularly friendly. She likes to connect with people, which is a sign of intelligence. They also like to play fetch.
The Tonkinese is on the smart list, too. They thought to be good at solving puzzles and they learn new tricks easier than most. It is recommended that you rotate toys regularly to keep the Tonkineses from getting bored. Beware if you decide to breed your Tonkinese. They have large litters. One is known to have had 19 kittens.
Do you see your cat among these traits? Perhaps she has a little Burmese in her or she’s vocal and cunning like a Siamese, active like an Abyssinian, or good at working herself out of difficult situations like a Burmese cat might.
Coming up this week, we’ll cover the world’s smallest cats and the most affectionate. Chime in if you’d like me to cover a particular cat topic or type.
