There’s a study reported in Science Daily showing that cats understand some of elements of physics as well as the principle of cause and effect. If you’re interested in this fascinating topic, learn more here: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/06/160614114410.htm
We all learn things from our cats over time—generally different things from different cats. But it isn’t easy to figure out how the cat’s mind actually works. I have examples in my Catscapades book of true cat tales demonstrating that a cat can read what’s in our mind. I share some pretty amazing stories in that book. One example we experience here with our current cats still astounds us.
When we decide to give Lily and Sophie a little catnip treat, one of us will go to the fridge 
and open the freezer door to remove a baggie or plastic container of catnip. It doesn’t matter where the cats are at the moment—asleep in the back of the house, even—here they all come eager for the treat.
It isn’t the freezer door being opened that clues them in. We often open the freezer to get ice, ice cream, etc. It isn’t the sound of the container in our hands, because the cats are already at our feet begging or waiting at the catnip-drop-station even before we take the package out of the freezer. The cats are reading our mind. I’ll think, “I’m going to get some catnip for the cats.” And they hear that thought. I’m convinced of it.
Ever try to catch your cat for a veterinary visit? How often do you walk up to your cat and pet him during the day? Does he ever run from you or look at you suspiciously? However, on the day you’re taking him to the vet, when you walk up to him, how does he react? Suspicious, right? He may slither off the bed and under it when he sees you coming. And this is not because you’ve brought his carrier in from the garage. No, you can’t do that—it’s a dead giveaway and you’ll never capture the cat who needs to go to the vet. The cat sees the picture in your mind of him riding to the veterinarian in the car inside his carrier and he freaks out. Is anyone else as convinced of this as I am?
