Linguistic abilities of Maincoons

Long time ago I had a Siberian cat who knew dozen words in 2 languages and reacted accordingly. She also had musical talent and sang with me to entertain our guests. She passed away at age 18, and since then I had a dream about getting Maincoons and teaching them as many words as they can learn.

My kitties Ariella and Anastasia (both 1.5 y.old) know 9 words:

1) Birdie-to jump on the window and start looking for birds
2) Eat-to run like crazy to their bowls
3) Bath-to hide under the bed
4) No-they are very good with this word, and I never have to repeat it twice
5) Play-to run to the bookcase and look on the top where fishing rods with their toys are hidden
6) Brush-to stretch and wait for being brushed
7) Moth-to get excited and start studying the ceiling for moth
8) Grass-to get excited about greens
9) Drop- to jump in the sink and wrap herself around the faucet waiting for me to turn it on.

Do you also teach your coonies human language?

Ours know their own names, the names of the others, kitty (the cat living on our porch), a few food words, buggie, birdie, coonie, squirrel, outside, garage, etc. The MC mix we took in a number of years back (but is now gone from HCM) was particularly good with words. He actually knew the names of a number of the dogs and cats in the neighborhood. When he and I were out walking at night, if he could see/hear somebody walking their dog and I knew who it was, I could get him to relax by telling him which dog was coming. All you had to do was say "licorice" (a neighborhood cat he wanted to fight with) and he would get into attack mode and start looking around. I felt he learned words as easily as our Maltese dogs. Incidentally, his main food word was "feast," because he loved Fancy Feast when we started feeding it to him.

Your MC mix cat was a talented guy. Amazing what some kitties can learn.

http://www.sonic.net/~claudel/elvis-04.jpg

MC Elvis can speak some English.

He often says "NO" quite clearly, :rofl: usually when I want him to do something other than whatever he's already doing.

My lot respond to no words whatsoever!! However, if they hear me opening the food cupboard they seem to know what that means!!

Actually, they do know 'down', which I am always saying to get them off the worktop/desk/fishtank etc etc!!

What a great thread thanks for thinking of it ! Harry knows Daddy and runs to the front door when he thinks he's coming home. Food - obviously, don't they all lol, kisses and he puts his head up to be kissed, sit and he will sit for treats, working on the paw one but haven't quite mastered that one yet. I am sure there are more will have a think about that one