During Tabby and Reina's kittenhood stint (they're nine months now!), I've watched them sniff and listen all sorts of things with no apparent rhyme or reason. However, upon closer inspection, I think they are, in their own cat-like ways, creating databases of odors and sounds for future use. Let me explain...

When sniffing: I think they first determine one of two things. Was it edible or non edible? If edible, it's classified into one of three categories:

Really Good Smell (meaning it's definitely edible and if you run across this smell on food in the future, eat all you can whenever you can.) Applies to stuff like fish, butter, ice cream, etc.

Okay Smell (Edible but..there's something better. Something that smells appealing but eat only until you're full...and not one morsel more.) Applies to almost all dry cat food.

Edible But I Wouldn't Touch It With a Ten Foot Pole Smell (It's okay for the humans but NOT for us!) Applies mostly to fruits and vegetables although some items in this category make excellent batting around the kitchen training devices (such as grapes!).

If the substance is determined to be non edible, it's filed away thusly:

Non Edible But Smells Interesting (Pleasant bouquet but wouldn't want to eat it) Applies to Paw's shoes after work, some room fresheners (no kidding!), and clothes.

Non Edible and Stay the Hell Away! (Horrific odor and I don't ever wanna smell that again!): Applies to the wash room when Meowmy is washing white clothes (AKA bleach smell) and anything menthol.

Now, for sounds, I believe the little buggers have tape recorders in their heads and they 'record' noises for future reference. They are stored accordingly and played at the appropriate time to refresh their memories:

Bad/Harmful Noises (Beware! Run and hide when you hear these!) Applies to 'No's' from the humans, vacuum cleaners, Paw's guitar playing (no, he still hasn't learned how to play!), dog barks, and smoke detectors, to name a few.

Pleasant Noises (Come running should you hear these!) Dry cat food hitting the bowl, the humans saying 'Chow, chow,' sounds of the humans laying down on the bed, any kind of tingling bell, the printer printing, and the garage door opening or closing (usually means food and lots of sacks to play with).

Neutral Noises: Something that makes noises but isn't particularly threatening or joy-inducing. The coffee pot beeper (although it took them a time or two to get used to it), dishwasher running, and computer beeping and burping at start up'. They tend to totally ignore all these sounds.

Copyright © Roger Hooker
January 23, 2002