Pavlov Would Have Been Proud. LOL
@danishcanadian (28954)
Canada
August 16, 2011 7:49pm CST
I wonder if cats have evolved to the point where it's in their genetics that they know what a can opener (manual or electric) sounds like. This evening my husband went out into the kitchen to open a can of coconut milk with our electric can opener, and the cat took off at a gallop, thinking he was getting a can of food. Then he came back in here, and a few minutes later hubby went out and opened a can of crab meat. Again, the cat took off at a gallop. Hubby's making soup, in which some of the ingredients include coconut milk, shrimp, and crab, along with butter, celery, onions, carrots, and tobasco sauce. I bet if he put some coconut milk, shrimp, crab, and butter into a bowl, the cat would go nuts with excitement! :) I know he'll have his head in my bowl when I'm trying to eat, tonight.
I bet Pavlov would be proud, if he was alive today, to see the effect of canopeners, on cats. LOL
5 people like this
12 responses
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
22 Aug 11
my crew even know what a church key opener sounds like.
that's some damn good hearing,i'll tell you what.
@kenzie45230 (3560)
• United States
17 Aug 11
I try to get pop-tops because they're easier to open. But the cats and dog all come running when they hear them.
@wilsongoddard (7291)
• United States
17 Aug 11
My cats know about the can opener, too. They also know about cheese packages, yogurt containers, and ice cream cartons... They are pretty much dairy-obsessed. My boy was trying to "help" his daddy with ice cream this afternoon. If it had been a container of yogurt, he would have been even more "helpful."
@allyoftherain (7208)
• United States
17 Aug 11
lol, Pavlov would have been proud. I bet you'll never be able to open a can of food without a cat coming in and expecting food again.
I have a kitten, and she's only been with me for a few months. I had a friend (a long-time cat owner herself) over and was showing her the kitten. I got out the bag of catfood and the kitten continued playing like nothing was happening and my friend said, "Oh! She doesn't know what that means yet!" She told me that eventually my kitty would hear the bag open and come running. Well, just a month later... she does. And practically jumps into the bag too.
@koperty3 (1876)
•
17 Aug 11
Cats are so intelligent. Few days ago I saw the film ( I think it was on youtube). The cat was sitting near the food container and pull the hands of the owner to the food container. So the cats knew that he will not open container by himself and needs human to open it. I was amazed.
@GardenGerty (169448)
• United States
17 Aug 11
I think you are right, it is now genetic. I had never fed my cats canned food until we started having some serious dental problems. Oh, but they knew right away that the can opener sound meant food, and then of course, they learned it meant cat food. I do not give them canned food now. I make and refrigerate or freeze meals for them. They actually head for the kitchen every time I go that way. My old cat heads for the front porch when he sees hubby with two cups of coffee. He likes that morning routine of coffee on the porch as well.
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
17 Aug 11
When Hobo was alive, he had to get a twice daily insulin shot, and one day I couldn't find him.
I asked the roommate to help me and she reached over and touched the can opener - and **BAM** there was Hobo behind me!
And Minnie is crying for "tuna" when ever I use the manual can opener at Maggiepie's, even if I'm opening green beans!
@Adoniah (7512)
• United States
17 Aug 11
I think that cats learn very quickly that humans mean food and that kitchens are the source of that food. Actually all animals learn that lesson quickly. We had a pet guinea pig. I could not open the refrigerator without that little stinker whistling like crazy every time.
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
17 Aug 11
hi danishcanadian indeed he would be. I remember this black tom I had that would wake me up in the morning sitting on my chest and patting my lips with his soft paw. He never ever scratched me either but he sat there looking into my eyes telling my lazy bones I am hungry and its time to get up,mow. so I would slip on a robe and slippers and stumble out to the kitchen the moment he heard that can opener going he was weaving in and out of my legs almost tripping me while I put the food on his dish for him. oh my the list of ingredients in your soup sounds delicious wow.I had mac and
cheese for dinner and its still sitting like a lump in my tummy lol.
cheese for dinner and its still sitting like a lump in my tummy lol.
@rosegardens (3032)
• United States
17 Aug 11
When I rescued my Baby, I did not feed her canned food right away. I could open a can without any problem. Once I fed her from a can, and only ONCE, she knew that sound and would come running to the kitchen for her treat whenever I used the can opener after that. lol. I could not believe how quickly she came to know that sound and equate it with food.
