I doubt cats are capable of deep philosophical thought, but as for “contemplating” simple yes/no decisions like when you open the door and the cat sees it is inclement weather outside and subsequently deciding not to venture out, that is surely a cat having contemplated whether to go out or not. So I have to disagree that cats cannot contemplate anything.
Cats are geniuses. They are experts in Math and Physics. Have you ever seen a cat miscalculate a jump and either not make it or go too far? I never have. They know exactly how much energy they need to accelerate their body to the correct velocity to make the jump. Nothing more, nothing less.
Just because they can’t vocalize what they’re thinking or contemplating doesn’t mean that they can’t. I would say that a cat preparing for a jump is contemplating.
A cat’s ability to “calculate” a jump is mere instinct. They do not have the necessary parts of the brain, called the “primate brain” to be able to actually compute or understand mathematics, as we have previously discussed with other pictures. Cats are not primates.
You say cats cant contemplate anything, but what if they are contemplating that they cannot contemplate?? Contemplate that. cats can contemplate other things, but maybe they just don’t feel like it. What about when they are planning a hunt? they contemplate then. They can contemplate, or at least no one has proven that they can’t, because not many scientists can read cats minds.
I’ve yet to hear of anyone who really knows what a cat, or for that matter anyone, is really thinking or not thinking. So it is beyond our comprehension whether or not a cat can engage in philosophical or rational thought. Based on personal experience, I’d say cats are a good bit saner than most humans, if sanity is any measure.
While cats can not calculate, nor contemplate deep philosophy, they can base decisions off of memories. Since cats can form memories and associate feelings, failure, and success with them, they can contemplate decisions.
Does it matter if a cat can contemplate or not? It does seem like that cat is considering something deep however… how many cats do you know who can look the serious long enough in order for you to take a picture?
It only matters if a cat could contemplate because Slagathor wrote it on the picture. If users would only write facts on the pictures instead of presumptions, there would be no debate. I frequently find myself voting down potential images because they include a conjecturing phrase or make claims that all—instead of most or some—cats share the same feelings about things.
What a typical Orientalizing Western perspective. Bad anthropologists have made this mistake for centuries – this is the sort of backwards thinking that led to the persecution of Pagans during the Spanish inquisition, and the abuse of the Native Americans at the hands of the more “highly developed” Western civilizations. Cats may well be able to contemplate. The fact that they cannot or do not do this in any way that we understand does not negate their capacity for thought.
Contemplate:
–verb (used with object)
1. to look at or view with continued attention; observe or study thoughtfully: to contemplate the stars.
Cats cannot contemplate due to the fact that they do not observe something with continued attention (continued attention being more than 30 minutes in my book). Cats are smart. They can perform many tasks that other animals cannot (being litter trained for example) but they cannot contemplate. You will not see a cat that is observing something and the way it behaves for more than a few minutes.
I provide my cat with food, shelter and entertainment so she can sleep most of the day and wake me when she wants something.
Maybe contemplation is over rated.
I don’t consider “continued attention” as meaning more than 30 minutes. Even if that is the case, your definition indicates that one need only observe something with thought to contemplate. Plus, you ignore the other meanings of contemplation:
2. to consider thoroughly; think fully or deeply about: to contemplate a difficult problem.
3. to have as a purpose; intend.
4. to have in view as a future event: to contemplate buying a new car.
I’d say cats at least use the 4th definition, if not all of the other meanings; mine will bother me for dinner—sometimes for more than 30 minutes—if I am home earlier than usual. One even fetches for me, with the expectation in the future that I will throw his toy.
Anonymous, I would like to thank you about the name comment. It is much better than the other comments that have been directed at me after I kindly posted this Average Cat.
Who’s to say cats aren’t just as smart as us, possibly even smarter? We waste time discriminating against other species, saying how we’re the best, and coming up with extremely complex solutions to simple problems; cats simply get us to take care of them and just do whatever they feel like! Feral or wild cats may not want humans to take care of them, but they still don’t obsess over something pointless like money!
Hello! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a team of volunteers and starting a new project in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us useful information to work on. You have done a marvellous job!
Sorry for the huge review, but I’m really loving the new Zune, and hope this, as well as the excellent reviews some other people have written, will help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.
Between me and my husband we’ve owned more MP3 players over the years than I can count, including Sansas, iRivers, iPods (classic & touch), the Ibiza Rhapsody, etc. But, the last few years I’ve settled down to one line of players. Why? Because I was happy to discover how well-designed and fun to use the underappreciated (and widely mocked) Zunes are.
The Zune concentrates on being a Portable Media Player. Not a web browser. Not a game machine. Maybe in the future it’ll do even better in those areas, but for now it’s a fantastic way to organize and listen to your music and videos, and is without peer in that regard. The iPod’s strengths are its web browsing and apps. If those sound more compelling, perhaps it is your best choice.
Pretty section of content. I simply stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to assert that I get in fact loved account your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your feeds or even I fulfillment you get entry to constantly quickly.
Thank you, I have recently been looking for information about this subject for a long time and yours is the best I’ve came upon so far. However, what about the bottom line? Are you positive in regards to the source?|What i don’t realize is actually how you are no longer actually much more well-favored than you may be right now. You are very intelligent.
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Maybe contemplation is over rated.
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every cat is contemplative. they are smart. CONTEMPLATION IS NOT OVERRATED
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2. to consider thoroughly; think fully or deeply about: to contemplate a difficult problem.
3. to have as a purpose; intend.
4. to have in view as a future event: to contemplate buying a new car.
I’d say cats at least use the 4th definition, if not all of the other meanings; mine will bother me for dinner—sometimes for more than 30 minutes—if I am home earlier than usual. One even fetches for me, with the expectation in the future that I will throw his toy.
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Cats can contemplate! What do you think Garfield is doing with those thought bubbles?
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CATS COTEMPLATE proven thought i am a cat hence cats can type
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slagathor, i love your name.
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i love cats. they are my best friends.
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Who’s to say cats aren’t just as smart as us, possibly even smarter? We waste time discriminating against other species, saying how we’re the best, and coming up with extremely complex solutions to simple problems; cats simply get us to take care of them and just do whatever they feel like! Feral or wild cats may not want humans to take care of them, but they still don’t obsess over something pointless like money!
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Who says cats aren’t that smart?
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Hello! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a team of volunteers and starting a new project in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us useful information to work on. You have done a marvellous job!
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I’ve said that least 4462717 times. The problem this like that is they are just too compilcated for the average bird, if you know what I mean
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Sorry for the huge review, but I’m really loving the new Zune, and hope this, as well as the excellent reviews some other people have written, will help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Between me and my husband we’ve owned more MP3 players over the years than I can count, including Sansas, iRivers, iPods (classic & touch), the Ibiza Rhapsody, etc. But, the last few years I’ve settled down to one line of players. Why? Because I was happy to discover how well-designed and fun to use the underappreciated (and widely mocked) Zunes are.
Like or Dislike:
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The Zune concentrates on being a Portable Media Player. Not a web browser. Not a game machine. Maybe in the future it’ll do even better in those areas, but for now it’s a fantastic way to organize and listen to your music and videos, and is without peer in that regard. The iPod’s strengths are its web browsing and apps. If those sound more compelling, perhaps it is your best choice.
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Pretty section of content. I simply stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to assert that I get in fact loved account your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your feeds or even I fulfillment you get entry to constantly quickly.
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Thank you, I have recently been looking for information about this subject for a long time and yours is the best I’ve came upon so far. However, what about the bottom line? Are you positive in regards to the source?|What i don’t realize is actually how you are no longer actually much more well-favored than you may be right now. You are very intelligent.
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