Do you sometimes feel like your kitten is a little slow?But did you know that, in your cat’s eyes, you might actually be the “fool”? If your cat displays these behaviors, it could mean that your cat thinks you’re the “dummy.” If you match 3 of these signs, well, you might not seem so smart in your cat’s eyes!

  • Can Accurately “Predict” When You’ll Grab a Treat

Have you ever experienced this? No matter where you hide the cat treats, as soon as you head in that direction, your cat will come running from whatever it was doing, appearing right in front of you. It will look up at you eagerly, as if saying, “Hey, human, don’t take too long! I know you’re about to give me something tasty!” This isn’t a coincidence—it’s your cat’s way of being in tune with your behavior patterns. Research has shown that when cat owners repeatedly follow the “pick up treats → head to feeding spot” routine, after a few repetitions, 79% of cats will already be waiting at the feeding spot, even if there’s no treat in sight. However, when a stranger performs the same action, only 45% of cats react similarly. This shows how well cats can predict their owner’s actions. In your cat’s eyes, your behavior is as predictable as a machine—every move can be anticipated!

  • Showing Off Its Cleverness in Front of You

Does your cat ever sneakily take your stuff when you’re not paying attention?For example, you might be eating some meat-based treats, and your cat, seeing this, will pretend to be distracted. Then, in a split second, it will swipe your treat. Afterward, it might even glance back at you, almost as if showing off, like, “Hehe, your stuff is now my stuff!” Research has found that cats are 62% more successful at “stealing” in front of their owners than when strangers are around. This is because cats understand their owners’ leniency and know they can take advantage of their trust to get what they want. In the cat’s mind, you’re the one who’s easy to fool!

  • Selective “Deafness” to Your Commands

When you call your cat, does it often ignore you? But the second it hears the sound of a can opener, no matter where it is, it will come running? This shows that your cat isn’t actually deaf—it simply doesn’t care about your calls unless there’s something in it for them. A study tested 160 cats’ responses to different sounds, and found that cats responded to their owners’ calls only 31% of the time. However, they responded to food-related sounds a whopping 92% of the time. For cats, only sounds that directly benefit them, like the sound of food, are worth paying attention to. Your random calls, on the other hand, might seem like background noise to them.

  • Responding Indifferently to Your Affection

When you’re in the mood to cuddle your cat, it might give a brief, half-hearted nudge to your hand, then break free and run off to groom itself. This indifferent response to your affection might be a sign that your cat is just “humoring” you! It knows you want to be close, but it’s simply not in the mood to cooperate. Studies show that the average time cats spend actively seeking affection from their owners is just 15 minutes per day, and the rest of the time, they’re merely tolerating their owner’s attempts at affection.

If your cat displays three or more of the behaviors mentioned above, then in your cat’s eyes, you might not be considered “smart” after all! But don’t worry—this is just a part of your cat’s unique personality. There’s no need to take it personally. So, do you think you’re considered clever in your kitten’s eyes?