There are many cats who understand what the toilet is for and know how to use it.
My cat seems to know what it’s for but considers it too risky for fear of falling in…
… So uses the bath instead.
On those rare occasions when the cat has been locked in for the night we sometimes wake up to find a small poo and a puddle of wee right by the drainage hole.
Better than the carpet.
My Molly has done the same when inadvertantly locked in. Very thoughtful of her.
My friend’s cat Maggie seems to be trying to figure out how to use the toilet, without all that toilet-training gear they sell for cats.
Phoebe knows what the toilet is for… that is where you go to get a drink!
Not related to toilet habits but I have a cat who once figured out how to open a door. There was a table near the door so he could get on a level with the door knob. Then he would put both his paws on the knob and turn it. The knob was a little loose so it didn’t take a lot of effort. I had to put a hook and eye latch on the door to stop him, he wasn’t supposed to go into that room. He’s never tried it since on any other door though but we live in a different house now.
One of my cats had diarrhea one time, and we witnessed him run frantically around a room before he found an empty plastic bag to squat over. I considered that very thoughtful of him. He has also let me know the state of the litterbox by dragging the poop-scoop thing into it, and when they run out of water, he drags the entire water-contraption(the kind with the jug on top) out to the middle of the floor. He puts his extra toes to good use.
In the house before this one, the cats were occasionally let out onto the screened porch. My Siamese, Tino loved to go out on the screened porch and converse with the squirrels. He knew the doorknob had to turn but was not able to turn it, so he would grab it with both paws and try to turn it. Accompanied by the “Ode to Ooooooouuut”.
The title of this OP is an oxymoron. I have owned many cats (or vice-versa), and none of them has shown the slightest hint of a whisper of the shadow of a glimmer of intelligence.
They are pretty darned clever, though. 
I agree entirely. My two are very good at looking intelligent and inscrutable and sphinx-like, but I don’t think there’s anything much going on between the ears.
I asked my cats if they knew what the toilet was for. They looked at me blankly and said, “Are you talking about that big gurgling white water bowl in the bathroom?” *
However, before I found a kitty litter that both little prisses would agree to use, Luna would crap right next to the litter box. Then neat-freak Oreo would come along and kick litter out of the box and carefully cover up Luna’s leavings. I don’t know if I should consider that a sign of intelligence or OCD.
[sub]*Disclaimer: My cats don’t really talk.[/sub]
Yesterday, my cat caught a mouse and gave it to the neighbour’s dog. Smart move to ensure protection.
When our Shiloh needs to “go” but Tigger (who often terrorizes her) is near the litterbox, Shiloh will use the kitchen or bathroom sink. (We keep the toilet lids down in our house.)
On another note, Fiona will often play with her ball by herself. But sometimes, she wants a human to join in. At such times, she will pick up the ball in her mouth and find one of us. Then, mewing around the ball to get our attention, she will bring us the ball and drop it, then look up at us. The look on her face says “Play ball with me,” and we do. She will chase and catch the ball, and return it, much like a dog playing Fetch.
Growing up, my mom (who wasn’t even an old wife yet) was scared about the cat sleeping with me or my sister, so she left the cat in the bathroom with the door closed. So our cat did the exact same thing yours did–jumped on the vanity next to the knob, and pawed it until it turned enough to get out.
The solution? Mom locked the bathroom door. The cat’s solution? Paw something else–like the toilet handle, which it would flush repeatedly for hours. Mom quickly got over her fear of the cat sleeping with us after that.
Dewey has always been able to open doors that aren’t quite latched all the way, but now sometimes he opens the hallway door to wake me up at night, and I know that one’s latched because I check it so I don’t have a face full of kitty at 3 AM! I’ve never seen him do it, though, so I don’t know how it’s accomplished. I imagine he must actually turn the knob, though.
I had a cat Streaker who used his intelligence for evil. His primary hobby was urinating inappropriately. He climbed onto a floor to almost ceiling bookcase so he could pee on the ceiling. He also peed on the food of the other cat, whom he thought of as his rival.
He hated the guy I was dating when I got him. Urine was used in a very clever, terroristic fashion, in hidden places and on things that could not be cleaned easily. He peed in the guy’s shoe (not visible until the guy put the shoe on), on his acoustic guitar, on his baseball glove, and on the door of the side of the closet he used. He also once peed next to the bed so when the guy swung his feet down to get out of bed, his feet landed right in the piss.
Why did I keep this villainous cat? He was a real pisser. :smack: But seriously, he was a bastard that I couldn’t help but love.
When I was laid up with a broken hip, I used a wheelchair for awhile to get around the house.
The only real problem I had was when it came time to let the dog out to potty at night, when my husband was working. I couldn’t see when the dog came back. He could be right on the other side of the door (glass patio door) and I couldn’t see him.
Micky obviously had better night vision than me, and he’d meow to let me know that Boomer was back and ready to come in. That’s the only time Micky has ever meowed at that door. Or any door. He’s definitely smart.
I’ll second that. I do however see plenty of vengance and maybe a little bit of love too so it’s all good.
