# I taught my cat a new word **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 5, 2022, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-taught-my-cat-a-new-word/976070 "2022-12-05T23:29:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2022, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-taught-my-cat-a-new-word/976070/1 "2022-12-05T23:29:37Z")
My cat has a somewhat limited vocabulary. Which is fine, he communicates via other means. LIke sinking his claws into my calf, showing me his excretory orifice, ramming his head into my arm, etc. His basic word is “wow”. That’s why I named him Wowbagger. It’s his standard response/exclamation, the one he uses most frequently in most situations. Sometimes he’ll say “mewow” too, but not quite as frequently. He also says “quack” a lot, usually when he’s contented. Note that he doesn’t quack like a duck, he really says “quack”. Two nights ago the Mrs. and I were watching “Avenue 5” and Wowbagger was sitting on my lap, being about as communicative as he ever gets. Whenever I touched him lightly, he would say “quack”. This went on for about 9 “quack” responses before he sort of got tired of it and stopped. The Mrs. and I discussed briefly both the charms and anguish associated with having a cat who says “quack”. I closed out the conversation by noting to my wife that at least Wowbagger doesn’t say “fuck”. Then I patted his head and he quite clearly responded by saying “fuck”. 🫢 I must admit, I lost it after that, and couldn’t breathe for laughing for about the next 2 minutes. He hasn’t repeated the word, but I admit I haven’t really encouraged him. Further updates will be issued if and when events warrant. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2022, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-taught-my-cat-a-new-word/976070/2 "2022-12-05T23:37:42Z")
Cats … I would say some cats are odd … but in reality all cats are odd. * * * * * * Thankfully many are wonderful companions while still being absolute stinkers. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2022, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-taught-my-cat-a-new-word/976070/3 "2022-12-05T23:53:46Z")
Mine clearly state “WTF?” I think the son learned it from his frequently indignant mom. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2022, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-taught-my-cat-a-new-word/976070/4 "2022-12-05T23:56:50Z")
I’m quite sure my senior cat (Siamese mix) once clearly said “put me down” when I was hugging her. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2022, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-taught-my-cat-a-new-word/976070/5 "2022-12-06T00:13:26Z")
My calico says “hi”, my tabby says “what?”. Neither of them have learned to swear yet… I’m clearly slacking in their education. 😆 ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2022, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-taught-my-cat-a-new-word/976070/6 "2022-12-06T00:22:03Z")
I’m imagining the tabby sounds like Lil Jon? ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2022, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-taught-my-cat-a-new-word/976070/7 "2022-12-06T00:26:36Z")
Mine sits by the side door begging to be let out, and I SWEAR it sounds like “Let me out!” (“Mew-MEOW!” try it.) He’ll also make these sweet, peeping little mewls to beg for canned food. If I ignore him, he switched to a more commanding “MOW!” which if he isn’t saying “Now!” … ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2022, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-taught-my-cat-a-new-word/976070/8 "2022-12-06T00:59:40Z")
Next time try this when youre not stoned.😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2022, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-taught-my-cat-a-new-word/976070/9 "2022-12-06T01:30:30Z")
Before he was catnapped, I used to take my Siamese, named Thai-Thai, for a walk around our apartment complex when I got home from work. After a lot of this, when I got home and closed the door before our walk, he would jump up and hang on the inside door knob. I could swear I heard him say “Meout!” ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2022, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-taught-my-cat-a-new-word/976070/10 "2022-12-06T01:43:18Z")
I think **Mrs\_The Mercotan** is a ventriloquist. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2022, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-taught-my-cat-a-new-word/976070/11 "2022-12-06T02:18:07Z")
My mom’s cat Sassy said now. Impatiently ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2022, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-taught-my-cat-a-new-word/976070/12 "2022-12-06T02:33:51Z")
I know the the normal requirement for cat threads is cat pics, but I’d really love to hear a recording of Wowbagger saying these words. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2022, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-taught-my-cat-a-new-word/976070/13 "2022-12-06T03:03:48Z")
So, just how Infinitely Prolonged is ol’ Wowbagger, these days, anyway? Seems like you’ve been talking about him for quite a while… ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2022, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-taught-my-cat-a-new-word/976070/14 "2022-12-06T13:14:32Z")
I had a roommate in college who had a black cat that couldn’t meow, only quack. Actually, more like a croak, but it was more fun (and probably less ambiguous) to say the cat quacked instead of the cat croaked. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2022, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-taught-my-cat-a-new-word/976070/15 "2022-12-06T14:15:47Z")
Here he is some years back, docked in his charging station. One eye is slightly green, one slightly red, indicating he’s not fully charged yet. He’s currently 15+ years and slowing down a bit, less eager to jump up on high surfaces. [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/w5kBbPb.jpeg "Photon cat docked with charging station") ](https://imgur.com/gallery/w5kBbPb) ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2022, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-taught-my-cat-a-new-word/976070/16 "2022-12-07T17:37:29Z")
@Qadgop_the_Mercotan You got it backwards. Wowbagger taught YOU a new word! ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2022, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-taught-my-cat-a-new-word/976070/17 "2022-12-08T02:24:23Z")
How many more minutes until he’s sufficiently charged to shoot laser beams across the room? ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2022, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-taught-my-cat-a-new-word/976070/18 "2022-12-12T23:23:25Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I think **Mrs\_The Mercotan** is a ventriloquist. That would be hilarious if this is the answer. " Hmm…Now that **Qadgop** is retired and hanging around the house all day, I need a new way to mess with him. I know, I’ll make it sound like the cat is swearing at him. Probably get a couple years out of that until he catches on." ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2022, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-taught-my-cat-a-new-word/976070/19 "2022-12-12T23:29:04Z")
That’s awesome! ---
**Author:** ![motu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/motu/32/259_2.png) [@motu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/motu)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2022, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-taught-my-cat-a-new-word/976070/20 "2022-12-12T23:52:30Z")
I have a very talkative cat. He was pestering me for his dinner, I loudly and forcefully told him, “No, it’s not time yet!” As he ran out of the room to go sulk, I swear I heard him say “Not Fair”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-taught-my-cat-a-new-word/976070.md?page=2)