What do you think actually goes through your pet’s mind during various parts of the day? If you feel you must post anthropomorphic or “funny” responses - well, I can’t stop you, but I’d prefer thoughts as to what your pet’s mental processes actually are.
I don’t think of my dog as terribly introspective. If he is fed and comfortable, and he knows where the rest of his “pack” are, I think of him pretty much like Puddy from Seinfeld. Just in stasis, but alert to anything that might need his attention.
When he is walking or more alert, I get the idea that he is sensing whether movement/noise/smells suggest something that need him to either investigate or chase/attack (like a terribly dangerous squirrel.)
I don’t think he really feels “bored.”
So whaddya think is going on inside your pet(s)'s brain(s)?
As mealtimes approach they start keeping a close eye on me. Any movement toward their feeding area and the celebration begins.
I cook them eggs every morning as an appetizer (two jumbo eggs shared by 3 dogs, a parrot, and five budgerigars). Once cooked and cooled, my gf gives them to the dogs as treats in exchange for whatever new trick they are learning. My gf often mistakes their behavior leading up to eggs as pure love for her.
Outside they all constantly sniff the air, hoping to see wildlife. They aren’t allowed to chase squirrels/birds/deer/etc but they still find it exciting to smell and see.
Evenings they’re often worn out from activity all day. Last night I asked Simi if he had a fun day. He opened one eye, made eye contact, then closed his eye.
When they aren’t sleeping, my cats seem to be focused pretty intently on the location and occupation of everyone in the house. If they hear or see something outside, they’ll shift to that for a while, but it’s essential they know where everyone is and what we’re doing at all times.
Cats like consistency, and on the days we vary the routine, they get very interested in what’s going on. The more human-oriented of the two will follow any workers in the house and watch to see what they’re doing (until it involves scary noises).
That cat will also carry toys around, chirruping in a special way until she drops them, usually near one of her people or into a shoe or in the doorway of a bedroom. After she brings a toy to her chosen person, she’ll look at them intently. No one is quite sure what she wants; if you try tossing the toy for her like you would for a dog that wants to play fetch, she’ll look offended and stalk away. I’ve tried picking it up and examining it, but that doesn’t seem to satisfy her either. We’ve settled on praising her effusively, and that seems to be an acceptable response.
After I have my morning coffee, my dog will stand by me, staring at me. Stormy is definitely thinking “it’s time for our morning walk”.
After my morning breakfast (taken in my easy chair) the cat will climb on my lap to inspect the empty plate and then try to lick it clean. Wowbagger is obviously thinking “it’s time for the good food”.
If I am carrying Kizzy’s harness, Kizzy gets overwhelmingly excited. She knows that wearing her harness means fun, either a brewery visit or agility class. Simi on the other hand becomes depressed. He walks over to his crate, goes in, and lays down. He knows what’s up. Meanwhile Loki just doesn’t give a shit.
If I get Simi’s harness, he goes nuts. He knows he’s going to school (agility or advanced obedience). He comes over for me to put it on him, but has trouble staying still. Once it is on he goes over to Kizzy to flaunt it.
Duke is thinking about the possibility of intruders on our property and how to kill them. When being territorial is not directly on his mind he’s thinking about or actively keeping Sami from getting any dog toys, treats, blankets, or attention.
Sami is either dreaming about himself sleeping and dreaming about himself. Occasionally he does that running while he’s asleep thing so he might be dreaming of pulling a sled across the frozen tundra with his nose right behind the butt of the dog in front of him. That’s the closest Sami gets to thinking, even for what ever it is that dogs think that thinking is.
We’ve had several cats over our 50-year marriage and they never fail to amaze. Some have been more clever than others. We had one who could actually figure things out three steps ahead to be sure the outcome suited him. If he wanted a particular chair and the other cat was on it, he knew exactly how to lure that cat away from that chair so he could take it. He did it time and again and the younger cat always fell for it.
One of our two current felines has an uncanny ability to tell time. Every night he situates himself on his perch in the TV room and sleeps. At midnight precisely he comes down, sits in front of me and stares at me. If I say “midnight snack?” he mews and trots over to his dish, looking over his shoulder to make sure I’m following. Obviously, he has me well trained.
I’ve sometimes wondered what the two of them think about when we’re out. Do they think of us and wonder when we will come back? I think they do.
I’d say not much, and I think it all pertains to their immediate world. They know your habits; when you come and go, when you feed them, when and how you interact with them, etc. I think this is pretty much awareness and not actual “thought”.
Yeah - that is pretty close to my impression. I’m a far cry from Decartes’ idea of animals as automatons, but I think my dogs (goldens and, now, a goldendoodle) are pretty much concerned with things being comfortable and safe. If everything is as it usually is, I think they just zone out. This doodle is A LOT more reactive to our movements than our goldens were. The dogs are very happy for play/distraction - whether it be chasing a squirrel, going for a waalk, or looking out the window. But like now, when we are just sitting here, I don’t think he is at all “bored.”
My Siamese cats are actively planning world domination. Or, planning my death and whether I’m a food quality corpse.
OTOH-
Bayliss the tailless dog really thinks and worries about me. It’s so obvious.
I was feeling terrible yesterday and he followed me more closely. When I was in bed he was right there. Mostly with his chin on the bed looking at me.
I tried to make him understand we were on it and to relax. He finally got in his bed after dragging it into the closet. This morning he was much less concerned.
I left for dialysis and he looked happy to see me go. I think he knew I would be better when I come home.
I believe this dog is extra smart and intuitive. He’s a special boy.
My cats have very distinct personalities and behaviors, so not all of points below apply to all of them. But it is very clear from their actions that the thought processes of one or more cats are:
Where is the food?
This is not the food I want, feed me something else.
That guy in the house coughed/stood up/otherwise moved. I’m terrified! Allow me to burrow into you so you can protect me, because he (and everything else in the world) is really, really scary.
Those other cats have no business being here. I should be an Only Cat.
A gecko, you say? Yeah, that’s mildly entertaining, but kinda “been there, done that.”
When we had a dog, his typical thoughts when he was with one of his people were, “What are you doing? Do you need me for anything? How can I make you happy?” When he wasn’t doing that, he was usually wondering where Scary Cat was, snuggling with Nice Cat, or trying to convince Aloof Cat to love him. Aside from those things (and thinking about food twice a day), he mainly seemed to be enjoying the hell out of life.
The cat who loves me best is usually thinking of ways to keep the other cat away from my lap or of ways to obtain food. He’ll go into the kitchen when we’re eating food we’ve just prepared and he’ll sit there looking up at the counter and meowing loudly as if to warn us that he won’t be able to control himself much longer and he’ll be jumping up to get at any uncovered food any minute now.
My dogs are like the Amazon Echo. They’re always just listening for their wake words/sounds.
Unfortunately, they have a huge vocabulary of wake words/sounds. Not just “Alexa” or “Echo.” The latest thing they figured out is the feint sound of me taking off my computer glasses to put on my other glasses. It’s not a big production by any means but the dogs hear it and come running, because work is over.
Yeah, that’s another good description IMO. So whaddya think is going through their minds - if anything - when you are just hanging out?
Right now, I’m just sitting in the living room, and my wife is doing something in the kitchen. The dog is lying right between us, with his head down, looking at me - but completely one with the floor. Once, he picked his head up and looked towards my wife when she made a certain noise in the kitchen, but then, he laid his head back in the exact same position.
