Do cats think TV is real?

[Kiki-frog]

We have a 16-year-old moggie, who until very recently was a ferocious hunter of anything smaller than himself, but he is starting to slow down a bit now. A couple of times recently we've been watching wildlife programmes on TV, and he has suddenly dashed across the room and hurled himself at the screen as soon as birds are shown.

He's never done this before, and we're wondering if he thinks the birds are really there, or if he's just playing, or if he's getting a bit senile. Has anyone else experienced this with their cat? Or any ideas about what might be going on in his head?

[bellazella]

Think the pixcels have changed on the screen, so the cat can see the picture more clearly

[Baldric]

Our dogs take more notice of TV since we changed to a Plasma screen,
apparently it will get more interesting for them when HD comes in in a couple of months time.

[rojash]

Some of our cats completely ignore the TV. Others seem to know that they are 2 dimensional, but like to try to catch moving things by patting at the screen, yet others chase birds and even run round the back to try to catch them.

I think different cats perceive the pictures in different ways.

[LoftyLottie]

True what Bella has just said. Since we got a new flat screen television our cat would watch it 24/7!! Adverts, wild life programmes, cartoons are the favourites, but even watches Question Time, the News etc. As soon as the television goes on she rushes down (from our bed) to watch and recognises the music to her favourite adverts. Going out for her has become a thing of the past. Laying on the floor in front of the woodburner watching television is her favourite occupation. She sometimes goes up to the set and looks around it and behind it for all the various occupants!! I find myself leaving the television on for her to watch.

[Kiki-frog]

Doh! I'm so thick at times. It never occurred to me that it was to do with the tv screen rather than the cat. What you're all saying makes perfect sense. Thank you.

rojash - Basil also runs round the back to find out where the pesky birds are hiding.
lottie - can't help laughing at your couch potato cat. You'll be leaving the remote out for her next.

[wolf63]

I was watching Stargate Atlantis with Frankie one night. The adverts came on and he got up and went to the litter tray in the bathroom. Then he came back through and got cosy in front of the TV again. He just glared at me for laughing at him.

[rowanwitch]

Mine used to love Pollen used to wait like a furry ball girl

[SpikeyBush]

Years and years ago I had a cat that liked watching sport. He used to go for football players and was even more entertaining when the snooker was on. Dennis Taylor sunk the blue into the middle pocket and the moggy went behind the telly looking for it. Of course he didn't know it was the blue, this was years ago and the telly was B/W.

On the subject of wildlife, at work once they got a batch of A4 paper that came in boxes with goldfish on them. I took some of the empty boxes home to keep stuff tidy in the shed and the cat got very excited when he saw the pictures of fish. Even more excited than when Ronnie O'Sullivan got a 147 break.

[wolf63]

Is it that cats are crazy animals or just the humans who work for them that are crazy?

[SpikeyBush]

A bit of both I think Wolf!

[mightyWBA]

Well said Steve!

[wolf63]

This is just for the boys http://2.bp.blogspot....00/funny-cat-pics.jpg this lad is just about to be de-nutted.