All my cats know what no means.
They know their names, and they know the other cats’ names. That they know so when the others are summoned, they can come to me instead and cat-block their fellow felines.
All my cats have learned the sounds associated with food – certain doors, drawers and cupboards opening, the sounds of can openers on cans, or can pop-tops, the rustling of food bags.
They know the sounds of us going to bed, and getting out of bed.
None of them know that the sound of rain on the roof or windows means it’s raining outside. It’s always an event that astonishes them.
They’re very selected about what they know.
Michael Seidel, writer 
Seems like all animals have some limits of what they understand. My dog was very intelligent for a dog, but he usually needed to try things to learn them. Reason didn’t seem to be his strong side. I’ve known cats who understand how to open a door or a window just by watching us do it. Most dogs seem to be incapable of this, yet they are a lot better on learning from experience. Makes me wonder what limits we humans have and if we will ever know.
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Excellent points. Love it. We had a cat also capable of opening doors. She’d watched and figured it out. We always told people but they didn’t believe it until a door swung open, revealing her hanging onto the handle.
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Mine knows THE cupboard where the food is stored.
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Clev-ah kit-tah!
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Too true! They learn what they want to learn.
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Yes, some make a game of it, too. “Oh, you caught me on the counter. Now what are you going to do? Let me give you a cute look that disables your anger.”
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Kinda like people, cats are….some people know stuff until they don’t. Very selective. ~nan
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Very insightful….
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