Unpopular Opinion

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Cat names make no sense and talking to animals is silly (files.catbox.moe)

submitted 1 year ago by j4k3@lemmy.world to c/unpopularopinion@lemmy.world

21 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I love my little cat. The idea of names and using words seems extremely silly to me.

My cat's real name is "wwhhq." It is a sound that is completely different than any word or sound I ever use. I also have a low volume high pitch whistle I can make that is barely audible to me and consists of a specific quick up-down-UP tone. She can hear that over any white noise and will usually respond, at least, more usual than most cats I've owned or been around. I'd call it a 90% response rate. No one else in the house can generate that kind of response from her, especially with a silly anthropomorphized name. I've gotten to the point where all words directed at an animal seem like unnecessary nonsense. They are only responding to tone and actions. So, I figure why not simplify my vocalizations to make my communication entirely on her level of tones and actions making my intent more clear and easy to interpret. It has worked really well for me over the last 9 years with my current cat. I don't think I will speak to a cat ever again.

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[–] wheeldawg@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 year ago

What do you mean by "make sense"?

As in giving them human word names they won't understand is weird? Or the names themselves don't make sense?

If the latter, that's gonna be an opinion that few share.

Talking to them isn't really silly either. They definitely do recognize it, as you've found, and while trying to communicate 1:1 with them is fully, your voice is comforting for them to hear. They won't know a thing you say, but they can associate words with specific actions. And hearing your voice is comforting, even if they don't know what you say.

And when repeating yourself to them, I think you can communicate certain phrases, and it will be easier to remember what you said if you use the English (or whatever language they usually hear) words, since it'll be easier to repeat later if you don't have to remember what random sound you used last time.