Are Cats Manipulative?

While I simply love my husband Marty to death, we don't always see eye to eye about everything, especially when it comes to understanding feline behavior. The other day when I shared the story about my dilemma concerning Hush Puppy, our extremely finicky cat and how I discovered that bribing him with treats gets him to eat his food, Marty had a totally different take on Hush Puppy's apparent compliance. And mind you, while I don't recommend this highly unorthodox method, so far, knocking wood, it has been quite successful. I think of it as rewarding him for good behavior, but my husband considers him to be "playing" me. In my opinion, just the concept of a cat "playing" someone is outrageous. While they are highly intelligent little predators, I don't think of them as devious. Actually, in my many years of experience of cat keeping, I find them to be rather "up-front" in sharing their wishes and in their purrsonal interactions with me. When Hush Puppy sits gazing lovingly up at me, in front of the cabinet in which treats we keep their treats, I think that "please give me a goodie," is all he is saying. There is nothing covert about his behavior. He is simply being polite. Marty, on the other hand thinks this is manipulative and I am too easily seduced by his charming manners. Since I have willingly taken on the role of cat servant, devoting hours on end doting on them, thinking up ways to please them, I consider myself, at least in our household, to be more expert in understanding the language of our felines, which is always direct! Now I am not casting any dispersion on my husband's capacity to love our two delightful furry friends. I don't doubt for a moment that they both hold a place in his heart beyond measure. When they rub up against him and curl up in his lap, he gets this goofy look on his face with a smile that beams from ear to ear. He so enjoys their company, and they, his. Until fairly recently, Hush Puppy had been somewhat aloof toward his human "dad" but lately he has been showing him an abundance of trust and adoration, hanging out with him watching television. But I think this highly sensitive feline would be rather upset, if for a moment he thought that Marty doubted Hush Puppy's motives by the ways in which he shows him his affection, don't you agree? Do leave a comment and share your opinion! Image Source: Marty and Hush Puppy, by Jo Singer