Does my cat speak French?

[Art_from_Ark]

I was listening to the NHK French lesson on the radio the other morning (I'm trying to beef up my French just in case someone needs a translation of a simple French paper-- yeah, right). Anyway, my cat was sitting in the window, staring at the pigeons in the neighbor's trees. Suddenly, the girl in the French lesson says "J'aimerai avoir des oiseaux" --which translates as "I would love to have some birds." And my cat, in her best French accent, said "MEOWWWWW".

So, I ask you, does my cat speak French?

[pansypoo53219]

1. hmmm

i have to say yes.

[LynneSin]

2. My cat meows when I call his name

who knows what his name was before I found him, but hears Abbott, Abbie, Abs, Abbiecake or "you stinking filthy cat get your scrawny butt back here and get your damn ear drops like a man" and sure enough - my cat responds

[nuxvomica]

My cat calls me by name

Every once in a while, I'll hear this ghostly "Joooooooe" when he wants to play and I'm ignoring him. Other people have heard it while catsitting for me.

[nuxvomica]

10. My cat calls me by name

Every once in a while, I'll hear this ghostly "Joooooooe" when he wants to play and I'm ignoring him. Other people have heard it while catsitting for me.

edit: this was an accident. Look, the first one has no number. I've never noticed that before.

[Art_from_Ark]

11. Ah yes, but

does your cat meow with a French accent?
:D

[GOPisEvil]

3. Oui.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

4. Have you ever seen the book "French For Cats"?

This book is for the Cat-o-phile and Francophile in you! Seriously one of the funniest kitty books I've ever read. Very charming, and useful when trying to learn French AND converse with your feline. It's written with "Catitude" and has a follow up called "Advanced French for Exceptional Cats". My favorite line is from the second book:

"Le Chat, C'est Moi": I AM the cat. Shows kitty on a throne.

Some examples of what a cat does and doesn't do:

Je miaule, Je ronronne, Je dors
(I meow, I purr, I sleep)

Je cours rapidement d'une piece a l'autre sans aucune raison apparente
(I run rapidly from room to room for no apparent reason)

Je reste assis et je regarde fixement dans le vide pendant des heures
(I sit and stare at nothing for hours on end)

...and does not do...

Je ne cours pas apres les voitures
(I do not chase cars)

Je n'attrape pas les Frisbees dans ma bouche
(I do not catch Frisbees in my mouth)

[fudge stripe cookays]

6. Yes, Henry Beard is hilarious!

I have the "Advanced French for Exceptional Cats"

"L'Existentialist

Ai-je attrape' cette souris ou est-ce que c'est moi qui suis en fait pris au priege de l'obligation de ma propre nature?

Have I caught this mouse, or is it not in fact I who am trapped by the obligations of own nature?"

"Gastronomie
(after knocking over the goldfish bowl)

L'eau du bol a un gout un peu moussu qui accompagne tres bien ce plat.

The slightly mossy-tasting bowl water is an excellent accompaniment to this dish."

[Kathy in Cambridge]

7. "Henri de la Barbe" must have had cats

the books are hilarious.

[Art_from_Ark]

9. Le Chat, c'est moi

That is hilarious!

I'm going to have to get that book

[Kathy in Cambridge]

13. That's from "Advanced French for Exceptional Cats"

I have a male cat who says that everyday. He needs a crown.

[Art_from_Ark]

14. I don't think my cat is really exceptional

She seems to be stuck on the "J'aimerai avoir (manger) des oiseaux" bit. But I'll get the book, just in case:D

[Jokerman]

5. I leave Univision on for my cats when I'm gone

I don't know if they're learning any Spanish but I hope it broadens their view of the world.

[Dogmudgeon]

8. a.k.a. Henericus Barbatus

He wrote a Latin book Lingua Latina Omnibus Occasionabis (something like that) or "Latin for All Occasions".

He wrote the definitive text on cussing in Esperanto for the National Lampoon.

Beard is the standard by which we wiseass language geeks measure ourselves; and not by how much we exceed the Master, but by how little we fall short.

--bkl
Maybe next year a book on Spongmonkey language, eh?

[Jackpine Radical]

12. Cats don't speak.

They command telepathically.

[anti-NAFTA]

15. Your cat

is a true defender of la Republique!