Animals are way more intelligent than they get credit for. Just because your dog can’t write an essay, and your cat can’t drive a car, doesn’t mean that they’re not smart. In fact, many pet owners notice their beloved animals exhibiting suspiciously human-like behavior all the time.
Reddit users have recently been recalling moments when they were extremely impressed by their pet’s actions. From seemingly speaking English to tricking their humans in brilliant ways, these stories demonstrate just how intelligent animals can be. So enjoy scrolling through, and be sure to upvote the tales that remind you to give animals the respect they deserve!
#1
I have a budgie that repeats a certain set of short sentences and never flies to my shoulder unless he wants a treat. One day my partner and I were arguing, as soon as I started crying he flew onto my shoulder and rapid fired a bunch of "You're okay, It's okay!" between many kisses. He is such a good boy :).
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55points
#2
My dog and I were in a (new to us) pet store. He walked to the end of a very long aisle that had baskets filled with dog treats and toys all along the bottom shelf, but within his reach.
He looked up at me, and I said, “Ok, pick something out, then we’ll take it up to the counter and pay for it.”
He beelined down the aisle, stopping at every basket to smell it or look in it. On his way back up the aisle, he stopped at one specific basket and took an item out. Then, he ignored the rest of the baskets and ran up to the counter at the front of the store with a treat in his mouth so I could pay for it. Lol, I had no idea he understood that part of what I said. Such a good boy! :-).
He looked up at me, and I said, “Ok, pick something out, then we’ll take it up to the counter and pay for it.”
He beelined down the aisle, stopping at every basket to smell it or look in it. On his way back up the aisle, he stopped at one specific basket and took an item out. Then, he ignored the rest of the baskets and ran up to the counter at the front of the store with a treat in his mouth so I could pay for it. Lol, I had no idea he understood that part of what I said. Such a good boy! :-).
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51points
#3
My cat stood up from where he was napping on a (inactive) heated blanket, pawed at the controls until it lit up, and laid back down in his spot.
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51points
I’ve had pets my entire life, and I’ve always been impressed by how much they understand. Somehow, they always know exactly what time it is, and they’re smart enough to only exhibit naughty behavior when Mom and Dad aren’t watching. They’re innovative problem solvers, and they can be master manipulators when they want something.
My cat even taught himself how to turn on the sink when he wants fresh water, but there isn’t anyone there to do it for him. He also only steals human food when there’s no one around to bear witness. He may only communicate through sounds and body language, but he always makes it perfectly clear what he wants.
#4
Around the time I found out I was sick, I had a panic attack because I guess I got overwhelmed. Both of my not-so-affectionate cats ran up to me. One of them put her paw on my chest and tapped me in this slow, rhythmic pace as if she's telling me to match my breathing with her tapping. The other cat had her paws on my cheeks with her kneading which hurt. They have not done these prior and they have not done these since. I haven't had a panic attack since then too. It was so so so weird but I like to think that they get me.
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45points
#5
Not my pet, but my friend's dog. I was introducing two friends to one another. I'll call them Joe and Mary. Mary had a beautiful German Shepherd.
Somehow we got onto the topic of being bullied in high school. Joe had been severely bullied in high school, but he was laughing at the memories because Joe had definitely won life. He is very wealthy, successful, has a beautiful wife, etc.
As we were all laughing at what were clearly some terrible things, Mary's dog gets up, goes over to Joe, lays his head in Joe's lap and looks up at him with eyes full of love and compassion.
It stopped us cold.
It made us all recognize that even though the bullying is over and we have "won," that child you were is still in there and needs comforting. Laughing is fine -- time and distance help -- but that part of you needs and deserves acknowledgement and comfort.
I'd heard this from therapists but never believed it until I saw Mary's dog lay his head in Joe's lap. I knew that dog was more emotionally intelligent than all of us put together.
Somehow we got onto the topic of being bullied in high school. Joe had been severely bullied in high school, but he was laughing at the memories because Joe had definitely won life. He is very wealthy, successful, has a beautiful wife, etc.
As we were all laughing at what were clearly some terrible things, Mary's dog gets up, goes over to Joe, lays his head in Joe's lap and looks up at him with eyes full of love and compassion.
It stopped us cold.
It made us all recognize that even though the bullying is over and we have "won," that child you were is still in there and needs comforting. Laughing is fine -- time and distance help -- but that part of you needs and deserves acknowledgement and comfort.
I'd heard this from therapists but never believed it until I saw Mary's dog lay his head in Joe's lap. I knew that dog was more emotionally intelligent than all of us put together.
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43points
#6
I have a border collie. He understands most commands in English and in key word sign language as well as a specific series of clicks and whistles.
He walks without a leash and will walk with someone else if told to. He comes to work with me most days and hangs out with the office girls and clients. He loves to "go to work". I left him home one day because I was going to a clients house, and someone left a side gate open so he walked himself to my office (only like 3 yards away) and knocked on the back door to be let in by my staff, which they did.
I taught him to use large buttons to let me know when he needed food, water or toilet (if not readily available). He knows my routine and will wake me up just before my alarm does - except recently, where a lady temporarily living next door has been enjoying breakfast with him every morning, so he wakes me up to go have his cup of tea and 2 biscuits before coming back home.
I work with disabled people and he has what seems to be limitless patience with them.
He has accurately detected 3 separate jerk people before evidence came to light (immediate on sight growling and standing between the person in question and others).
He "talks" at me to get attention, never barks. He's like a husky, a sort of arrrowowwerrow sort of noise. He also politely "knocks" on doors instead of scratching or howling.
He also cleans the yard semi regularly by maintaining a small shallow hole in a corner of the yard and neatly filling it with whatever rubbish is laying around. He also has a "cool rock" collection that he gathers and keeps in a neat pile under my kitchen counter.
He is a weird cool dude and I love him very much.
He walks without a leash and will walk with someone else if told to. He comes to work with me most days and hangs out with the office girls and clients. He loves to "go to work". I left him home one day because I was going to a clients house, and someone left a side gate open so he walked himself to my office (only like 3 yards away) and knocked on the back door to be let in by my staff, which they did.
I taught him to use large buttons to let me know when he needed food, water or toilet (if not readily available). He knows my routine and will wake me up just before my alarm does - except recently, where a lady temporarily living next door has been enjoying breakfast with him every morning, so he wakes me up to go have his cup of tea and 2 biscuits before coming back home.
I work with disabled people and he has what seems to be limitless patience with them.
He has accurately detected 3 separate jerk people before evidence came to light (immediate on sight growling and standing between the person in question and others).
He "talks" at me to get attention, never barks. He's like a husky, a sort of arrrowowwerrow sort of noise. He also politely "knocks" on doors instead of scratching or howling.
He also cleans the yard semi regularly by maintaining a small shallow hole in a corner of the yard and neatly filling it with whatever rubbish is laying around. He also has a "cool rock" collection that he gathers and keeps in a neat pile under my kitchen counter.
He is a weird cool dude and I love him very much.
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40points
If you’re still not convinced that animals are smarter than we give them credit for, Science Alert has some examples that you might find impressive. Did you know that chimpanzees can beat humans at recalling a set of numbers that was displayed for less than a second? And octopuses can open pill bottles with childproof caps, even though many adult humans struggle to do so.
Dogs and horses are amazing at interpreting human body language, since they spend so much time around us. And bats can map out space using echolocation, something that no human can do. There are plenty of skills that these creatures have that we don’t, so it’s completely unfair to assume that they’re less intelligent just because they don’t use smartphones.
#7
When Lord Fluffington got really sick, there was this one night I was just losing it, crying quietly in bed so I wouldn't wake anyone. He was so incredibly weak at that point, but I felt him move. He actually managed to drag himself all the way up to my pillow just to start grooming my hair... something he hadn't done in years. It honestly felt like he was the one comforting *me* for his own departure. They definitely know. They just wait for the moments when we need them the most to show it. 💔.
39points
#8
I took my very large dog to the vet. I was at the front desk checking in, after getting my information the employee said, “Have a seat” and my dog went directly over to a chair and hopped up. Everyone in the room laughed.
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39points
#9
When my pit got older he lost his hearing. It made getting him back inside a little difficult. I'd have to stand in the doorway waving my arms like a moron until he noticed me. One day I told my border Collie to go get him. He bolted over to my pit and hearded him back in the house. From that day all I had to do was tell my BC, go get Bacon(my pitty) and he'd heard him back in for me.
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39points
Are you going to treat animals with even more respect after reading through these stories, pandas? We hope that they’re great reminders that we can learn just as much from animals as they can learn from us. Keep upvoting the stories that make you smile, and let us know in the comments below what the most impressive thing your pet has ever done was. Then, if you’re looking for another article from Bored Panda featuring brilliant animals, check out this one next!
#10
We had a heater with a touch dispay. My Italian Greyhound absolutely hates the cold and worked out how to turn it on. Quite often a minute or two after I had turned it off, you would hear the beap as she surreptitiously turned it back on with her nose.
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35points
#11
Just last week in fact. My AC broke and it as over 90 degrees in the house. We were woken up by the cat on Thursday morning after the hottest night of whole ordeal. She was meowing much louder and more frantically than usual and poking her head under our bedroom door trying to get our attention.
We went to see what's up, and behind her our husky-lab mix is just panting like crazy. Got her out on the porch in the nice breezy morning air, gave her some water, and she was better in a few minutes. The cat got some treats!
My AC was fixed Friday afternoon, and then of course a cold front came through the same day. Typical.
We went to see what's up, and behind her our husky-lab mix is just panting like crazy. Got her out on the porch in the nice breezy morning air, gave her some water, and she was better in a few minutes. The cat got some treats!
My AC was fixed Friday afternoon, and then of course a cold front came through the same day. Typical.
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34points
#12
I always used to say hi to my dogs when we passed each other in the house. You know, just, "Hi, dog."
One night my dog and I walked past each other in the hallway and I said, "Hi, dog," and she said, "Hi."
Like you'd say it if you were just breathing out, not speaking. It sounded exactly like a whispered, "Hi."
I really think she thought that's what you do when you walk by.
One night my dog and I walked past each other in the hallway and I said, "Hi, dog," and she said, "Hi."
Like you'd say it if you were just breathing out, not speaking. It sounded exactly like a whispered, "Hi."
I really think she thought that's what you do when you walk by.
33points
#13
I walked a previous cat on a leash. When I was doing this one time, I wanted to go sit in the backyard. I told her this and said If you want to play with that grasshopper, bring him with you. She picked him up in her mouth, and off we went to the backyard.
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31points
#14
My brother’s beagle was not a cuddler in general. She wanted to be in the same room as you, but not on your lap, you know?
After a bad breakup I went over to his place to watch her for a bit for him, and just started sobbing. When I tell you this dog climbed right into my lap and pressed her head up under my chin and didn’t move until I calmed down, then licked my cheeks before hopping down again… miss you forever, sweet girl. ❤️.
After a bad breakup I went over to his place to watch her for a bit for him, and just started sobbing. When I tell you this dog climbed right into my lap and pressed her head up under my chin and didn’t move until I calmed down, then licked my cheeks before hopping down again… miss you forever, sweet girl. ❤️.
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31points
#15
Many years ago when I was having counselling, I'd get home and curl up in my bed and my cat would come and crawl under the duvet with me, she didn't normally do that then, only post counselling.
I've had cats who have known that pain relief medication is a good thing, and would ask for it, or cats who wouldn't retaliate to rough handling if they knew you were doing it because they'd got themselves stuck somewhere.
My current cat escorts me from the garage - he got locked in there once overnight and now seems convinced it could happen to me if he doesn't look after me.
I've had cats who have known that pain relief medication is a good thing, and would ask for it, or cats who wouldn't retaliate to rough handling if they knew you were doing it because they'd got themselves stuck somewhere.
My current cat escorts me from the garage - he got locked in there once overnight and now seems convinced it could happen to me if he doesn't look after me.
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28points
#16
My cat knows when it is 5.
I work from home. He leaves me alone all day for the most part. (Unless hungry). he comes into the office at 5-10 minutes before 5, sits at my feet and stares at me. If I keep working, he starts to paw at me.
I work from home. He leaves me alone all day for the most part. (Unless hungry). he comes into the office at 5-10 minutes before 5, sits at my feet and stares at me. If I keep working, he starts to paw at me.
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26points
#17
Not my pet, but I know a man whose little dog (rat terrier) has showed us on multiple occasions that she understands human language.
This gentleman has one of those temporary-type agricultural buildings (think like a tent but more serious) which is so big he put a horse riding arena in it. There’s an announcer stand in the corner, a kind of two-story structure like a deck. It has two sets of stairs going up to it— a big one in front, and a smaller extra one.
So one weekend there was a big party and a huge crowd in this arena, with a ton of people watching folks play polo. There were people sitting all up the announcer stand main stairs. I was up at the top along with the farm owner and this little dog.
The dog wanted to go down the main stairs but the way was totally blocked. She was annoyed, started to growl and get agitated… and then her owner said, in an absolutely normal tone of voice and *to the little dog’s back*— not to her face like you might give a command with body language to a dog, but a casual comment like you would say it to another human— he said “Robin. Forget it, it’s too crowded. Just use the other stairs.”
I kid you not, the smart lil doggie turned around at this, made “oh duh, yeah, I knew that” eye contact with her owner, and went down the other stairs.
The way she did it was just so… un-pet-like. Hope I explained it well.
This gentleman has one of those temporary-type agricultural buildings (think like a tent but more serious) which is so big he put a horse riding arena in it. There’s an announcer stand in the corner, a kind of two-story structure like a deck. It has two sets of stairs going up to it— a big one in front, and a smaller extra one.
So one weekend there was a big party and a huge crowd in this arena, with a ton of people watching folks play polo. There were people sitting all up the announcer stand main stairs. I was up at the top along with the farm owner and this little dog.
The dog wanted to go down the main stairs but the way was totally blocked. She was annoyed, started to growl and get agitated… and then her owner said, in an absolutely normal tone of voice and *to the little dog’s back*— not to her face like you might give a command with body language to a dog, but a casual comment like you would say it to another human— he said “Robin. Forget it, it’s too crowded. Just use the other stairs.”
I kid you not, the smart lil doggie turned around at this, made “oh duh, yeah, I knew that” eye contact with her owner, and went down the other stairs.
The way she did it was just so… un-pet-like. Hope I explained it well.
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25points
#18
Played possum so she wouldn't have to stop snuggling.
She was in my arms in a cradle hold like a baby when my oven timer went off. I told her she needed to get down so I could get my apple crisp. She went boneless.
I gave her a little shake and laughed. I really needed to go turn off the oven. She shut her eyes tight, ignoring me.
I called my ex in the room to look at the audacity. I told her I really, really needed to go shut the beeping off and what did that little stinker do? No lie, she started fake SNORING!! I couldn't believe it; I looked at my ex and he shook his head in disbelief.
I was laughing so hard and I lost it when I looked down and saw her peeking to see if it worked!! I put her down then and she cursed at me and curled up on the couch where I'd been. I went and rescued my apple crisp and I'm still shaking my head at the brilliance of that tiny cat.
She could say a few words, too, like "ham" and "out". Once I swear she teleported from a deep sleep upstairs, to next to the fridge when she heard me open the cheese drawer. I had her for 12 years and I'll miss her for the rest of my life.
She was in my arms in a cradle hold like a baby when my oven timer went off. I told her she needed to get down so I could get my apple crisp. She went boneless.
I gave her a little shake and laughed. I really needed to go turn off the oven. She shut her eyes tight, ignoring me.
I called my ex in the room to look at the audacity. I told her I really, really needed to go shut the beeping off and what did that little stinker do? No lie, she started fake SNORING!! I couldn't believe it; I looked at my ex and he shook his head in disbelief.
I was laughing so hard and I lost it when I looked down and saw her peeking to see if it worked!! I put her down then and she cursed at me and curled up on the couch where I'd been. I went and rescued my apple crisp and I'm still shaking my head at the brilliance of that tiny cat.
She could say a few words, too, like "ham" and "out". Once I swear she teleported from a deep sleep upstairs, to next to the fridge when she heard me open the cheese drawer. I had her for 12 years and I'll miss her for the rest of my life.
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25points
#19
While I was out of town one of my cats, Sugar Baby, passed in the night. As I was traveling back home my roommate called to tell me he had died.
When I got home my roommate was at work. Normally, if no one was home, her little Shih Tzu would be sitting on the sofa in the living room. But he was not there. He was not in her bedroom. He did not come when I called.
My roommate had told me that she would put the cat’s body in my bedroom. I walked down the hall calling for the dog. And when I reached my bed room, there was Sugar Baby. And there was the dog, close to the cat.
It seemed so human, like he was having a wake for the cat.
BTW, there were other cats in the house, but it was only the dog who was with the body.
When I got home my roommate was at work. Normally, if no one was home, her little Shih Tzu would be sitting on the sofa in the living room. But he was not there. He was not in her bedroom. He did not come when I called.
My roommate had told me that she would put the cat’s body in my bedroom. I walked down the hall calling for the dog. And when I reached my bed room, there was Sugar Baby. And there was the dog, close to the cat.
It seemed so human, like he was having a wake for the cat.
BTW, there were other cats in the house, but it was only the dog who was with the body.
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25points
#20
Sometimes our cat will hide in the hall and ambush my wife when she walks past. She will give a (pretend) shriek and he will run around, very pleased with his prank. Proof to me that he has a sense of humor....
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23points