Many cats are wonderfully intelligent, especially those who grow up well-nourished in loving homes that respect their unique abilities. Mine could not talk, but she could understand easily 65 words or phrases, so we could tell her what was happening and she could register her preferences where appropriate. She never indulged in vengeful behavior like previous cats had done when left alone for the weekend, because we "explained" it all ahead of time, and that we would be back, who would come to feed her, etc.
I've never figured out if these two books are genuine, or really good put-ons, but they've both given us a lot of enjoyment:
Barnes and Noble: Why Cats Paint: A Theory of Feline Aesthetics
Chronicle Books: Dancing With Cats
