"THE TIGER IN THE HOUSE ... Carl Van Vechten
Anyone who has lived on terms of comparative equality with a cat knows that he will show his intelligence fifty times a day. To be sure this intelligence is usually of the variety called selfish. Thereby the cat shows how much finer his intelligence is than that of the rest of the animal world. He is quite unwilling to show feats of intelligence for which he can see no legitimate reason, or through which he is unable to derive any personal satisfaction.
If he wants submaxillary massage he knows that he is pretty sure of getting it by leaping into someone's lap. If he does not want it he knows that the best way of avoiding it is to avoid the person who insists on lavishing it. A cat, it is said, will only come when called if dinner is in the offing. This is very much my own procedure. I refuse to make casual calls but often accept invitations to dinner."
(I must admit our Candy does come 9 out of 10 times when I call her even when no treat is being offered. Perhaps being a 'rescue' cat makes here a little more determined to be needed.)
