Feline Creative Intelligence, cat art creativity

Feline Creative Intelligence - Part 2

Find out if your cat has art on his or her feet.
In the second part of this series, we explore different ways by which you can check out your cat's creative and aesthetic instincts.
It would be preferable that these tests be started only after a month or two of the earlier mentioned, simple exercises to be done.

Check out your cat's 2D sense

2D Image Recognition Test

This test recognizes the cat's ability to identify two dimensional objects that are replicas of the three dimensional objects present in the real world. Initially, it is preferable that cats be trained with cards that may be made using actual photographs of the animals, people and other objects with whom the cat comes in contact with.

Dogs have difficulty in understanding images that are flat - i.e. two dimensional images. However, for cats with a well evolved aesthetic sense, it's lots of fun to identify 2 -D images. You know that they have been able to identify the image - when they show a response to the image. For example, when shown a picture of a food that your cat is especially fond of, your pet may hold out its paw in an attempt to pull the object or place the paw on the image.

All these responses indicate that your cat has been able to identify the object and is interested. In other instances, if you show your cat, images of animals or objects that it is scared of and if you notice a similar response on showing the photograph, then once again, you know you have a positive response.

	It is better if the same picture be used as the one of the dog / dogs whom the cat has seen.

	It is better if the same picture be used as the one of the cat / cats whom the cat has seen regularly.

	If there is a aquarium in the house, then a photograph of that may be used. If there is no aquarium in the house, then the cat should be first shown an aquarium either at a friend's place or in a shop or aquarium centre. Then, the photograph of the same aquarium should be taken and shown to the cat.

	The same food bowl that is used to feed the cat should be used in the photograph.

	Picture of a family member like a child or grandma with whom the cat is in constant touch. The cat's favourite family member may be shown in the picture. Different pictures of the same family member may be shown. A photograph of the family member holding the pet or one of its siblings or kittens may also be shown to the cat.

	In a similar manner, gradually pictures of mice, birds, flowers, insects and plants may be shown.

Upside down or right side up? Which way does your cat see?

Invertism Test
This test attempts to explore your cat's way of seeing. Find out how your cat likes to see. Does your cat like to see objects and images upside down or right side up. You can test the preference by showing your cat the same set of cards as above. This time, make sure that each card has two pictures - one of an image right side up and the other of an image upside down.

If your cat prefers to see the wrong side up, then you know that when your cat begins to paint, you too will have to hold the image inverted to understand and appreciate your cat's point of view.

Find out if your cat is left brained or right brained
Find out which half of your cat's brain is gearing in to action every time you show one of the cards. May be for this test, you can take a different series of photographs, once again of common objects and images that are part of your cat's daily life.

Now, to make these cards, what you have to do is to show your cat two identical photos on one card of the same object, person or animal. Observe very carefully whether your cat is more curious about the photo on the left or the one on the right. You can find out by seeing the direction in which your cat has tilted its head and the direction of the gaze. When your cat is actively interested in the image, you will notice that your cat begins to touch it with its paw or sniff it. Look at whether the image your cat is sniffing is at the right or the left.

Write down your observations or you will get mixed up. It's very difficult to remember initially when you are carrying out the test. Therefore, always keep your observation book and pen close to you before you start the test. Record your observations immediately.

This is how you interpret them: If your cat gets focussed more towards the picture on the left, then you know that the right brain is gearing in to action while on the other hand if the paws and sniffing are for the picture on the right, then there you are! Your cat's left brain dominates…probably like yours does too!

The reason why you need to switch the sides is because that's the way the whole lot of us living creatures have our brains wired. The left side our brain controls our right side and the right side of our brain controls the left side.

Can your cat tell the difference between a normal and abnormal pattern?
Can your cat tell the difference between a normal pattern and one where there's a slight difference. To perform this test, what you need to have ready with you is a series of photographs. May be for this test too, you can use a new set of photographs.

What you can do, is make a small chart - may be A4 size or may be slightly bigger where you have a series of photographs of the same object, animal, insect or person. Paste the photographs in a series - as in a 4x 4 column. Now, in one of them, replace the photograph - say of the dog with a cat, object or person.

See, if your cat can tell the difference. Some indication to help you tell that your cat has spotted the difference is when your cat begins to give it a side ways look, or begins to flick its tail from side to side or places its paw on the picture.

One way to get your cat started on a painting schedule is after a few months of training your cat with the suggestions outlined in the earlier article and with the tests mentioned in this article.

In the beginning, start with showing only a couple of photographs. Stick to the same photograph and keep repeating the same tests. Continue this for at least three, four or even five sessions. Try to have as a maximum no more than two training sessions so that your cat does not get confused.

Have your training session at a time during the day when your cat is mentally alert. If you want to help your cat learn to paint, then may be you can try leaving a small bowl of non-toxic scented acrylic paint close to the litter tray. May be you can add a few drops of your cats urine in the paint. That may encourage your cat to use the paint faster. A few interesting looking particles like small balls or coloured strings that shake in the breeze may also be left in the saucer. That will encourage your cat to become curious and dip his or her paws in the paint. You can also place a suitable canvas nearby which may be a sheet of paper, smooth board or any other suitable material.

Reference:
"Why Cats Paint" by Burton Silver and Heather Busch.Museum of Non Primate Art: www.monpa.com