These Smart Cats Can Read and Identify Numbers

Alphonse enjoys reading my book. 

Maybe the sweet cat snoozing on the sofa next to you knows more than you think.

That time you saw your kitty stretching out on top of the newspaper--are you sure he wasn't reading about current events? And couldn't you have sworn that day when you stepped away from your computer for a few minutes and came back, your cat was working on a spreadsheet? After you meet Sullivan and Sarah, two 15-year-old sibling cats, you might have second thoughts.

The former feral cats can read, understand numbers and distinguish shapes. In the videos, watch Sullivan, a Maine Coon mix, show off his smarts. His camera-shy sister prefers to keep out of the limelight.

As reported in the December 2011 issue of Cat Fancy Magazine, Sullivan and Sarah's owner, Joan Kosby of Greenwich, NY, trained the cats with repetition, praise and most importantly, nom-noms. One of Kosby's inspirations is animal cognitive expert Irene Pepperberg and her work with Alex, an African grey parrot, documented in the book Alex & Me.

Sullivan Reads His Name

Sullivan Identifies Shapes and Colors

Sullivan Finds Hidden Objects 

Sullivan Knows "Same" and "Different"

Sullivan Understands Money

Sullivan Knows Numbers