I am convinced that my cats learn from each other. I have already mentioned the change in the balance of power with my three cats, and that Haiku has come out of herself more than she used to, exhibiting more confidence.
Well, I think Haiku has been learning bad habits. Both Sake and Taki are biters. Sake is easy to dissuade from biting, but Taki keeps coming back, almost frenetically. The other day, I was concentrating on working on my computer, and Haiku came over to the TV tray next to the desk, obviously looking for some attention. I began petting her, and she bit me. I told her "no," moved my hand, but a few minutes later, she did it again. Not hard, much like does Sake, unless she is angry, just "love bites." But I again told her "no." She has not tried to do this again.
I have to think she was just mimicking the other two cats, and wanted to experiment with this behavior. I know as humans, we do that, even, sometimes with unexceptable or inappropriate behaviors. We do it to experience the new behavior, the possible thrill of getting away with a risky behavior, or for the secondary gains of the behavior. We do it, to learn what others gain from such a behavior. And, if it is not in our nature, we may not ever do it again. I hope this is the case with Haiku.
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