Sit. Good! Paw. Good! Who's your favorite philosopher?

Does your pet know what you are talking about? This article says no, but they do get where you going with what you're saying. I have the same sort of understanding with my cats--especially the one called Tomochichi. He has a full range of intonations that I can recognize.

Here's the rundown (in totally human interpretation):
The god-awful MROWWWWWR MROWWWWWR on continuous loop for when he is hungry.
The lilting MAOW for when he is curious.
The annoying, alligatoresque HISSSSSSS for when he wants to be left alone.
The cozy PURRR for when he is content.
The yippy MAH MAH MAH for when he's anxious.

But, and I was just telling a friend about this, this cat, this splendid tuxedo cat sings. Don't get me wrong. I'm not some blue-haired old biddy calling the local news to show up about her yowling cat that she swears is saying "I love you." No, not at all.

Tomochichi is not singing like a human would sing, but it's not the drawn out misery of caterwauling, either. This is a cat exercising his instrument. The noise is a combination of purrs, gurgles and, every now and then, that lilting MAOW mentioned above. I can hear him in another room when I lie in bed. It will last ten or fifteen minutes on-or-off. It's unusually beautiful and beguiling at the same time. I know it's him because my other two cats will be in the bed with me. I have wondered out loud, "Tomochichi, who are you talking to?" But he just goes on with his little tune, ignoring the pleas for attention from his audience. Such a  rock star.

So, can he understand me? Most times, no (but he does react to the question "Hungry?" rather well). But it's OK. I don't understand his songs, but he's a cat, I'm sure they're not lyrically genius anyway.