I know that I have introduced myself as a cat lover so there may be nothing new in me doing so if it were not for a few more observations. I talk to my cat and of late I have noticed that she seems to understand one or two key phrases - now don't panic I am not as daft as seem - that I say when I am talking to her. For example if I want her to come to me I ask her and often she will do so and even using the word 'no' seems to have an effect. I tried other phrases on the silly assumption that se might be learning English and of course, you geussed it - zilch. No effect whatsoever. So I tried again and carefully made a note of what worked and what didn't and came to the conclusion that it was not the language or the words selected that made a difference but the time and place, my body language and habit that did it.
Cats seem to like adopting patterns of behavoir according to their familiarity with events. It is 
well known that many dogs will recognise a familiar footstep, the sound of the masters car etc and react by running toward the sound in greting long before the person has arrived. This awareness is recognised and can be seen in a child knowing instinctively who is mother, or where she is. It is later whan we grow into adults we forget the instinct and ignore its pull. 
Cats have an instinct that allows them to recognise patterns in your behavior and relate that to good things in their lives, comfort, treats, feeding times, times when doors will open, play times and sleeping times plus your voice when you announce them. Voice accompanied by actions that make them happy will attract cats toward you and as it is Mothering Sunday I am sure that we can claim to be surrogate mothers to our cats and so any noises we make can be intr=erpreted by them as the precursor to treats or comfort.
That does not mean fro one moment I will give up talking to my cat in my own language as long as I also attempt to learn hers. Result: I remain as daft and as soppy with my cat as normal and my cat gets fed, watered and fussed as normal which a is a mutually beneficial arrangement because to get all these things all she has to do is smooch, grovel, purr and trill her way around me.
The bonus is that I get an affectionate pet and the illusion that I am in control and have somebody more interesting than myself to talk to.
