Comment by TheOtherHobbes

There are people doing experiments with pet buttons - one-sound samplers that play a voice recording when the pet paws the button.

They're pretty damn interesting. Cats sometimes think hard about their responses. And they use metaphors. And express emotions.

There's always the suspicion this is a fake marketing exercise. But if it is, it's a very ornate and extended one.

I have no idea how we're supposed to communicate with aliens if we can't communicate with other mammals.

"They're really stupid and can't do calculus or invent FTL travel" isn't much of an excuse.