Billi, a 13-year-old domestic cat from Florida, is gaining attention for her ability to communicate using a button-based system designed for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Her owner, Kendra Baker, has equipped Billi with a sound board containing buttons that each trigger a recorded word. Billi demonstrated this by pressing a button that says "dog" and then a button for "tummy," prompting Baker to respond playfully online.
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This innovative approach to cat-human communication was inspired by Christina Hunger, a speech-language pathologist, who taught her dog Stella to use a similar device. Unlike dogs, which are known for understanding human speech, Baker was initially skeptical of whether Billi, as a cat, would engage with the buttons effectively. Despite her concerns, Billi quickly adapted, particularly drawn to the button labeled "food." Initially, Baker worried that Billi wouldn't be able to press the buttons due to her size, but she soon realized that Billi was more than capable.
As of now, Billi has learned to use 50 different words and has joined the ongoing research project TheyCanTalk, which primarily focuses on dogs but is now expanding to include cats. About 5% of the participants in the study are felines, with many successfully using the AAC devices.
Leo Trottier, a cognitive scientist and developer of the system used by Billi, expressed initial doubts about cats using the buttons but noted their unique approaches to communication, often favoring single-button presses over multi-button combinations that are more common in dogs. While Billi does occasionally string words together, her communication style seems more deliberate than that of some dogs.
Researcher Gabriella Smith remarked on the significance of studying cat cognition, suggesting that bringing cats into these studies challenges traditional views of feline behavior. Smith believes that observing Billi and others using these devices could shed light on cat engagement with their environment and debunk myths about their independence.
Baker has noticed a positive shift in Billi's overall happiness since introducing the communication device, emphasizing the importance of mental stimulation for indoor cats. She advocates for finding ways to enrich feline lives, especially during times of confinement, like the recent pandemic.