When it was time for me to go out into the garden, Chris, my ex-husband, was keeping Dieter, our four year old son, busy so I could nip out to hide a variety of small and large chocolate eggs. Accompanying me into the garden and all along the egg hiding quest was Mickey, our six-year-old tabby cat. He walked next to me, stopped when I stopped and looked on with interest as I balanced an egg on a windowsill, another under a shrub and another leaning up against a young apple tree, until all eggs were placed.
When my work was done I went back into the house announcing that I had just spotted the Easter bunny.
“Where?” Dieter flew to the window to have a look.
“I saw him a few moments ago,” I said. “I doubt he’s still there, he’s probably gone now as he was in a hurry, but I think he left some eggs behind for you. Grab a basket and we’ll go and have a look.”
The four of us went outside: my ex, Dieter and me, followed by Mickey.
It didn’t take long for Dieter to find the first egg. He placed it in his basket and then tottered off in search of another one.
Five eggs he found without any problems, but the remaining five I seemed to have hidden a bit too well.
What followed next is nothing short of amazing.
Mickey walked up to a bed up tulips, looked over at Dieter and gave a loud meow. Dieter joined Mickey by a conifer, saw the egg, picked it up and put it in his basket.
Next Mickey sauntered over to a bed of daffodils, looked at Dieter and meowed for him to come over.
From there on all Dieter had to do was follow Mickey, who took him from one egg hiding place to another until all eggs were found.
If anyone ever wondered if animals have intelligence, rest assured, they do. Not only did Mickey remember where I had hidden the chocolate eggs, he was smart enough to know how many were hidden. Is it possible that cats can count?