Koko's a good "Mommy Cat."

[rose_cat]

Koko is a forty-one-year-old lowland gorilla who has been communicating through sign language since she was a baby. She likes to keep kittens as her pets, and has had several over the years.


Here she is with her very first kitten, a Manx which she adopted in 1984 and named "All Ball."



Sadly, All Ball got out and was hit by a car five months later. Koko appeared to miss, and to grieve for, her lost pet.


Here's Koko holding Tigger.



Tigger was part of a litter that came to visit in April of 2012. She didn't adopt any of them, though.

Another kitten visit, from October of 2011.

A few months later, Koko made her decision. Here she plays with her new kittens, Tiger and Blackie.

Comments

[rainshinehyena.livejournal.com]

I think it would be awesome to actually meet a sign-speaking ape. (Well... if I knew sign language, that is. lawl) I think it's just so amazing that science has finally started to discover that humans are not the only intelligent life and that animals are not as dumb as we once thought. :3

The story of Koko and her kittens is really sweet.

[rose-cat.livejournal.com]

I took a college class on animal intelligence and we read The Education of Koko. (Yes, I'm old as dirt ;D ) Also, this: Scientists unlock animal intelligence It's a fascinating field.

[rainshinehyena.livejournal.com]

That actually sounds quite interesting. I would love to check that out. OuO
(Thank you for sharing that information with me, by the way. I love to learn about new stuff like that.)

[i-want-2.livejournal.com]

I take it to mean I win. Obviously, since you copied my format. Mwa hahahahahaha!

[rose-cat.livejournal.com]

I THINK NOT.

...oh, god. You've posted another one, haven't you?

[i-want-2.livejournal.com]

Not since yesterday.

[rose-cat.livejournal.com]

That's OK, I think I'm all caught up!