I just wanted to share this, as it really fascinates me as to how intelligent these animals really are.

So, I had to move my tree monitor the other day into my bedroom. My bengal was never allowed to go into the room he was in before, so as you can imagine, the cat is fascinated with him as well. Well, the cat sits there and watches him, and occassionally will jump and bang on the plexi to try to get at the monitor. The first few times, the monitor would run up the wall and hide. After about an hour or so, though, he realized that the cat couldn't get to him. I don't know exactly how he figured it out, since he sometimes tries to dig through the plexi too, but he figured out that the cat can't get him. Now he taunts the cat. He'll sit there in plain view, flick his tongue and do whatever he can to get the cat rilled up. It's hilarious to watch, as you'd think that the cat would eventually learn that it can't get to the monitor long before the monitor figured out it could taunt the cat. I did end up having to put another sliding door lock on the cage, though, as sometimes the cat just tries to jump into the cage without just banging on the plexi with his paws, and I didn't want the plexi to fall out.

Anyways, I just thought this was amusing. I tried to get a picture with the cat actually banging on the plastic, but I couldn't get the shot, so you have to make do with just the mental image.

That's what you'd call "learned," good story.... I do think they are a thinking animal. Their active roll in life suggests you need to learn a few things along the way to make it....

Lol good stuff Lucid! Show's who the more intelligent species is :D

that is kinda funny. I've always thought monitors were the smartest out of the reptiles.


I It's hilarious to watch, as you'd think that the cat would eventually learn that it can't get to the monitor long before the monitor figured out it could taunt the cat.


not to offend cat owners.. but the whole cats are smart thing is a myth. cats are some of the dumbest animals I've ever been around, and they've got one of the smallest brains in ratio to their skull size.

Good stuff lucid. I love to read things like that. Im also fascinated by their intelligence and their ability to learn.

Hmm, which brings up another point. I cant say just how intelligent monitors are. But they do learn things. Just like yours figured out that for whatever reason that cat couldnt get to him. But yet, he will still attempt to get through the plexi. Its interesting how their heads work.

Of all the monitors I have or have had in the past the croc monitor seems to take the cake. He has done things that are just astounding. For one, he doesnt "plexi walk" like most monitors do. He tested the cage his first day and hasnt engaged in that behavior since. He seems to know the limits of his enclosure.

One time in particular comes to mind. He was eating rats out of a dish and through the mayhem the dish got flipped over. Its a crock dish, fairly heavy and the rat was underneath. Now, usually if the monitor cant see it they have a hard time figuring out where that good smell is coming from. Ive even seen some bite a branch because it smelled like a rat. Not this guy. Without missing a beat he used his claws to paw at the dish until it flipped over. Then he ate the rat. I was like whoaaaa thats pretty trippy.

Also they look at you like they KNOW something about your past :lol:

I agree, they do seem pretty smart.

Mike, I disagree with you about the cats though, ours is pretty darn smart. Now I have seen dumb cats, just like I have seen dumb dogs, but some of them are pretty smart.

Going off topic but most of the cats Ive met are dumb as a box of rocks.

And I have nothing against cats. Just dont find them very bright. Maybe I have just been around a lot of lunkheads. But when you see one fall off the back of a couch while chasing a spot of light from a lamp that was just turned on you gotta wonder... lol

My cats looks at you like you are stupid if you try that trick. He also punishes whoever takes him to the vet (which is normally me).

I agree, they do seem pretty smart.

Mike, I disagree with you about the cats though, ours is pretty darn smart. Now I have seen dumb cats, just like I have seen dumb dogs, but some of them are pretty smart.

Cats learn things pretty quick, they are imo one of the most top skilled predators that can adapt to a lot of different environments. How smart are they?
I don't really know, maybe that bengal is thinking if he hits the glass enough the monitor will spook and come out of a hole from the cage the cat hasn't seen.... and it's over!

Or maybe the constant hitting of the glass is just the cat keeping it's skills fine tuned or maybe just an attempt to break the plexi with enough blows... who knows what they cat is thinking or the monitor.... I think we tend to give little credit to other animal species when it comes to deciding how smart they are.... I think they only need to be smart enough to survive, but maybe it goes beyond that?

I've had some pretty intelligent cats, but I think that some of them are very hard wired into their instincts. They can be totally normal one second, but if something zips [ast them real fast, it's like they switch over to hunt mode really quickly. That's just my observations. I have a theory that foragers may have the ability to more accurately think things through than hunters.

When it comes to monitors I think they have two very basic "emotions" if you will allow me that word. Hunger and fear. Fear usually wins. But if hunger is strong enough it can sometimes overcome fear. Which in the wild may lead to a dead monitor. In captivity it leads to a very happy keeper :)

I agree, they do seem pretty smart.

Mike, I disagree with you about the cats though, ours is pretty darn smart. Now I have seen dumb cats, just like I have seen dumb dogs, but some of them are pretty smart.

I'll give you that. some cats can be smart, but generally those are the larger species. Bobcats and lynx are some of the smartest. but out of most observations I've made and a few years of animal behavioral studies in school I'd still say their memory is pretty crappy, and ability to learn is pretty slow. they pick up on repetitive activities, but rely more on instinct than learning.


I've had some pretty intelligent cats, but I think that some of them are very hard wired into their instincts. They can be totally normal one second, but if something zips [ast them real fast, it's like they switch over to hunt mode really quickly. That's just my observations. I have a theory that foragers may have the ability to more accurately think things through than hunters.

I have the same theory. foraging species do seem to be a lot more intelligent and think in concept. hunters rely mainly on instinct. I have heard some pretty cool stories about hunters becoming foragers though. One of my professors studied badgers and said he witnessed many times that they would take the metal rods they used as markers to locate other animals burrows, and the badgers would rip them out and use them to dig deeper into the burrows to find prey.



I've never kept croc monitors sadly, but I have noticed when around them they do have that look in their eyes that if you give them the chance they'll easily outsmart you. Kind of that velociraptor sentiment in the original jurassic park. I've heard the same from some nile monitor owners.

I've never kept croc monitors sadly, but I have noticed when around them they do have that look in their eyes that if you give them the chance they'll easily outsmart you. Kind of that velociraptor sentiment in the original jurassic park. I've heard the same from some nile monitor owners.

They do remind me of raptors.

There is a scene in Jurassic Park, I dont remember which one maybe the first I dont know. A raptor chases some people into a room and they slam a metal door shut to keep him out. He cant get in. And then slowly, very slowly he starts to look around. He looks up. And once again slowly he starts to understand the room they are in has no cage on top. So he starts to climb the door to get at them. It was brilliantly done and gives me the chills watching him figure it out. Thats exactly how crocs behave.

Lots of good stories on the smart monitors. They are an all around interesting reptile.


Now as for cats the inteligence that was quoted awhile back has been misconstruted.

Many studies have focsed on what is considered intelligence. Cats are consdered inteligent de to their high level of independace and persoanlity. dogs can learn tricks and be conditioned but if you esure intelligence based on thought process and independant thought then you have to go with the cat. thats what I believ is where people got the term cats are intellignt

imo which is neither valuable or humble lmao

From monitors to cats.... what a jump!

I think the difference between dogs and cats is, dogs really are a companion.... cat is some place you can't find it.

Dog wants to be around you and loves being with you....

Only time a cat wants to be near you is when the chance comes to trip you down the stairs and kill you.... the cat is a serial killer in the waiting.

Back to monitors, I've never had one try to trip me down the stairs....

Back to monitors, I've never had one try to trip me down the stairs....


Me neither. :yessir:

They do seem like intelligent animals...but cats no way :rockon:

Good story and thanks for sharing it. They do sound smarter then cats I'll give you that!!!

Also they look at you like they KNOW something about your past :lol:

It's the Dragon in them. They DO know.

Not to get off track here, but in defense of cats, I had a 13 pound Manx that would go out and hunt and kill rabbits and drag them home to give to me. I'd cook em up and share em with him :D.

Not to get off track here, but in defense of cats, I had a 13 pound Manx that would go out and hunt and kill rabbits and drag them home to give to me. I'd cook em up and share em with him :D.

My friends cat would do the same as well with rabbits but not the cook and share part :lol:

See if you had a monitor you could feed the rabbits to it....full circle.

haha, I really didn't mean to start a cat intelligence debate. I was just kinda stating what we were studying in behavior classes.

both cats and dogs can learn tricks through reward and repetitive behavior. It really just depends on your definition of intelligence I guess. hunting is a natural instinct for cats though, it's done shortly after birth. dogs can be taught to "retrieve" too, lol. hunting, look at african wild dogs that have hunting tactic,they use flanking techniques, thats amazing to me. most cats just kind of hide and ambush, which again can take a lot of skill, so who knows.

but seeing eye cats? they don't seem to be used for stuff that takes a high capacity of non-routine things that take applied learning. when to cross streets and such.

lol, I really am sorry for getting so darn far off track. especially in a monitor post.

Naw Scott, cats are just after you and Cam because of all the wood chipper jokes!

LOL, no sweat, it seems to happen quite often in here.

hunting is a natural instinct for cats though, it's done shortly after birth. dogs can be taught to "retrieve" too, lol. hunting, look at african wild dogs that have hunting tactic,they use flanking techniques, thats amazing to me. most cats just kind of hide and ambush, which again can take a lot of skill, so who knows.


You can come up here and watch the coyotes and the fox hunt cats and study it first hand....:cheers:

You can come up here and watch the coyotes and the fox hunt cats and study it first hand....:cheers:

I have never seen a coyote go after a cat...but I have seen a few foxes go after cats around here. One time a fox chased a cat into the barn the cat went up on the beams under the barn and wouldn't come down for the longest time. Scared the crap out of that cat. I'd never had seen a cat so scared as I did that time (lol)

:hijacked:



:D

ok, again, sorry guys... back to monitors..

this little guy acts just like a lap dog. I like most will never use the word tame, but I've been in instances where he's missed a mouse and bit my hand and he automatically lets go, never even left a bruise. then goes back for the mouse while I know my hand must smell like rodents.

before I got my dog I used to let him wander around during the summer. He always had his favorite place to sit.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/bassett524/Varanid/Varanus%20exanthematicus/Frank1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/bassett524/Varanid/Varanus%20exanthematicus/Frank2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/bassett524/Varanid/Varanus%20exanthematicus/Frank3.jpg

That's too great. Oh my goodness.

Naw Scott, cats are just after you and Cam because of all the wood chipper jokes! :lol:

that last picture is almost too much :lol:

Great pics Bro! That last one is awesome! He looks so happy stuffed in there... (dont tell him he is too big for that pouch... he might get a complex!)

Mike post some pics of him now, I know the last time I saw him he was bigger than that I think....

Cool pictures!!!

Mike those are some great pics. Love the last one.

Mike post some pics of him now, I know the last time I saw him he was bigger than that I think....

yea, those pics are probably from about 3 years ago. I'll take the camera out later this afternoon. no time now, being on here is already procrastinating from finishing a presentation I have for class tomorrow.

yea, those pics are probably from about 3 years ago. I'll take the camera out later this afternoon. no time now, being on here is already procrastinating from finishing a presentation I have for class tomorrow.

No problem man, sounds like a plan...