CATS - we have a cat that has become very self aware over the past few years. We got him about nine years ago as a kitten. A very mean and antisocial kitten that no one wanted. The shelter was afraid that he would never be adopted. I had to have him! The first few years were rough and he quickly developed a peeling issue. No surprise, really. We kept him inside for the first two years and when his issue escaleted, I decided to start letting him outside when he wanted. He was born feral, so this made sense to me. That's when everything started to change and his peeling issues but stopped. I played attention to this behavior and solved the problem within the next few years. Ay this point, his self awareness really started to show.

Fast forward to the present. We now have four cats total and unlike the rest, he is not territorial whatsoever. He refuses to engage the others when they attempt to confront him (which they don't anymore). On the rare occasion, he just stops, looks at them and gives them the equivalent of an eye roll, and then goes about his business. He has even befriended the least self aware cat in our household, who has anger behaviour issues. He has also began immitating some of our behaviors. For instance, when my son was a bit younger, I would lay down with him at night until he fell asleep. This went on for a couple years. Well, the cat took notice and now lays with me every night and when he thinks I'm asleep, will promptly leave. If I get up in the middle of the night, he will do it again. He will also try to give me kisses on my face because I do that to him. He will let me hold his paws and if I give a little squeeze, he will reciprocate. Hes also very protective of us when we are outside. He refuses go inside until I go inside first. But best of all, when I talk to him and tell him how far he's come and how much I love and appreciate him, he goes crazy with the purring and affection, as if he knows exactly what I'm saying to him...And I suspect that he really does. There are a few more things he does too. I've had many cats, but none like this one. I truly feel that he is at the beginning of a grand adventure of mind and that he has obtained some degree of sentience. He is an amazing friend.