My daughter's cat Petrie and I have the most fascinating conversations.
Petrie (comes into my room) FOOD.
Me: No, you can't go outside.
Petrie: FOOD
Me: No, Petrie, it's dark outside. You should have went out earlier.
Petrie: FOOD
Me: For god's sake, cat. You can not go outside. It's dark. It's cold. You'll get scared or lost or hit by a car. You'll whine to be let back in as soon as I sit down. NO. Wait until your mom gets home and ask her.
Petrie: FOOD
Me: I'm not discussing this any further. I said no.
Petrie: (with amazing patience) FOOD
Me: (heavy sigh) What? Do you want food?
Petrie: IMMEDIATELY turns and leaves the room and sits by her food bowl, thinking, 'Dear lord, how stupid are these humans? How much more clear could I have said FOOD?'
In my defense, all I heard was "meow" and he usually does whine an awful lot about not being allowed outside. At least I think he does.