Can Billi Tell Time Of Day? Morning/Afternoon/Night Chronological Compilation | BilliSpeaks

Billi and I seem to share a love of learning (as well as a short tolerance for minor inconveniences 😹), and time of day has been one of the most fascinating concepts to convey with buttons.
Time is weird. Time is a human contstruct. Daylight savings is the bane of all animals - how dare we think we can get away with feeding them an hour late?! 😂
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I work as a zoo relief veterinarian (think travel nurse, but for veterinarians) which means I travel for extended periods. Billi is a great little traveler, and is very comfortable in the car and new places! Dad will pop in to visit as he can, but we won’t be back home for a bit.
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Billi is a female domestic shorthair, she's 15 years old, her favorite word is mad.
Inspiration for learning to “speak” with buttons from Hunger4Words (check her out on IG).
Affiliate link for FluentPet buttons: flnt.pt/billispeaks
LinkTree for:
✨merchandise
✨website with FAQs and getting started resources
✨other button options
✨food puzzles
✨Instagram
✨TikTok 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
linktr.ee/BilliSpeaks
Want to learn more about the research study Billi and many other animals are in? Check it out here:
www.theycantalk.org/research
www.billispeaks.com/research
A Billi dictionary 📖
🔹Fan toy: a homemade toy with sewing elastic tied to a stuffed bunny or mouse
🔹Food water: a small amount of warm water over a handful of kibble
🔹Watermelon: a food puzzle that looks like a watermelon
🔹Catnip water: what Billi named my coffee

[@TacShooter]

Billi: "We cats were always this smart. You humans just didn't know how to communicate with us."

[@jenniferdewitt4450]

❤️🏆❤️

[@alisondunning7116]

That’s what I fear

[@soonmoo614]

Love it! No truer words have been spoken. Absolutely adore our feline overlords.

[@forteandblues]

We require a complicated system of buttons and lots of time and patience

[@wandamaximoff813]

It only means that we are still dumb to figure out animal languages

[@TimothySmiths]

I always enjoy Billi's thinking face, when she is processing what you are saying or thinking of what she wants to say next.

[@JD-Defenders]

I enjoy her "thinking" circles...lol.

[@JD-Defenders]

She is smarter than humans in that she really contemplates what she is going to say BEFORE she says it.

[@BilliSpeaks]

That’s something we can ALL learn from 😹

[@saoirsevicteoiria2759]

@@BilliSpeaksSo true! Billi's definitely encouraged me to slow down and let them think for a moment.

[@jaysmith2858]

Billi's 🥺 face always makes me chuckle.

[@CaliQGirl]

Watching Billi has changed the way I communicate with my horse! When he acts grumpy about going to work in the arena, I explain what we're doing now, then carrots later, and he relaxes and comes with me without forcing him.

[@Mimi-74]

I love how Billi seems to walk around a bit while she digests information, then comes back to the buttons to answer, or finish a thought. Her eyes always look like synapses are connecting, things are making sense, especially new information. I love watching Billi in all her brilliance.

[@LindaVernon]

Billi's well known for her "thinking circles." 🙂

[@Le_Comte_de_Monte_Felin]

My cats do the same thing... small, or larger circles seem to indicate 'how much time'... like, small circles = HURRY UP! and larger circles indicate longer time spans. Maybe it's just me?

[@pemanilnoob587]

And her little thinking tail swishes

[@JD-Defenders]

Watching this has really changed the way I interact with my cats. I have since discovered we do not give them enough credit for understanding things. Sometimes I now explain things to them about why they should or should not do something and it has changed them to agree without any form of discipline. I am grateful to you and especially Miss Billi for these lessons and my furbabies thank you guys as well! Many blessings to you BOTH!

[@meiru2453]

Many people underestimate cats and BilliSpeaks channel is important on so many levels. Not so long ago all we knew about cats from scientists is that "they don't care about you, only about food, they don't feel any guilt, are hard to train and they don't love you". This channel disproves that by just letting us observe Billi

[@theplasmawolf]

I'd like to know more :) Could you give an example of what you explain to your cat when you want (or don't want) something to happen?

[@JD-Defenders]

Are you addressing me or Billi's mom, cause it's coming to me?

[@impunitythebagpuss]

I've always treated my crew of furfolks, as individuals on their own....they each respond differently, know their names and many ,many words. We all get along.....as long as I remember who's in charge! 😂😂😂

[@zarzee8925]

​@@JD-DefendersI would be interested in hearing more from you!

[@dariascott2267]

It's really cool to see how she's progressed in just about 2 years!

[@BilliSpeaks]

I love seeing the progress!

[@jenniferdewitt4450]

I ❤️🫶🏻❤️ this! I know it must be a ton of work, but it’s so appreciated for those of us that find this fascinating.

[@mirih5368]

I remember when you first switched over to the Fluent Pet buttons after using the bigger ones for so long, and I remember thinking "Wow, Billi has space for so many more buttons now!" I never DREAMED she'd have so many and be so good at using them to communicate! She's come so far; I'm so proud of her smart little self!

[@BilliSpeaks]

I didn’t either! I had no idea she’d enjoy them to this extent 🥰🥰🥰

[@JD-Defenders]

@@BilliSpeaks She is probably as happy to talk to you as you are to talk to her! That would make sense wouldn't it?

[@jaysea5939]

I wondered when she pressed the "happy" button if she was excited for more words to communicate

[@JMA864]

@@jaysea5939That’s sure what it looked like to me!

[@meatballhead15]

I really hope that Kendra and Billi are both given proper credit for being on the vanguard of redefining how much cats can actually learn and understand. Such an amazing journey, and glad to have been here since close to the beginning (back when Billi barely pressed any of her large buttons other than "mad" lined up along your kitchen wall).

[@BilliSpeaks]

I still think that large mad button was her favorite 😹

[@soonmoo614]

Absolutely. I've been a life-long cat lover and enthusiast however this channel and a few others that I follow have completely expanded my limited scope of understanding into the reaches of cats minds. I realize now that my understanding of these amazing creatures barely scratched the surface.

[@mariemiller4087]

Watching the channel has carried over on to my life for sure. My neighbor's new dog just barked unceasingly when I took out my trash or moved the cans to the curb. Each day I started announcing myself and that it was Trash Time or Trash Night. Then I would say All Done at the end. It took time but now she barks during the activity but as soon as I say All Done she stops barking! So much better than yelling at her to Stop!, which is what my neighbor encouraged me to do.

[@barbarasmith3755]

Omg thank you. I have a similar situation with 3 dogs IN MY FACE almost, barking LOUDLY. I have been talking, but i will now be more conscious of what I'm saying. What an adventure!

[@elizabethmunroe3676]

The last time that Billi told Dad she was mad, she had said "Morning" to him and he didn't answer, but continued getting her food for her. I'm sure she didn't object to him continuing to get her food, but I imagine she was surprised by his lack of interest in her announcing the time of day. Also, it also seems like it has morphed from identifying the time of day to a greeting, just like "Good Morning." I know when I say, "Good morning," to my buttonless cat, she always answers, "Mrow."

[@LindaVernon]

I agree with 'morning' often being a greeting. I think that's because, before starting with the time of day buttons, Mom when seeing Billi first thing in a.m. always greeted Billi with "Good morning Billi." 🙂

[@The_Scarlet_Pen]

I love her nonchalant, confident little face after pressing new-ish buttons. “Um…yeah…Mom, I’m, like, reeeally smart. My brilliance is not shocking.”

[@4and20blackbirdsbakedinapi6]

I love the kissy eyed look she gave you when you were excitedly exclaiming your pleasure that she knew it was morning the first time she got it on her own at 2:19 ❤

[@elliottmcleandeboer]

It's so sweet how curious she is and how much she genuinely wants to learn new things

[@Jeni10]

I love the time she finished your sentence for you! “Mom bye work now. Home…” Billi put her paw on “Night”. 🥰🥰🥰🎄🇦🇺

[@mirjanbouma]

It might be because I'm not exactly sober right now, but i need to tell you: i love you and Billi, and youve taught me how to better communicate with my own cats, to the betterment of all of us ❤

[@BilliSpeaks]

🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@hellabiz4289]

There's a button for that!

[@mirjanbouma]

@@hellabiz4289 good point, i should get some.

[@ziggystardog]

Only one explanation: Billi is a Time Lord

[@ElenaV.1314]

Billi would be the cutest Doctor of them all. I can see her in her little Tardis now! 😆😊💜

[@sarahstrong7174]

@@ElenaV.1314 Oh Yes, I really want to see that series!

[@presentfuture7563]

Nkitty Catwa

[@denisesudell2538]

@@ElenaV.1314I want to see her wearing a fez!

[@michelleferguson9104]

Would food mousy be her sonic screwdriver?

[@FenrirAldebrand]

I read once a long time ago in a cat book that in addition to the 5 basic senses, cats also have senses for temperature, balance, place, and TIME. So her being able to put words to time like this makes a whole lotta sense.

[@asexton7166]

the contented kitty at the very end of the video shows how happy Billi is- and all of the footage before that is a testament to your patience and sweet relationship with this special little creature. thank you for sharing her

[@notoriousjoz]

Omg when she corrected herself with the oops!

[@tonyalongley353]

Billi is understanding her humans more and more everyday. And she is teaching them to understand her thinking. I love watching Billi. What a great compilation showing how well she was understanding. ❤❤❤❤❤

[@MrSirViking]

I love that when you ask her when morning is at 6:15. You can tell that she is thinking about it. Looks at the camera like going "Good Question that!" And then thinks about it and gives the right answer. Shuch a clever cat! :)

[@sarahstrong7174]

Billi is still looking out for the button that says- "Breakfast".

[@FenrirAldebrand]

"Morning food" is one she could use. She's shown to be able to put buttons together to get a thought across.

[@LindaVernon]

Or more importantly, "second breakfast." 😃

[@RedSpiralHandTV]

I love this because it was such an epiphany for me when I first realized that my cats understood my words and sentences WAY more than I'd previously thought. I started really expecting more and also observing how cats communicated with each other. Use of these buttons really takes it to new levels...shows a peek into just how much cats DO understand. Birds and dogs and many other species too! We all just speak a bit of a different language...

[@elizabethwinterveil9950]

It's all just sound and noise after all

[@richardjensen2769]

EVERY-Kitty seems to be "Happy" to get new buttons. (Thinking of Todd, not his Cohabitants, Glamour and Paulie.)

[@cazee100]

Billi probably has an Apple Watch on her Christmas list😂😂 such a clever girl. Stay safe x

[@zzydny]

Oh, that expression! 6:26 She is seriously considering. Billi is so smart. And you are a great cat teacher.

[@Auvas_Damask]

I love this kick in the ass for our ancestors and even those who still claim that dogs and cats don't understand us.

[@Wenchework]

What we need is a dad and Billi greatest hits and a mum and Billi greatest hits

[@jenniferhanses]

I love her little "hello morning."

[@lhmcd5538]

Billi certainly knows what time of day it is. I’m sure not only cats but many other animals know this concept they just don’t have buttons to press. Billi is so lovely and delightful in her interactions and watching all of these videos gives a great example just how clever she is. Thank you. May you please take care and stay safe. Louisa. 👏👏👏❤️❤️❤️🤩🤩🤩

[@elliot_rat]

it's kind of amazing how other species besides humans and dogs can adapt to spoken language so well. and of course there's cases of elephants and belugas imitating human speech

[@elizamay6402]

So long as we are consistent with the words and timing, associating the word with the action/object.

[@MBMCincy63]

This compilation also gives a hint to the varied places Billi has had to acclimate as a traveler. Not only time of day, but places, new layouts, location for her 'tools', potty, food. 🥰🥰🥰One very smart animal. Just curious: how many places in one year (2022 for instance) had you camped in, Doing your job?😮

[@BilliSpeaks]

Billi’s lived in 2 countries, one US territory, and 7 states! Not to mention the stopovers on travel for work 😹 she’s definitely well accustomed to change!

[@MBMCincy63]

@@BilliSpeaks WOW 😧😧. Lots of travel 🧳.

[@Metdiva1]

@@BilliSpeaks Wow! Billi is a more seasoned traveler than I am!

[@user-kx9ft7ss2u]

all cats can tell time just try being half a minute late with dinner and see what happens

[@dynoreed7235]

Since I joined the party late I appreciate the retrospective! She has come so far.

[@charrussell5774]

she is the greatest at picking up concepts that are useful to her and cats are very aware of time passing especially those fed on a time schedule, especially if you've missed it by more than 15 min, lol

[@shadowofbosstown]

Billi knows all.

[@davidw6936]

Billi is an ambassador from cat-kind to humans. She helps us understand all her fellow cats.

[@bees369]

Billi has a great enthusiasm to learn, learning new things makes her happy, its in her personality. And its rare to see in cats. Its just who she is. Very special. Really respect is everything. We shall respect every living personality and life on earth.

[@petalss5325]

I'm surprised that I've been following along your journey for over 2 years! I remember watching those clips as they were uploaded. You and Billi came so, so far. I dunno if I'm allowed to feel proud but I do anyway. And really genuinely happy for Billi. When I first encountered the concept of talking with buttons and seeing Billi, I thought it'd be great if pets were able to learn a few buttons so that they can inform their caretaker if they're ill, or wanna have food. But my oh my, I was WRONG. And I'm glad to know I was. I can't wait to see how much more Billi's language, mind and life expands. You haven't taught her "words", you gave her a whole new life. It's a pleasure and an honor to witness something unbelievably remarkable. Keep them coming!

[@TacShooter]

What are some of the cat concepts she has taught you?

[@BilliSpeaks]

To ignore imposter syndrome! We’re all just the best possible cats, and should own it 😂

[@TacShooter]

@@BilliSpeaks Billi is telling us that we are "the best possible cats"?

[@JD-Defenders]

@@TacShooter I think, in other words everyone is the best that they can be and we need to accept and be happy with it rather than trying to change people or berate them.

[@sublimnalphish7232]

​@@TacShooterand we should be proud to be! So own it! 😂 Cat think and rightfully so.

[@mirjanbouma]

What a great question!

[@bellis7772]

I think we can conclude that Billi is a morning person. Or cat, morning cat.

[@Tiewaz]

She's such a wicked smart kitten. Love watching her.

[@forteandblues]

I hope billi is healthy! And lives forever.

[@BilliSpeaks]

Me too!

[@avonacolyte]

She's a clever cat, but is she a kitty genius or are all cats this brilliant?

[@BilliSpeaks]

I don’t know! I’d like to think all cats are capable, but maybe they don’t care 😹

[@linkabird_vt]

I remember that video of her using 'morning' when you were brushing your teeth from when you first posted it! I can't believe it was that long ago!

[@elissajaguar]

I'm still in love with Billi's thinking face.

[@lionessroarsjohnson2684]

Such a precious thumbnail pic of Billi asleep. She knows what time of day it is. It's a real joy to watch her. 🐈❤❣

[@alicewonders9291]

Billie has earned her PhD in English. She is brilliant and extraordinarily special to humankind and all beings. 🐾💖

[@lisakaz35]

"Oh crap. I didn't know there'd be a follow-up question." --Billi, probably c. 6:30.

[@jennyjatkola7094]

Amazing girl! We have no idea how much they understand & this really shows how much they can communicate with us! I love it! 😻😻😻

[@Nina-gf1fv]

insane that I've been following this cat and her human for 2 whole years now

[@kimfleury]

I remember when she was puzzling over how it could be morning when it's dark outside. But it didn't take her long to accept the strange ways of humans.

[@katrinachase1728]

Billie is such a clever cat. it also helps her learn time when you keep a certain schedule. ex: mom has her catnip-water in the morning.

[@izabellakaliszka4804]

One of Billis word-inventions that I love the most is HELLO MORNING as good morning, second is catnip water

[@shopmanlerxt9813]

What about a button saying “what is this?” She could show the object after pressing it. Would it work? Like asking for a button to talk about some new thing.

[@ML-yn1zz]

You are such a great teacher and a patient mom. But Billi is just so smart, it never ceases to amaze me. Wow!

[@sharongagnist6428]

Both of you and Dad are amazing beings! You and Billi are teaching a lot of people (including me) the ins and outs of a feline. 😻

[@IntrepidFraidyCat]

Of course she can! I watched her learning it. She's so darn smart. 😻

[@Treowe_]

The yearning for articulation is present in all things with intellect.

[@wyltedleaves]

She might not know the alphabet or grammar but that doesn't mean Billi doesn't know how to communicate with the tools given!!! I think naysayers have a very human-centric view of communication and Billi doesn't fit neatly into fully grown adult human expressions so she's written off. She may not know what this button is, but she knows when she presses it, you will give her XYZ, and that IS communication!!!!

[@JD-Defenders]

I think she has pretty well proven she KNOWS what the buttons are and what they mean as well.

[@sublimnalphish7232]

Nice way of putting how ego and ignorance gives only our species the ability to know , learn and communicate with your human-centric description. Hmmm what does that make me since me and those like me have seen that other species has (😂😂😂) always known those dumb lower animals could... You want to hear a real egocentric feeling some of them have had when I told them we are animals too? Oh the backlash I got for insulting them by calling them animals. 😄🤷 I was confused by them not knowing they were an animal.

[@JD-Defenders]

@@sublimnalphish7232 LOL... Right?

[@FenrirAldebrand]

​@@JD-DefendersIndeed! She's even put buttons together in a way that Kendra has never used to get a point across!

[@JD-Defenders]

@@FenrirAldebrand Exactly!

[@zerozer0z]

Billi looks very squeazy. Virtual squeazes to Billi the most adorable kitty 🐱

[@JUMALATION1]

I swear I can almost see the loading spinning wheel above Billi's face 😂

[@user-xl3gv6uf6b]

Billi is so smart.

[@debbiewilliams9113]

Not only is Billi bilingual, she knows her buttons in the dark (7:45). As a species, i feel very inferior 😂

[@dwsel]

That cute ending ☺️😍

[@cosmospray]

Billy is brilliant ! And so polite!!!

[@cjhdancer1]

This was wonderful! I know editing can be a bear, and this one must have especially been a huge editing job to compile the time line of time of day. So soothing to watch too! Thank you to Billi and Mom.

[@crishaye]

I wouldn't be surprised anymore if one day Billi, along with other cats, will rule the world. 😏

[@offroadinfidel1916]

Snuggle time is VERY imporant.

[@JoanieBC]

Billi is simply remarkable in every way. ❤❤❤

[@Kellykittymom]

Even though I don't have any buttons, I've always spoken simply yo my cats. Meaning using key words, & not a lot of uneaessary ones, as to confuse. Each one over the yrs, has been pretty good at understand. I also follow a cpl of great animal communicators, & that helps as well. (Daniella McKenna & Laura Stinsfield sp?). 😊

[@blackberrystag]

I love the "oops... Oops oops oops"

[@gamerjaqi7873]

I just love her. She’s so smart. I don’t have buttons but I talk to my lulu too.

[@bethelliott4049]

This was an awesome time video! Thanks, Kendra, for all the work you put in to make these videos for us. We appreciate and love both you and Billi! Oh, BTW, I saw a friend's dog yesterday who is having tummy troubles, and automatically asked him, "Tummy ouch?" 🤣 I love that we are also learning from you and Billi! ❤

[@NTSTS0]

Billi is the sweetest angel of all time :o

[@tthappyrock368]

My childhood cat knew when I was on my way home and would go sit at the front door to wait for me! It didn't matter which day or the time I was to be home. Mom always thought he could hear me coming...which maybe he could, but maybe, given Billi's understanding of time, there was more to it than that! What would Billion think about people learning from her?

[@ZehraShafqat]

Billi is indeed not only best girl, she is also smartest and cutest and prettiest girl 🥰

[@ZehraShafqat]

Thank you for the heart, Billi! ❤️

[@dopaminey9946]

I just hope the military doesn't find out about Billi. They'll have her doing excursions into combat zones!

[@debbiej.2168]

I think she'd make a better spy. Oh, the poor unsuspecting enemy!

[@colddripgaming]

Everyone knows morning is when the catnip water is consumed

[@nalagrey5061]

She truly is the best Billi girl❤

[@vee_tinymoose]

See the 2021 house gave me nostalgia for some reason. Maybe because that’s around when I started watching your journey together

[@azulgaia7782]

Excellent retrospective. I appreciate the effort and intelligence of finding and editing all those videos. No wonder you were vet school material!

[@pamelaparsons9046]

I love Billi. She is so sweet. And smart.

[@periwillow4859]

You should teach Billi how to tell time. I bet she would like doing that.

[@megan_sea3]

Loved watching this unfold! So sweet to watch how you both interact! 🥰

[@mariaelenasantora8796]

I LOVE BILLI SHE IS SO SMART I DON'T HAVE BUTTONS BUT I TALK TO MY CAT N SAY ALL DONE WHEN WE FINISH SOMETHING OR SAY LATER GOOD MORNING GOOD NIGHT I SAY GO NIGHT NIGHT N SHE DOES COME BY MOMMA IF YOU WANT YOUR FOOD SHE COMES SHE KNOWS ALL THIS SHE DOESN'T LIKE IT WHEN I SAY MOMMA HAS TO GO OUT I WILL BE BACK LATER SHE WALKS ME TO THE DOOR

[@donnaschartung836]

Loved that triple oops!

[@loragunning5394]

I really like that you mentioned that time is a human construct. All living things on the planet react and are aware of rhythms/cycles of daylight/darkness and seasons, but only humans break it down into randomly assigned units of measurement: days, hours, minutes, etc. To most living things, the human construct of measuring time is totally baffling and meaningless. They live, for the most part, in the moment, something us humans could learn a lot from.

[@RealFarknMcCoy]

When Billie presses "Hello" "Morning", I am always reminded of the excellent Dan Fogelberg song "To the morning".

[@czechmate6916]

Awww good night sweet Billi❤️♥️😻🥰😘

[@orangeziggy348]

Thank you so much for putting this video together. ❤

[@meowaiya5592]

wow, if Billi teaches other kitties and those kitties teach more, cats can finally understand humans.

[@janetb2158]

I am in Awe of your training and patience in your journey together and in Billi's intelligence ❤

[@evakurl]

When the camera only showed Kendra and I couldn’t see Billi, I’ve realised that only Billi communicates in numerous “mornings”, “mads” etc 😂

[@dzymslizzy3641]

What a beautiful and smart kitty!

[@AzDesertFoxx]

She's such an amazing and smart girl!

[@sarahalramezi]

Is time as a concept a human construction?... I don't think so. Time tells how a day passes by, and a lot of animals have their own biological clocks on which they operate. Birds chirp more in certain times of the day; pets prefer a certain structure when it comes to feeding them, playing, and resting. They know what time is. They just don't have words for it like we do. Right? 😅

[@debbiej.2168]

I could tell time by my cat. She knew what time I needed to get up, when it was time to eat. She would even come get me to go to bed at 10:00 pm

[@debbiej.2168]

What a smarty pie!

[@chrissymason9370]

Awesome job Billi 🎉🎉

[@rowenadavis3823]

Love this girl and your journey