By mewing they can just as plainly express a desire to have a door opened or closed as if they requested it in so many words.
A friend has furnished me an interesting account of her cat's ability to make herself understood.
It seems that the cat, with three small kittens, at one time slept in a box prepared for her in the kitchen.
But one night when it her mistress' bed and mewed continuously until her mistress arose and went to the kitchen and closed the window.