Not are you only correct in your statement, but somehow they can "read your mind". Mary the huntress knew when I took that carrier out, it wasn't for her, but my eldest (she died in December). Mary went over to it, jumped in it, rubbed all over the damn thing, etc.
The one time I had to bring Mary the huntress to the vet she knew damn well it was for her.
An hour later I finally got her to the vet (eye infection). They were more worried about me than her. I was bloodied. My arms, stomach and legs...the blood was seeping through.
After that I told Mary the huntress if she ever got sick again, she's on her own....because next time I think she would try to snuff me out!
I totally concur on the reading your mind. They can sense a change in the air, when you have done nothing more than thought that today is the day the cat goes to the vet.