I really can't, I'm pretty silent so if I don't talk to him for a while, he will sit up like a statue about 3 FT. from me ad demand some conversation. I taught myself thus, to give 'names' to all that I do and sometmes even explain: "the plants like water, just like you!" , "plants are your friends, they suck up your carbon dioxide and give you oxygen back", "Mommy is putting vegetable oil on the edges of the birdseed tins so that they don't rust and get stuck" ...
The awakening was recently when Inky had his tooth cleaning and spent the day at the vet ... I can't remember what I was explaining to the air but I certainly caught myself several times.
