WHO’S SMARTER, CATS OR DOGS?
Have you ever wondered, who is smarter — a cat or a dog? It is impossible to answer this question unambiguously. There is an old saying: «A dog prospers by intelligence, a cat — by its cunning.»
Of course, if you have a dog, then you will answer with confidence: «Of course, the dog is smarter, intelligence — the nature’s most valuable gift for dogs.»
But if you have a cat, you will argue that there is no other animal as curious and inquiring as a cat. And each of you will be right in your own way. Both cats and dogs have plenty of natural gifts and talents.
In order to find an answer to this question we turn to independent experts — scientists. Let’s look at our pets in details and define who is better.
WHO’S SMARTER Obedience
Scientists have proved that dogs are far easier to train, and are more disciplined and obedient. But is it really smart to completely obey your master’s command?
There are cases, when dogs are trained to eat only if they are given a command to do so, meaning that a dog won’t take a bite of a juicy piece of meat no matter how starved it might be.
Well, a cat might be not as disciplined, but certainly won’t die of hunger. A «Lady» with a tail and a beautiful fur coat will never obey its master, if it contradicts with her «common sense». But will be patient, obedient and kind, if she needs something from her master.
WHO’S SMARTER Navigation
Both cats and dogs have no problems orientating in the area where they live. They can run several kilometers away and find their way home with ease. The only difference is that cats live in three-dimensional space — trees, high fences and rooftops are as good as plain roads.
WHO’S SMARTER Identification
Most dogs can recognize themselves in a mirror, something that most cats can’t. But dogs recognize their master by the smell and can easily mistaken him for someone else, if he returns home in a new clothes or with a new cologne. But a cat will always recognize its master, regardless of what he smells like and what he wears, but they often won’t show as much enthusiasm as the dogs do.
WHO’S SMARTER Linguistics
Cats and dogs can understand human speech, but not words or sentences. They recognize tone of the voice and intonation, and then associate them with the circumstances. Dogs however can be trained to understand words, even relate them to objects. But only after a course of long-term training, so this skill is not innate, but acquired.
Cats tend to ignore their masters call, and people mistake that for «cat’s inability to understand human language». But that is not the case, cats do understand us, but they will only obey their master, if he or she offers something, that is interesting to a cat at that moment.
Both cats and dogs can’t speak our language, but it is possible to teach them to pronounce individual sounds and even simple words, but it is only unconscious pronunciation, a mimicked sound, like the ones we do when we attempt to speak the language we don’t know.
WHO’S SMARTER Conclusion
Scientists are unable to determine, what cats or dogs are thinking about, so assessment of their IQ can only be done based on the animals behavior. Dogs, by nature, are extroverts, always in need of their master’s company, but cats are introverts — walk by themselves. Perhaps because of this feature, it is believed that dogs are smarter, because we always see them actively interacting with their owner. But at the same time cats are self-sufficient, and they have to be very smart to be able to achieve prosperity on their own.
One thing scientists agree on — impossibility to compare cat’s and dog’s wits, since the animals are very different and unique in their own ways.