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All pet owners are divided into cat people or dog people. And since this division there has been an eternal debate about who is smarter than a cat or a dog. When answering this question, you should not rely only on your own preferences; you need to listen to the opinions of competent specialists.
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Who's smarter
English scientists conducted an experiment that was supposed to reveal a more intelligent animal. They analyzed more than 500 species of different organisms. Thus, a connection was found between intelligence and brain size in relation to the body.
Dogs have a fairly large brain, which allows them to be more trainable and develop diversified.
Having examined the cat's brain, scientists concluded that dogs are superior to cats; a smart, barking pet can be envied. The explanation for this fact is the more solitary lifestyle of cats. While cats develop independently, dogs are able to learn from their owner or pack.
American scientists tried to refute the results of this study, but did not go further than studying the human brain, in which there is no pattern between size and intelligence.
Are dogs smarter than cats?
One of the arguments in favor of the opinion that dogs are smarter than cats is the ability to train the animal. Like humans, dogs use different areas of the brain to process different features of human speech. The left hemisphere of a dog's brain processes the meaning of words, while the right hemisphere is used to analyze the intonation with which they are spoken. Scientists were able to find out that dogs can recognize new words, clearly associating them with some action or object.
At the same time, cats also demonstrate similar abilities. As the work of Japanese scientists shows, mustachioed purrs are also capable of remembering the voice, words and even intonation of their owners. The results of Japanese colleagues were recently confirmed by American scientists.
Research also shows that cats are able to remember what happens to them and recall relevant information when necessary. For example, during the experiment, scientists tried to determine whether cats could remember after 15 minutes which bowl they had already eaten from and which bowl was still full. It turns out that cats are actually capable of accessing short-term memory to figure out what is where.
Why dogs are smarter
Who is smarter, a cat or a dog? Dogs have qualities such as loyalty, trainability and obedience. They are more loyal, guard their owner and can be so friendly that it is time to use them as nannies.
"Man's Friend" is smarter because:
- easily adapts among people;
- is very active in communicating with people;
- easily learns new skills;
- he is obedient and devoted to his master.
Who is smarter - cats or dogs?
So, the age-old question still remains open: which animal is smarter, a cat or a dog?
The answer depends on who you ask. Dogs were domesticated much earlier than cats, they are more trainable and are more social creatures, but this does not mean that cats are less intelligent than dogs. It's impossible to know for sure because cats are inherently difficult to study.
Dr. Miklosi, who typically studies dogs, has discovered that, like dogs, cats have the ability to understand what other animals, including humans, are trying to communicate to them. Dr. Miklósi also determined that cats do not ask their owners for help the way dogs do, mainly because they are not as “tuned” to people as dogs are. “They're on a different wavelength,” says Grimm, “and that ultimately makes them very difficult to study. Cats, as any owner knows, are very intelligent creatures. But to science, their minds may forever remain a black box.” Isn't it the mysterious nature of cats that makes them so irresistible?
It may take some time before scientists can answer more concretely the question of how smart cats are. What is known is that cats are impatient, have highly developed cognitive decision-making skills, and will leave you if they find you boring. Moreover, they are great at knocking your arrogance down.
But if a cat loves you, she will always love you. By properly understanding how smart your cat is, you can establish a strong bond between you for many years to come.
Do you want to test the intelligence of your mustachioed and striped friend? Take the intellectual quiz for cats on the Petcha website!
Why are cats smarter?
But don't underestimate purring pets. There are situations in which cats are smarter than dogs .
- Due to their solitary lifestyle, cats are very careful and prudent.
- They know how to masterfully manipulate people.
- In unusual situations, these animals are able to benefit from “empty space”.
- They are more attentive, curious and observant than dogs.
- These pets are inherently true predators and know how to survive in any danger.
- Cats are capable of selectively perceiving information. They can be smart in those things that seem interesting to them and show indifference to everything that, in their opinion, does not carry any benefit.
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Owners of different species have opposing personalities.
From the results of the study, it was concluded that dog lovers are energetic and have more vitality. Those who prefer cats, on the contrary, are quite sensitive, reserved, and open-minded. Professor Denise Guastello argues that the reason for these differences in nature is the different needs of the two animals. For example, a person who loves dogs is more animated. He wants to lead an active lifestyle, always be outside and interact with people, bringing his dog into the community. For people who prefer cats, the opposite is true. The reason for this behavior may be the different types of habitats in which these different species exist.
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Let's compare the mental abilities of cats and dogs
It is impossible to say with complete certainty who is the smarter pet, a cat or a dog. But if you compare individual skills, then each owner can draw his own personal conclusions about the pet’s intelligence .
- Ability to remember nickname . In this matter, it is unlikely that it will be possible to identify mental abilities. This is due to the pet’s temperament. So, for example, a smart and proud cat decides for itself when to respond to its name and when to simply ignore its owner. The dog, due to its devotion, very quickly remembers its name and responds to it.
- Curiosity and caution . Having encountered a new and unfamiliar thing, a cat is unlikely to immediately rush towards it headlong. She will first sneak up, strike with her paw with claws and make sure of her safety. Dogs in such cases show excessive curiosity, forgetting about caution.
- Performing tricks . The dog is afraid of disappointing its owner and tries to understand as quickly as possible what he requires of it. And if she also receives encouragement for this, then the animal is ready to repeat any trick many times. Cats can also be trained, they just require a lot more time and patience due to their independent nature.
- Regime and rules for staying in the house . Both dogs and cats eventually get used to the same times of feeding, walking or going to the litter box.
- Affection . Everyone knows how dogs become attached to their owner and love him all their lives. But cats in this case are no different from them. It’s just that purring pets prefer not to show their feelings openly.
- Understanding and support . In this capacity, both dogs and cats perfectly feel the feelings of the owner. In difficult times, both animals will support a person with their affection.
- Motor skills . Cats have better sensitivity and precision of movements than dogs. These are true predators that are capable of hunting even individuals much larger than themselves.
- Memory . Both cats and dogs have very well developed memories. Both pets remember the bad deeds of people towards them all their lives, and feel boundless gratitude for the good ones. Pets are able to remember a large number of different commands.
Stories about cats and dogs
When talking about cats, they mention well-developed sensorimotor and intellectual abilities and talk about the intelligence of cats. They are distinguished by cunning and ingenuity. Dogs are also smart, but, unlike them, they are simple and kind. In their character you will not be able to find a single hint of profit or self-care.
Story
Historically, dogs were originally domesticated as assistants - they helped the first people hunt, guard their shelter and look after livestock 30 thousand years ago. Times have changed, but morals have not. To this day, a dog is man's most faithful friend. In addition to the above “professions,” dogs can now be guides, rescuers, bloodhounds, and even, of a kind, caregivers.
Cats, according to legends, came on their own to be loved and fed (about 10 thousand years ago). They can be arrogant, brash and even lazy. Of course, by their nature they hunt, and they have helped and continue to help farmers and homeowners a lot, exterminating rodents that can bring a lot of trouble and worry.
Let's not forget the role both cats and dogs played in human history. It’s worth mentioning that they were in space even before man.
Skills and habits
Both of them easily remember nicknames But, in the case of cats, they may simply “not want” to respond to your call.
New place/unfamiliar objects – dogs, as a rule, immediately run, sniff and begin to explore. Because of this, it is important to immediately train your pet not to eat anything on the street and not to take food from someone else’s hands. Cats will never do this: first of all, they will sniff, walk around, observe if there is any danger for them, and only then will they interact. Both cats and dogs can behave differently with strangers.
Training abilities. Dogs love to please their owner, and will do everything for this (but not always). Cats, due to their complex nature, may consider that fulfilling someone else's whims is beneath them.
Affection and devotion. Regarding these qualities, we can definitely say that both will respond to you with love and affection, if you treat them that way. The only difference is that dogs openly show their feelings, and cats do not always. We all remember how cats come and silently lie on your lap, as if sensing your worries. Their peaceful purring really has a miraculous effect.
Memory is equally developed, perhaps cats are more vindictive, since they have better developed short-term memory (5-16 hours). But this is just a guess. Like any living creature, they will always remember your care and affection.
Interesting Facts
Human friendship with dogs and cats is measured not in years, but in millennia. The former were domesticated more than 30 thousand years ago, the latter - 10 thousand years ago.
Over the many years of their devotion to people, dogs have mastered many professions well: hunter, shepherd and watchman. Over the years, these horizons have expanded. Dogs began to be used as driving force. And these days they may well be police officers, rescuers, guides, sappers and even postmen.
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Cats, according to most dog lovers, are practically useless, but this is not true. In ancient Egypt, they were tamed to fight mice that stole grain reserves. Today, some “purrs” have forgotten a little about their purpose, and prefer reclining on a comfortable sofa to hunting.
Why cat owners scored top marks in an intelligence test
Psychoanalyst Steve McKeown was responsible for this stage of the study. Having studied all the facts in detail, he was able to draw the following conclusions. According to the professor, unlike dog lovers, most “cat people” have a higher education diploma. This suggests that educated people have a permanent job and tend to spend more time outside the home. It is this feature that encourages them to prefer pets that complement their personal circumstances and lifestyle. After all, cats are not dependent on people; they can stay at home alone for longer periods of time. The dog, on the contrary, will miss the owner, want his presence and actively spend time.
Thus, we can conclude that people who own cats are dedicated to their work. They lead a measured and even slightly secluded lifestyle, and are rarely at home. If a dog lives in the house, this indicates the vital activity and openness of the owners. Friendly families live in such houses, who are always happy to have children and prefer a large company.
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