• Question: Do you think Cats are smarter than Dogs

    Asked by woody to Fiona, Jane, Joanna, Michelle, William on 15 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Michelle Murphy

      Michelle Murphy answered on 14 Jun 2010:

      Hey Woody
      Cats are more independent than dogs but dogs are easier to train. Measuring intelegence in animals is difficult and tends to be done by loking at learning ability (dogs are good at tricks) and memory such as hiding food taking the animal to another place for a bit and then seeing if they can find it (could just be a good sence of smell) so thats a tricky question. I am very much a dog person. I always had dogs growing up and when I get my own house want a puppy called Wellington so I am going to opt for dogs but its just a guess.

    • Photo: Joanna Brooks

      Joanna Brooks answered on 15 Jun 2010:

      Hey! I guess it depends on the breed and also what you classify as being smarter. It’s true that dogs are easier to train than cats BUT I think this refers to non-pedigree cats. I have had lots of cats but my sister has had lots of dogs, and one thing I noticed is that a pedigree cat is like a dog and much easier to train than a ‘moggie’ cat. For example, my pedigree cat Grey will chase a ball and bring it back to your feet (or a stick in the garden), he will fetch his toys when he wants to play, and he has learned to play hide and seek which he really enjoys! People don’t believe me so I have put some video’s online. I can send you some if you like. The question is whether ability to train is really ‘smarter’ or whether it is just a basic stimulus-response relationship.

    • Photo: Fiona Randall

      Fiona Randall answered on 15 Jun 2010:

      I’m not sure. Is it because dogs are stupid they need more attention/someone to play with them constantly/play repetitive games like fetch? They can be trained to do amazing things though so are they stupid? Cats are self-sufficient, they are domesticated but can also catch their own food easily and they are independent… but not so easy to train.
      I’m not sure which traits make you smart-they are both smart in different ways.

    • Photo: William Davies

      William Davies answered on 15 Jun 2010:

      Us scientists have to be really careful about using terms like ‘smarter’ – what I would say is that a cat’s brain (and it’s function) is better suited to a cat’s lifestyle than a dog’s would be. However, a dog’s brain is better suited to a dog’s lifestyle – if a cat had to retrieve a bone, or follow a scent trail, it would probably be rubbish!

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