Who is smarter than a cat or a dog - comparison of intelligence

6603Pavel

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.

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.

Basic indicators of the mind

Scientists decided to establish a clear criterion for determining the mental abilities of animals. It turned out to be the number of neurons in the brain. This is logical, because the more nerve cells and connections between them, the more information a dog or cat can process. Therefore, an animal with the maximum number of neurons is obviously smarter and easier to train than another creature.

After the study, the data was distributed as follows:

Golden Retriever – 620 million neurons.
Metis (mixed breed yard dog) – 430 million.
Cats – 250 million

It should be noted that there are animals that have more neurons in their brains than pets. For example, a lion has 500 million nerve cells, and a raccoon has 400. Each of these creatures is intelligent and intelligent in its own way, so when analyzing data, it is necessary to take into account the additional influence of such factors as body size, behavior, lifestyle and level of adaptability .

By the way, a few words about the “dumbing down” of animals due to domestication. This long-standing opinion turned out to be an unfounded tale. The number of neurons is approximately the same in representatives of wild and domesticated species.

The development of abilities is influenced by lifestyle. Herbivores and predators may have the same number of neural connections, but the latter are always more organized and easier to learn creatures. Their lifestyle and method of obtaining food forces them to quickly adapt to changing conditions, coordinate their actions with other members of the pack, protect the territory and protect their offspring. Increased loads train the brain and help it progress.

A striking example of the imperfection of the method of determining the level of intelligence by the volume of the brain and the number of neurons alone is the presence of leaders and followers in a flock. The main dog is always the strongest, smartest, brave and aggressive. It is logical to assume that he has more neural circuits, and his brain is probably larger. But no, that’s not how it works in nature. The leader's brain contains the same number of cells as the subordinate's, and his abilities are explained by higher levels of hormones, innate talents, acquired and learned knowledge. Therefore, intelligence and the number of neurons are not at all the same thing.

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.

Impact of domestication

For a long time, researchers have propagated the theory that the domestication of pets led to a deterioration in their intelligence and brain activity.
Allegedly, due to gentle living conditions (soft bed, daily feeding, affection from the owner), cats and dogs have lost part of their minds. The theory suggested that animals no longer needed to constantly search for food, shelter, and a safe place to sleep and rest. Although pets no longer need the skills to survive in their current environment, they use their ability to think for other purposes: exploring the world around them, remembering commands, and pleasing their owner.

The next video will go into more detail about the characteristics of animal intelligence.

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.

Difference Between Species

Dogs are more social animals than cats. Their ancestors lived in packs, in which there was a rigid hierarchy. They had to obey the leader in order to survive. This feature has been preserved in domestic dogs.

Cats are able to live and get food on their own. They have an independent disposition. These animals do not obey anyone and they do not have the innate ability to carry out commands.

In addition, dogs were domesticated about 15,000 years ago, and cats about 4,000 years ago. These animals have different experiences living near people. The dogs had more time to get used to humans and learn social rules.

For the benefit of descendants: 7 changes that have happened in Crimea over the past 7 years

Making a cute rug from old jeans. Looks beautiful and original

Astronomers have found the reason why aurora appears on Jupiter

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.

What's going on in her brain?

Even after watching cats for a short time, you will understand that they are very smart creatures. Cats have smaller brains compared to dogs, but Dr. Laurie Houston explained in an interview with PetMD that “relative brain size is not always the best predictor of intelligence. The cat brain has some surprising similarities to our own brains." For example, Dr. Houston explains that each part of a cat's brain is separate, specialized, and connected to the others, allowing cats to understand, respond to, and even manipulate their environment.

And, as Dr. Berit Brogaard notes in Psychology Today, “Cats have more nerve cells in the visual areas of the brain, part of the cerebral cortex (the area of the brain involved in decision making, problem solving, planning, memory and language processing) than in humans and most other mammals." That's why, for example, your cat rushes from one end of the house to the other, chasing a speck of dust that you can't even see. She is “on a mission.”

In addition to their first-class eyesight, cats also have an impeccable memory - both long-term and short-term, as you can see when your cat angrily watches you pack your suitcase. He remembers very well that the last time you left home with that suitcase, you were gone for ages, and he doesn’t like it.

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.

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.

Elephants

These giants have the largest brain and, accordingly, the largest number of neurons among land animals. That is, if we assume that intelligence is related to brain size (in fact, it is not), elephants would be the clear champions in intelligence.

Additionally, elephants have impressive cognitive abilities Fact or Fiction?: Elephants Never Forget. For example, these giants confidently and in great detail remember fellow tribesmen, human faces and events even decades later. They can also track the location of several relatives at the same time.

Elephants are also one of those rare animals that are able to recognize themselves in the mirror. That is, they have self-awareness - an understanding of who I am and what I look like (by the way, babies under a year and a half are deprived of this quality). These mammals know how to cooperate with each other, that is, jointly solve life problems. And they love to play, which also indicates high intelligence.

Personnel: Public domain

How to make the right choice

A comparative table of the characteristics of these animals will help you understand who is better, a dog or a cat.

Sign	Dogs	Cats
the washing up	Hygiene procedures are necessary after each walk, in particular, washing the paws.	Cats are clean. You can do without washing. Almost all breeds do not require special care. The exception is Exotics, Persians, hairless cats, but they do not require daily bathing either.
Wool	All varieties, except hairless ones, require regular combing. Many breeds are also groomable.	Long-haired cats need to be brushed three times a week. During shedding, it is recommended to do this twice a day. Only long-haired varieties require regular brushing; some short-haired breeds require regular brushing only during shedding. Hairless cats - this procedure is not necessary.
Toilet	From an early age it is necessary to accustom them to walking for the toilet or to a diaper for small breeds.	You can learn to go to the tray or toilet in a few days. They require litter box training from 2-3 months.
Training	They require training, are quite easy to train, there are special cynological schools.	It is not customary to train cats, although many breeds quickly remember the simplest commands. There are no specialists for training.
Physical exercise	Throughout life, repeated daily walks and sufficient physical activity are required.	Does not require walking. A sedentary lifestyle is most often compensated by special nutrition.
Attitude towards children	Many breeds require special training to educate and correct correct behavior in human society.	They only need affectionate and friendly treatment throughout their lives. Cases of aggression towards humans are very rare.

Rats

In Chinese culture, the rat is respected for its cunning and resourcefulness. And laboratory experiments confirm these qualities: rodents easily find a way out of the most intricate labyrinths and solve complex logic puzzles to get to the coveted piece of food.

Some researchers are so impressed by the talents of bare-tailed animals that they directly state Rats Can Be Smarter Than People: rats are sometimes smarter than people. For example, tests were carried out where it was necessary to generalize previously received information and, based on this, draw a conclusion whether a new object was “bad” or “good”. In them, rodents showed better More complex brains are not always better: rats outperform humans in implicit category-based generalization by implementing a similarity-based strategy result than student volunteers.

Personnel: Public domain

Rats also know how to express emotions Facial Indicators of Positive Emotions in Rats and recognize The Emotional Lives of Rats: Rats Read Pain in Others' Faces in their relatives, and show sympathy. And if necessary, they can easily learn Rats respond where it counts math skills.

Everything is relative

According to Frans Carlsen, chief zoologist at the University of Copenhagen, intelligence is a manifestation of how well an animal can adapt to new situations. A dog has a richer set of behaviors and food is more varied, says the expert, but this does not mean that it is smarter than a cat. For example, actions performed by chimpanzees can speak of developed intelligence, but only from a human point of view. On the other hand, primates are superior even to fish when it comes to adapting to the environment in which they live. Conclusion: everything is relative.

RELATED PRODUCTS

Neutered cats are three times more likely to gain excess weight and develop bladder stones. Hill's Science Plan Sterilized Cat Young Adult promotes harmonious development and meets the specific needs of sterilized cats. Contains a complex of clinically proven antioxidants and a unique weight control formula. The unique Weight Control Formula helps burn fat and strengthen muscles. Controlled levels of minerals to support urinary tract health. Easy-to-digest ingredients for optimal absorption. High quality ingredients. 100% guarantee of quality, consistency and taste.
ADULT CATS (from 1-7 years), ADULT CATS (from 1-7 years)
Supports immunity, healthy digestion and muscle mass in adult cats
ADULT CATS (from 1-7 years), KITTENS (up to 1 year), Low activity and tendency to be overweight, STERILIZED CATS