The Truth About Who's Smarter: Dogs or Cats?

The Truth About Who's Smarter: Dogs are smarter than cats, you say? Don’t be so sure! Have you ever wondered who really is the more intelligent of the two?

The Truth About Who's Smarter Dogs or Cats


Or maybe you don’t care about that but you want to know who’s the cutest? This article will help to shed some light on the truth about cats vs. dogs and finally put this debate to rest once and for all!


How do we determine which species is smarter between Dogs and Cats?

The truth is, that dogs and cats have different strengths that make them uniquely smart in their own way. Yes, cats are more easily trained in some ways because they're less distracted by other stimuli. 

But dogs can solve many problems based on mimicry; it's not uncommon for a dog to learn how to turn lights on and off, open doors, and hide your slippers.

 More than a dozen studies show that our canine companions also understand pointing out its not just wolves who can do it. When researchers point at something outside of their line of sight, most dogs will use their gaze to follow where we’re looking. Cats rarely (if ever) do it. 

So are cats smarter than dogs? No. Are dogs smarter than humans? No. Dogs and cats each have their own unique intelligence that makes them both highly trainable and special creatures. What really matters is that you love them and treat them well.

With any pet-owner relationship, it’s important to remember what goes into training an animal versus another human being. 

Dogs respond best when positive reinforcement is used praise works much better than punishment! That means lots of treats, hugs, and pats on the head as you teach him new tricks. 

Most dogs like a routine try giving him treats only after he performs certain behaviors you want him to repeat like sitting before dinner or walking through doorways ahead of you so he gets used to going first instead of rushing through behind you (dogs always go last). Be patient! If he doesn't get it right away, keep practicing until he does! Dogs often seem slow learners but are very fast compared with people!


Dog intelligence

Studies have shown that dogs can be taught to understand up to 150 words, but some believe that number could be even higher. Either way, it’s safe to say you’ll have no problem communicating with your dog. 

But are dogs smarter than cats? Well, as we know, cats are known for being independent and standoffish traits linked to lower intelligence levels in animals. Sure, they can open doors and clean themselves when bored (which is never), but despite their ability to eat just about anything and cohabitate with just about anyone, feline brains aren’t designed for learning and because of that our beloved kitties don’t score very high on standardized tests. 

The good news is there’s a huge margin of error between a dog’s IQ and a cat’s IQ. So who really wins here? That depends on how smart you think being able to ask for food, then actually getting it, makes an animal. 

If I were scoring things I would give them both 10/10...for different reasons.

Are Dogs Smarter Than Cats - No one has ever been able to study cat and dog intelligence scientifically, which is why we still haven't reached a consensus on whether one animal outsmarts another. 

In other words, maybe you're surprised by these facts (not). Even if not every fact listed above turns out to be true, isn't simply thinking about dogs vs cats enough fun? Regardless of whether animals outsmart each other by thousands or hundreds of points- isn't doing what nature intended us to do - argue about whether intelligent beings can look like snuggly wolves or downy little lions - reason enough not to love them all equally anyways? No matter which side of furry fluffiness speaks more human to you; our pets are so much more than wild intellect!


Cat intelligence

Dogs may have a long history of being man’s best friend, but a new study has found that cats are actually more intelligent than their canine counterparts. Researchers from Indiana University (IU) analyzed and compared brain scans of dogs and cats to see how they process stimuli. 

They measured electrical activity in areas of cat and dog brains as they were shown different images on a screen to understand how much processing was required by each animal. 

cat intelligence

pic:cat intelligence

The team found that cats require less effort to complete cognitive tasks, meaning that they can react faster when faced with an unexpected event, such as when a mouse suddenly appears in front of them. Dogs and cats evolved very different ways of solving problems, said William A. 

Roberts, professor of psychology at IU Bloomington and co-author of the study. Cats rely more heavily on sensory information coming from their whiskers and ears, while dogs rely more heavily on olfactory information coming from their nose, he said. 

In other words, dogs think with their noses while cats think with their eyes. The researchers also discovered that dogs use all parts of their brain for vision, which is not true for cats. 

Cats only use about two-thirds of their cerebral cortex for vision, Professor Roberts told CNN. Dogs use nearly all parts of their brains to process visual information because they need it to guide them through complex social situations involving humans and other dogs, he said. 

This means that cats don't need as advanced a visual system as dogs do, making it easier for them to deal with stressful situations. Dogs rely on sight far more than smell; if you blindfold a dog, it will be completely lost without its sense of smell because it relies so heavily on scent.


How do you decide if the dog or cat is smarter in your home?

If you think about it, it’s nearly impossible to decide. Since both species have been around for thousands of years, it’s only recently that we’ve even attempted to gauge their intelligence. But which is smarter – dogs or cats? 

A recent study conducted by Princeton University attempted to compare intelligence between a group of people and a group of shelter dogs. Each group was given a series of ten challenges aimed at proving cognition and problem-solving skills. 

For example, if asked how they would get out of an area where there were no doors but only windows, most humans would try to climb out first while dogs would use their mouths and paws to attack one particular window they probably wouldn’t be able to reach in order to start barking for help. 

The results showed that dogs are much more resourceful than humans, but not necessarily more intelligent. However, another study has shown that dogs are better at reading human emotions than cats are! In general, though, it seems like each animal has its own unique set of strengths and weaknesses. 

When deciding whether your dog or cat is smarter than yours (or someone else’s), keep in mind all of these factors as well as your own personal experiences with them! You might find that dogs tend to do better when following commands, whereas cats seem to have a better sense of direction and the ability to navigate through new environments. 

Or maybe you’ll find that your dog is quick on his feet but can never remember where he put his favorite toy! Whatever happens, don’t forget that your pets love you unconditionally and will always want nothing more than to please you. 

So no matter who wins or loses in any who’s smarter? the contest, rest assured knowing that both dogs and cats make great companions because they want nothing more than your happiness. And isn't having a companion who wants nothing more than our happiness what makes us truly happy anyway? Now go give your dog or cat some love!


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