Who is smarter - cats or dogs?

Between dog and cat lovers, the debate aboutone of the four-legged pets smarter. How can you determine the level of intellectual abilities of our pets? Is it worth relying on your own opinion in this question, or is it better to turn to science? Recently, many studies have been conducted to address this issue. But the final point here is too early to put.

Are dogs smarter than cats?

One of the arguments in favor of the opinion thatdogs smarter than cats is called the ability of animal training. Like humans, dogs use different areas of the brain to process various aspects of human speech. The left brain of dogs processes the meaning of words, and the right one is used to analyze the intonation with which they are addressed. Scientists managed to find out that dogs can recognize new words, clearly associating them with some action or object.

At the same time, similar abilitiesdemonstrate and cats. As the work of Japanese scientists shows, whiskered purrs are also able to memorize the voice, words and even the intonation of their masters. The results of Japanese colleagues recently confirmed by American scientists.

Studies also show that cats are capableremember what happens to them and, if necessary, recall the necessary information. For example, in the course of the experiment, scientists tried to establish whether cats could recall 15 minutes later what food they had eaten from a bowl and which food remained full. It turned out that cats are really able to access short-term memory to find out where they are.

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How to determine the level of intelligence?

These examples definitely demonstrate highintellectual capabilities of each of the species. But, are these opportunities related to the brain size of animals? Previously, scientists really tried to make such a parallel. However, the results of recent studies refute this assumption.

Having examined the brains of several animals, including dogs andcats, the researchers concluded that the level of ingenuity of animals does not depend on the size of the "gray matter". A more interesting indicator is the number of cortical neurons contained in the cerebral cortex, special cells that process, store and transmit information using electrical and chemical signals.

According to researchers, the total numberneurons in the brain of an animal, especially in the cortex, determines the entire wealth of its intellectual abilities and the ability to predict events based on past experience. Scientists have found that 530 million dogs are found in the cerebral cortex, while cats have two times less - 250 million.

Is it possible to conclude from this that dogssmarter than cats? The researchers themselves say that dogs are more biologically adapted to complex mental processes than cats. But at the same time, explain that this does not mean that cats are stupid.

The difficulty of an objective assessment of the intelligence of these species lies in the fact that cats and dogs are too different and behave differently. Each species is better in something and worse in something.

How do cats differ from dogs?

For example, cats are very well developed.sensorimotor intelligence predator. They are much higher than dogs in this indicator. The amazing ability of cats to "play with gravity" is not limited to the ability to balance, jump and land on four legs. Even domestic cats constantly train (games, running around for toys and your feet), which speaks about the preserved hunting skills. Cats can hunt prey, which is larger and more dangerous than them several times. In this, for example, recently seen in Australia, where cats have become a real epidemic.

Unlike dogs, cats are very attentive andcautious. Caught in an unfamiliar environment, the first thing they all carefully examine and sniff. And only then, making sure there is no danger, will they find a warm and cozy place for themselves. The cat will never run to an unknown object or person. In dogs, this behavior is absent, which sometimes can cost them their lives, and certainly does not speak of high mental abilities.

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In turn, the dogs have preserved the so-calledcollective intelligence. They are social animals. In the wild, wolves, considered to be the dog's ancestors, always hunt in packs, where each has its own role. Domesticated dogs easily adapt among people and very actively manifest themselves in communication with a person. For this reason, it is believed that dogs understand people much better than cats. Cats - introverts. They are accustomed to a solitary lifestyle.

At the same time, cats are excellent manipulators. Where the dog seeks the approval of its owner, the cat does not ask - it requires. And at the same time ready to go for any trick to get what you want. Even at 2 in the morning.

Cats perceive information very selectively. They pay attention only to those things that seem interesting to them, but at the same time show complete indifference to everything that does not interest them. Dogs in this regard are more curious.

Does all of the above mean that one of thesespecies smarter? Not. This only suggests that they are very different and each is smart in his own way. And is it even important to know “who is smarter” if it is not just about your beloved pet, but about a full-fledged family member?

See also: A new species of cats with developed muscles and nocturnal lifestyle has been discovered

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