Interesting Article: Dogs are smarter than cats
DPH

I think it depends on the cat. I mean I have five cats, all different intelligent levels. One cat, when someone knocks at the door, goes running to see who it is. Another can work out the most amazing things if you hide her toys, where as another wouldn't know his arse from his elbow lmao. Same with my mums dogs. One is stupid, but one is very very clever. 

There's an article on the bbc this morning that says cats have been proven to use their purrs manipulitely. I was like tell me something I don't know. One cat of mine, Scamp, I know the only time he comes for a genuine cuddle is when I'm in bed of a night. Any other cuddle during the day is for food, or letting outside. Morning ones, it's either 3 things. He wants to go out, he wants feeding or he's had an accident in the kitchen and he's apologising. I always hope it's the first two! Lol

Cats have however learned how to pul our invisible strings to bring them food, and don;t need to learn to know how to uncover their own. So, who is smarter now?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20090713/sc_livescience/catsdocontrolhumansstudyfinds

that's the article i was goin on about. and its so true. lil horrors! and i spelt manipulatively wrong in my previous post lol don't even know if such a word come to think about it. lol but ht sounded good! ignore bad typing. am on my cell.

Cats and dogs are likely (as a group) no smarter than the other, they're just smart in different ways.

I've personally had both smart and dumb dogs, though I'm not sure any of my cats have been less intelligent than any other.

One of my dogs, after being placed in an outdoor pen with another, dug his way out. We found out because the other was barking up a storm, jealous of the other's freedom. The second dog hadn't noticed the hole under the fence where the first had escaped.

I have to make sure my bedroom door is closed securely at all times, otherwise one of our cats opens the door and gets in. They also know, as does the schnauzer, what we're talking about when we ask them if they want outside. And it's not just knowing a certain tone of voice either.

One of my cats will actually argue with me when she wants to go out and I say no. It's so funny. And when I tell her no and point to the kitchen she will walk away from the back door mumbling like Mutley from Dick Dastardlys catch that pigeon.
 

DPH, oh no, you didn't! ;)  

The whole problem is dogs like to please people, so they want to learn what you're saying. Cats couldn't care less what you want, and would prefer you learn to speak cat. LOL 

It's been pretty well settled for a long time that dogs are (on average) smarter
than cats.    Animal behavior researchers know how to eliminate the effects
of  "desire to please."

What I find interesting is that the distinction between a smart and dumb dog
(or smart and dumb cat) is pretty much the same as between a smart and
dumb human.  In each species, the smart one can predict what's going to
happen next, while the dumb one is always surprised by events, always
slow to catch on.  And dogs know the difference: a smart dog will get
frustrated when her dumb friend isn't getting with the program.

Dogs aren't any smarter really. It's just that since they are a social animal and cats are not, you can train a dog more easily because they can process more commands than a cat can. Cats don't really need to rely on anyone - whether another feline or human. Dogs however, need the strength of the pack and the social interactions. I'm sure that's why dogs were domesticated long before cats were.

Laurie

Attached Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3430481.stm

I've noticed that bugs also don't listen to me or care about what I want. I wouldn't characterize them as being smarter than a dog or a cat. Canines have a more complex social structure in the wild. It isn't so much that dogs want to please people, but that they are naturally comfortable in social groups. Dogs train their young in the wild punishing them for bad behavior and rewarding them for good. Canines hunt in packs while wild cats mostly hunt in a solitary fashion.

Jay Leno had a great quote about cats: "I've never understood why women love cats. Cats are independent, they don't listen, they don't come in when you call, they like to stay out all night, and when they're home they like to be left alone and sleep. In other words, every quality that women hate in a man, they love in a cat."

Dogs have a greater capacity to learn.  One dog knows 200 different words for toys, according to the linked article. Dogs can be trained to do more things than cats. Hollywood pet trainers all say that dogs can be trained to do more tricks on cue than cats.

None of this means cats are dumb. They can be quite ingenious in a number of endeavors. It's the kind of intelligence that other feral animals have.

Overall, dogs demonstrate higher levels of intelligence and learning.

While we choose and pick our dogs, cats literally adopt and tolerate humans to an extent.

Quote - While we choose and pick our dogs, cats literally adopt and tolerate humans to an extent.

Yes, a dog will almost always have affection for you and aim to please, while a cat really makes you earn it...LOL.

And Leno was right about cats...LOL. I don't understand it either ;o).

Laurie

oh dogs can be WAY smarter.

take for example my Smiley  - a Treeing Walker Hound.

he problem solves using TOOLS.

one time he wanted the garbage bag on the other side of the fence. he sees the bag is sitting on the hose and the hose is going under the fence by him. so he carefully pulled the hose to bring the bag to the fence where he can put his muzzle through...

or taking the jar of cheese whiz off the counter and opening it... did'nt break the jar or damage the lid (which was on firmly)...

or defeating every 'animal proof' garbage can we bought until I found one that has a padlock bar lock on it..

or climbing a six foot chain link fence paw over paw...

I could go on.

Quote - oh dogs can be WAY smarter.

take for example my Smiley  - a Treeing Walker Hound.

he problem solves using TOOLS.

one time he wanted the garbage bag on the other side of the fence. he sees the bag is sitting on the hose and the hose is going under the fence by him. so he carefully pulled the hose to bring the bag to the fence where he can put his muzzle through...

or taking the jar of cheese whiz off the counter and opening it... did'nt break the jar or damage the lid (which was on firmly)...

or defeating every 'animal proof' garbage can we bought until I found one that has a padlock bar lock on it..

or climbing a six foot chain link fence paw over paw...

I could go on.

LOL...smart pup ;o).

Laurie

the best was when I got that garbage can he can't open...

came down the hall and passed the can... which was strange since I left it in the kitchen!....
there were teeth marks all over the edge of the lid round the lock... and Smiley was lying on the couch glaring through the door at the can....

Well, my coonhound wasn't so darned smart: he left the fridge door open every time he raided it! ;) And when he stole the cans of cat food, he'd leave the chewed-on remnants all over the back yard. He also liked going to the vet, and couldn't drive the truck worth a darned. He switched the ignition off once while we were at a stoplight. (I actually think Kirby was brilliant.) 

A couple of my cats have been pretty good at figuring things out, like using paws to get that last bit of yummy from the bottom of the jar. They'd still rather have me do things for them, though. Just let the litterbox get too stinky, and you'll find out just how communicative a cat can get. LOL 

A good indication of the different focus cats and dogs have: point at something. A dog will look toward what you're pointing at. A cat will sniff your finger. 
 

Quote - One of my cats will actually argue with me when she wants to go out and I say no. It's so funny. And when I tell her no and point to the kitchen she will walk away from the back door mumbling like Mutley from Dick Dastardlys catch that pigeon.
 

Oh yes! One of my new kitties, the one that was supposed to be shyer of the two came out of her shell. She's a little riot, and a vocal one too. Her under the breath little whines and meowls when she's not pleased are priceless. 

LMAO 

*"The whole problem is dogs like to please people, so they want to learn what you're saying. Cats couldn't care less what you want, and would prefer you learn to speak cat. LOL *"

Dogs COULD be smart, BUT What does it mattter, when 99 percent of dog owners don't want to train them.

In cats' favor, of all the cats I've had in my life, I've never had to housebreak one (other than the first time I dropped them in the litter box)...LOL.

Laurie

"Intelligence" tests designed by a species which has not evolved beyond organized warfare are bound to be flawed. Call me when we have a test administered by Vulcans.

This is why I have bunnies (well, one for now, LOL).  You can train them to come when you call AND pee in a box, AND they disapprove of everything you do, nap all the time, bask in the sunlight, and generally own you and everything you own.
It's like having a dog AND a cat, with the bonus of they don't make noise (unless they knock something down).  :lol:

Ok, now I want a fluffy, floppy-eared bunny! ;)

None of my cats have ever been chatty. Lily might meow when she can't find me, or Jackie Chan will 'quack' when his dish is empty, but that's about it. Roxi used to make a funny meow when she found a coffee stir and was carrying around... (Why she liked to carry around coffee stirs, I don't know.)

Jen brought up another good point: dogs will rearrange your house to suit themselves, but cats rarely move anything. Two things I don't miss about having a dog:  poop patrol, and having all the couch cushions on the floor several times a week.  

One of my pits will fetch whichever of 5 colors and two types of ball she is told to get, in addition to an assortment of other toys, regardless of who gives the command (after that person has passed the acceptance test).

The other one bless her heart couldn't find her way out of an empty room with one open exit unless it involved food. As far as I can tell her only two thoughts are eating and being petted.

My cats....well......snakes with fur comes to mind. Cunning,devious, but just not real bright,,,,anything that wakes me up before 5:00 a.m. in a non-emergency situation lacks a certain instinct for self preservation.

Yeah, but I meant what I said when I said everything is his, LOL.

My in-laws have a dog and a cat, as well....they adopted the dog from a rescue shelter, and he'd had his tail clipped off by his previous owners, poor thing.  However, that's the one thing that saves him as a house dog ;)  He's got an extremely expressive backside that tends to get him in trouble, and has earned him the nickname "wigglebutt".  And the cat?  You can't find her until she wants to be found :P

Quote - ...My cats....well......snakes with fur comes to mind. Cunning,devious, but just not real bright,,,,anything that wakes me up before 5:00 a.m. in a non-emergency situation lacks a certain instinct for self preservation.

Aw, snakes with fur? Mine aren't THAT bad...LOL. I usually get my cats as small kittens and since I'm a cat lover, pay lots of attention and care to them. Neither has ever scratched me out of anger or being mean, and I do mean never (and they are 7 and 6). Then again, some cats are just mean from kittens - cats tend to go feral really fast [maybe in as little as 3 generations], as do dogs and lose trust of humans). If you get a kitten that's going to the feral side of the scale, they do tend to be well, meaner ;o). I pick my cats very carefully - I don't buy from a pet store or humane society and if I can, I look at the mother and grandmother if possible. I'm really big on temperment...LOL.

Don't get me wrong, I like dogs too. Just not AS much as cats ;o). But I've had at least two dogs that I'll never forget and if they lived forever, I'd be a happy camper :o).

Cats tho, they DO wake you way too early....LOL.

Laurie

Other way 'round here. I have to wake up at least one of them to eat twice a day. They all know better than to even be on the bed when I'm sleeping. A bad back means tossing and turning... and squshed kitty! Roxi would sit on my head until she thought I was asleep, but then she'd go to her kitty bed. (I really miss her 'tucking me in'.)

My coffee table has been a mess without Kirby. He'd clean it off with his tail in 2 seconds. 

ooOOoo... a Bunny car thief! ;)  

Quote - ...He's got an extremely expressive backside that tends to get him in trouble, and has earned him the nickname "wigglebutt".  And the cat?  You can't find her until she wants to be found :P

I know cats will lean their butt up against you if they like ya, but a bunny? I don't know about that...LOL.

Laurie

No, wigglebutt's the dog, LOL.  However....

Hehehe...Sorry. Dogs, cats, bunnies...I'm getting confused ;o).

Laurie

It's all good ;)

One of the best dogs I had was when I was in my late teens/early 20s. He was a mutt, we think probably a Sheltie/Min Greyhound mix, had the coloring of a sheltie but was shorthaired. Smart dog.

Our back doorbell had fallen off and we hadn't gotten around to fixing it. The dog figured out that if he pressed the two wires together something would happen.  We had a houseful of company one holiday and a cousin asked if they should let the dog in. We told them he'd ring the doorbell. And of course they didn't believe us!

Ten minutes later ... "DING DONG!"  I told the cousin, "It's the dog."  Sure enough ............

Love pets. Couldn't have them for so long (apartment living), now making up for it. Four dogs, two cats, and a bird.

I've seen dogs (and cats) do some amazing things. If you've ever watched America's Funniest Home videos you'll know of what I speak. I've seen a cat learn to turn on a light switch and a dog that would not come thru a glass storm door, even though there was no glass in it and it was wide open...LOL. As far as the dog was concerned, the glass was THERE...LOL.

Laurie

Attached Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wvo-g_JvURI

Ah, yes, the in/out/in/out thing is a big motivator. My dad had a big grey tabby that would sit at the front door and give out a meow that sounded for all the world like "I want out". When he wanted in, he'd grab the screen door in his claws and 'knock'. He's the same cat who got first dibs on the turkey while it was cooling one Thanksgiving. From the damage, he preferred white meat. It took us kids quite a while to convince Dad that cat spit didn't ruin the whole bird. LOL  

Quote - ...It took us kids quite a while to convince Dad that cat spit didn't ruin the whole bird. LOL  

I share my ice cream cones with mine, while my husband grimaces in the background...LOL.

Laurie

Quote -

I share my ice cream cones with mine, while my husband grimaces in the background...LOL.

Laurie

Now try that with a dog! ewwww.....

Quote - > Quote -

I share my ice cream cones with mine, while my husband grimaces in the background...LOL.

Laurie

Now try that with a dog! ewwww.....

I always share my ice cream with my dog.  Just tell him to be gentle, and he'll give it little licks. hehe  But yes, it grosses out my hubby.

Quote - > Quote -

I share my ice cream cones with mine, while my husband grimaces in the background...LOL.

Laurie

Now try that with a dog! ewwww.....

Double ewwww....LOL. They slobber ;o).

Laurie

Quote -

I always share my ice cream with my dog.  Just tell him to be gentle, and he'll give it little licks. hehe  But yes, it grosses out my hubby.

You've got my respect! As much as I loved my coonie hound, once he tasted it, it was his! As a matter of fact, when the drool strings reached his knees, whatever I was eating was his. ewwww...

LOL. I know! My sister's dog used to watch us eat dinner with strings of drool stretching down toward the ground...euuwww....lol. The poor thing looked like it was in agony ;o).

Laurie

I can only speak of my own cat.
And he is quite a handful, he opens doors, turns the lightswitch in the middle of the night when your laying in bed and gives you a fright! I can throw away a toy and he brings it back (if he is in the mood).
I roll a ball and he rolls it back, well offcourse half of the time he rolls it under the sofa.
When visitors bring handbags he sticks his head in preferably his entire body eventhough it doesn't fit and he comes when I call, not 100% of the time but often. He can even sit up if you give him a catcandy.
He runs to the mailbox if the post comes and when I get a little couch to put my feet up, it's his new favorite place nevermind that he has like 6 places of his own.
But he is also very clumpsy not graceful at all.

So he is smart, but only takes action if he wants it. :P

Don't know about dogs - never had one.  We do have three cats.  One keeps the house clear of all manner of vermin - even plucked a bat out of the air (launched off the coffee table).  The second one announces visitors by running full speed down the hall and through the kitchen - before the bell in rung.  The third one takes out the trash, mows the lawn, does all the shopping, trims our toenails, and does our taxes.

He's a keeper.