| For as long as I can remember I have heard that | | | | because it is solitary by nature, but cats can adapt to |
| dogs are much smarter than cats. | | | | conditions just as we do. |
| However, I have felt that just because a dog will do | | | | "The fact that a cat can adapt to different situations |
| tricks and most cats don't, is not reason enough to | | | | is a sign of intelligence, that goes beyond conditioning |
| say cats are not smart. | | | | or instinct," says Dr. Julia Albright of Cornell's |
| My theory has always been that cats are so smart | | | | Veterinary School. |
| that they won't learn any tricks unless they want to. | | | | Cats do socialize with each other, if the situation |
| It is not something they have to do. | | | | warrants it: such as meeting at an eating or drinking |
| Dogs by nature are social animals and their main goal | | | | place (the barn, fishing pier or where someone feeds |
| in life besides eating, is to please their people. | | | | stray cats.) |
| Cats on the other hand lack the "gene" that makes it | | | | Did you know that domesticated female cats and |
| important to please anyone, but themselves. | | | | lions are the only two species of cat that will raise |
| Why have I brought this subject up? | | | | their young in a group with other mothers, if it is |
| Well I read an article that discussed feline intelligence | | | | necessary? |
| in Cat Watch, a magazine put out by Cornell's School | | | | Cats also learn by observation. |
| of Veterinary Medicine. | | | | Just because kitty is sitting there staring into space |
| It went on to say, at Tufts University School of | | | | does not mean it is daydreaming. It may be learning, |
| Veterinary Medicine, researchers have found that the | | | | by watching you, how to open the cupboard door. |
| structure of a cat's brain and that of a human brain | | | | Kittens that are raised without their mother or other |
| are very similar. | | | | cats to observe, do not do a lot of things we |
| To quote the article "the physical structure of our | | | | consider normal behavior for cats. |
| brain and that of cats are very similar: they have the | | | | Cats also retain memory, they are smart enough to |
| same lobes in the cerebral cortex (the seat of | | | | know when they are scolded not to do that behavior |
| intelligence) as we do. Our brains function the same | | | | in front of you again. They will wait until your back is |
| way, conveying data via identical neurotransmitters." | | | | turned. |
| What that means, is our cats take in data from the 5 | | | | Dogs on the other hand will repeat a bad behavior |
| senses and process it just like we do. | | | | several times, before it finally sinks in that they are |
| Hmmmmm, thinking cats. Who would ever believe | | | | not supposed behave that way. |
| that? | | | | We will all agree that dogs are easier to train to do |
| But, it is true, cats process things in a way similar to | | | | tricks than cats, but dogs have the predisposition to |
| our way of thinking. They actually make decisions. | | | | please and learning tricks is one way to please. |
| Animal says that cats are: "incredibly resourceful and | | | | Cats can learn tricks, but it is harder to get them to |
| self-reliant, the species has survived thousands of | | | | do things, unless you provide a reward that is really |
| years in radically different environments and living | | | | appealing. |
| conditions. Even domestic cats show a crafty, | | | | There is also the thought that dogs have been |
| strong-willed and versatile nature." | | | | selectively bred for certain behaviors, cats have been |
| There is so much about cats that we take for | | | | cats forever. |
| granted or if the truth be known, we don't even | | | | There has not been a time when a cat has been |
| think about. | | | | selectively bred to hunt, catch birds or play only with |
| When we see a cat sitting in a doorway or staring | | | | blue yarn balls. |
| off into space, we just laugh at it, not realizing that | | | | I agree that the particular breeds of cat have been |
| the cat is actually thinking about what it is going to | | | | kept as pure as possible, but have you ever heard of |
| do next. | | | | a cat species being bred to do a chore such as |
| The cat is surveying the situation, using its 5 senses | | | | "rounding up mice." |
| to determine whether it is safe or not to move | | | | In truth I guess it is impossible to say which species |
| onward. | | | | is smarter, dogs or cats, but I will leave you with this |
| We think of a cat as a somewhat anti-social animal | | | | thought, "dogs have masters, cats have staff. |