Which pets are smarter? Dogs or Cats?

[ChrisFL]

I hope this will be a friendly discussion

I think cats are smarter but dogs are more trainable...cats just can't be bothered.

Thoughts?

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Cats

 

[goofyintoronto]

I have both, definitely dogs are smarter.

 

[Callie]

Cats

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

As much as I'm a dog lover, and had a wonderfully smart lab, I'm going to say cats....they just don't want you to know!!

Reminds me of this:

EXCERPTS FROM A DOG'S DIARY

Day 180
8:00 am—OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
9:30 am—OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
9:40 am—OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE!
10:30 am—OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
11:30 am—OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
12:00 noon—OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
1:00 pm—OH BOY! THE YARD! MY FAVORITE!
4:00 pm—OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
5:00 pm—OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
5:30 pm—OH BOY! MOM! MY FAVORITE!

Day 181
8:00 am—OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
9:30 am—OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
9:40 am—OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE!
10:30 am—OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
11:30 am—OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
12:00 noon—OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
1:00 pm—OH BOY! THE YARD! MY FAVORITE!
4:00 pm—OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
5:00 pm—OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
5:30 pm—OH BOY! MOM! MY FAVORITE!

Day 182
8:00 am—OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
9:30 am—OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
9:40 am—OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE!
10:30 am—OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
11:30 am—OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
12:00 noon—OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
1:00 pm—OH BOY! THE YARD! MY FAVORITE!
1:30 pm—OOOOOOOH. BATH. BUMMER!
4:00 pm—OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
5:00 pm—OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
5:30 pm—OH BOY! MOM! MY FAVORITE!


EXCERPTS FROM A CAT'S DIARY

DAY 183
My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.Theydine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. Theonlything that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the mildsatisfaction Iget from ruining the occasional piece of furniture. Tomorrow I may eatanother houseplant.

DAY 184
Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet whiletheywere walking almost succeeded, must try this at the top of the stairs.In anattempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once againinducedmyself to vomit on their favorite chair... must try this on their bed.

DAY 185
Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body, in attempt tomakethem aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into theirhearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little cat Iwas... Hmmm. Not working according to plan.

DAY 186
I am finally aware of how sadistic they are. For no good reason I waschosenfor the water torture. This time however it included a burning foamychemical called "shampoo." What sick minds could invent such a liquid.Myonly consolation is the piece of thumb still stuck between my teeth.

DAY 187
There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was placed insolitary throughout the event. However, I could hear the noise and smellthefoul odor of the glass tubes they call "beer". More importantly Ioverheardthat my confinement was due to MY power of "allergies." Must learn whatthisis and how to use it to my advantage.

DAY 188
I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches. Thedogis routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He isobviously ahalf-wit. The bird on the other hand has got to be an informant, andspeakswith them regularly. I am certain he reports my every move. Due to hiscurrent placement in the metal room, his safety is assured.

But I can wait, it is only a matter of time.

 

[tennvalgirl]

Kitties

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would say cats are smarter than most dogs.

Cats as a whole group does beat out dogs as a whole group.

I do have a border collie and she is smarter than most people let alone cats.

 

[WDWBarb]

I'd say they are about the same. I've had some wicked smart dogs, but I've also had some cats that surprised me with their reasoning abilities.

And I love my horses, but they rank pretty low on the IQ scale.

 

[Bluestars]

I think some cats and dogs are equally as intelligent. I have had both cats and dogs. I've read that some breeds are more intelligent than others. That's probably true.

 

[Baliezer]

Cats!

I don't want to quote but scrappy_tink's post made me

 

[FergieTCat]

I hope this will be a friendly discussion

I think cats are smarter but dogs are more trainable...cats just can't be bothered.

Thoughts?

Cats!

Thank goodness they don't have thumbs.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I say each has their own ways of training us.

I have a trained cat. She's learned a few responses to actions and my husband has trained her to respond to "feed the fish." This prompts her to jump up on the chair next to the fish tank and she "assists" in feeding of the fish by sniffing the fish food to make sure it is not poison. She is then rewarded after the fish are fed by attention and is petted and talked to in loving tones.

No one believed this until we showed people on Christmas.

Dogs are just incredibly tuned into humans. They understand us and can do so many things.

 

[Cantw8]

Dogs are smarter but cats are craftier, sneakier and more independant. You can yell at a dog and they will know what you mean...I cat might know what you mean but couldn't care less

 

[Kady]

Just like in people it all depends on the individual.

My cats and dogs are geniuses of course

I have one dog who I swear understands everything I say to him. His sister is mainly concerned with playing fetch. She lives for chasing that ball and would do it until her heart exploded if we let her.

My kitties are kind of dumb. Very cute, but not too bright. What sort of animal sees the same damn thing everyday and then their people move it a smidge and all of a sudden it's completely new and terrifying.

And dogs...you leave and come back 2 minutes later and they're thrilled. You leave and come back 2 hours later and they're equally thrilled.

 

[scbelleatheart]

Not sure which is smarter but we have 2 cats and a dog and they all seem to communicate with each other,
Dog wants out, cat climbs in bed to let me know. Dog cannot come in, cat stands at the door meowing. Time to feed cats, dog goes to the door at 6 pm to go out and the cats sit in front of their bowls waiting to be fed at exactly 6pm.
Horses are not as dumb as you think. DH trained one from birth (it was our profession) and there was a flood, DH takes horse out to try and lasso stranded people. Horse decided it was too dangerous to wade any further in the water despite DH's prodding. The horse was smart enough to know not to go in even if DH was not.

 

[castmemberb4]

I haven't had a dog since I was young, and I've had some very smart cats.

One of your female kitties figured out how to turn on the radio to wake us up to feed her at the same time on Sat & Sun that it usually wakes us up during the week !

We have a almost 4 year old Bengel mix who has asthma the other day while I was giving him his breathing treatment he suddenly reached up with his foot and pushed the breathing chamber away after only two breaths, he gets four. He sat back a bit, took a couple of breaths swollowed then stuck his face right back up to the chamber, he knew he wasn't finished but he needed a breath of fresh air.

 

[ChrisFL]

Great replies so far!

 

[Baliezer]

This discussion reminds me of my favorite clip...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxJj64D5alE

 

[DeaverTex]

I don't think that there's much difference intelligence wise. The difference is that dogs are more eager to please, since they're pack animals. Cats are solo animals, and it shows in their attitude. I think that people will choose one over the other, as far as intelligence, based on which one they prefer to interact with. (Yes, I ended that sentence with a preposition. )

I'm a dog person, and generally I dislike cats. But the one that's nosing around my feet at somebody else's house, or that puts a paw on my lap before climbing on for a snooze -- that one's different, of course. Particularly when they start purring.

 

[Callie]

My sisters cat knows how to open the door! Only problem is she doesn't have thumbs. Otherwise it would be open when she wanted out for a walk.