Every pet owner thinks their furry friend is the best pet in the world, and the good news is that every pet owner is right! Our cats and dogs light up our lives in ways nothing else can, and they never fail to impress us with their one-of-a-kind talents and personalities, just like the Husky that figured out that his home’s lights were voice activated! Some animals are incredibly in tune with our emotions, while others are surprisingly clever. Sometimes, though, it can be hard not to compare one animal to another.
Are dogs smarter than cats? It can be challenging to remain unbiased if you have a favorite species, but science has finally provided an answer to settle the debate. Pet owners and animal lovers have pondered this question for years, but the answer may be more complex than you might expect.
Are dogs smarter than cats?
As much as we’d love to give you a straightforward answer, it’s impossible to tell whether dogs or cats are more intelligent. Intelligence is extremely specific and subjective. While there are significant physical differences between the canine and feline brains (more on that below), each species evolved over thousands of years to meet different needs in different environments.
In fact, many biologists avoid using the word “intelligence” altogether when studying animals. As Brian Hare, founder and director of Duke University’s Canine Cognition Center, explained to PBS, it’s nearly impossible not to view intelligence from a “human-centric perspective.” Animal intelligence will not look the same, nor is it measured the same as human intelligence, so instead, we should focus on how well an individual or population fulfills its own needs in its natural habitat.
Is your cat “smart” when it comes to a dog’s daily tasks? Probably not. But when it comes to climbing, grooming themselves, and being a cat, your feline friend knows exactly what to do.
Comparing canine and feline brains
While behavior may not give us a clue into comparing the intelligence of these popular pet species, the differences between their brains might. Neuroscientist Suzana Herculano-Houzel studies animal intelligence through brain tissue called gray matter, and she told PBS that what she found was rather significant: Dogs have over twice the amount of neurons in their brain tissue as cats do.
- Cats: 250 million neurons
- Dogs: 530 million neurons
- Humans: 16 billion neurons
Neurons are nerve cells that transport signals from the brain throughout the body’s nervous system. These essential cells use chemicals called neurotransmitters to tell the body what to do every second of every day — even while asleep. Because these cells are how the brain communicates to the body, having more of them could be a direct correlation to increased cognitive function.
As Herculano-Houzel told National Geographic, “Neurons are the basic information processing units. The more units you find in the brain, the more cognitively capable the animal is.”
What makes a cat smart?
Despite cats having roughly half the number of neurons in their brains as dogs do, they’re not considered less intelligent. In fact, many cats are very smart and perceptive. Felines excel in many skills that canines aren’t famous for, including independent problem-solving, long-term memory, a greater perception of time, and a sense of object permanence.
To test your cat’s individual intelligence, you can try testing their sense of object permanence. Let them watch you place a small box or cover over a cat treat, and make sure they can’t see through it. If your cat tries to take the cover off, they have a great sense of object permanence. If they seem confused about where the treat went, simply give them a helping paw. Not every cat excels at every skill.
Smartest cat breeds
Some cat breeds are known to be more intelligent than others. While an individual cat’s cleverness and perception often matter more than its breed, researching specific breeds can increase your chances of finding a smart cat.
Some smart cat breeds include:
- Abyssinian
- Bengal cats
- Burmese cats
- Cornish rex
- Maine Coon cats
- Scottish fold
- Siamese cats
- Turkish angora
What makes a dog smart?
Just like cats, dogs have their own special set of skills and instincts that have helped them survive and thrive for millennia. Dogs are extremely adept at processing sensory information from their environment, especially scent. They tend to notice patterns, social cues, and even subtle gestures, and their spatial awareness and memory are some of their greatest assets. After spending thousands of years closely bonded to humans, it’s no wonder that dogs are so skilled at understanding human emotions and actions.
There are many popular ways to test a dog’s cognitive abilities, from puzzle toys to memory games, but one of the most overlooked signs of a smart dog is also incredibly frustrating to dog owners: manipulation! If your dog ever barks to lure you away from a plate of food or looks at you with those puppy dog eyes until you feed them a second dinner, you have one clever pup on your hands.
Smartest dog breeds
Just like cats, some dog breeds are known for being clever and observant. Whether they pick up on obedience training quickly or seem to understand every word you say, these dogs will blow you away with their perception. Of course, a dog from any breed can be smart, but these breeds are especially famous for their cognitive abilities.
Some of the smartest dog breeds include:
- Australian cattle dog
- Border collie
- Doberman pinscher
- German shepherd
- Golden retriever
- Papillon
- Poodle
- Shetland sheepdog
All in all, cats and dogs are neck and neck for the title of the smartest species. There are so many ways to measure an animal’s individual intelligence, from intentional exams to day-to-day observation, but in the end, it doesn’t matter much. Your cat or dog is perfect exactly how they are, no matter how smart they may be.
