Cats Might be Smarter Than Dogs?

Cats, though fickle, are an inquisitive and intelligent species.

          The intelligence of cats is often underrated due to their virtual inability to be trained. Dogs may respond beter to human communication, but are they truly "smarter" then cats? New scientific research suggests that cats may in fact be the brighter species. Felines have over 300 millions neurons in the cortex of their brains, whereas dogs are limited to 160 million neurons. Cats are also known for their self-sufficient habits such as litter box usage, hunting skills, and keen senses, allowing them to be potty-trained and able to feed themselves without nearly as much training as dogs.

Cats are quick learners who quickly figure new things out with little trial and error. Unlike dogs, cats rarely repeat unsuccessful attempts to obtain food, toys, or coerce their owners. 

Cat brains are similar to human brains in their composition and complexity.

          According to How Stuff Works, researchers have been aware that cats are able to learn complex tasks since as early as the 1920's. A Pennsylvania State University test conducted in the 1950's concluded that cats are capable of "oddity learning" in which the animal is shown three objects and is rewarded for choosing the one that looks least like the other two. In the test, cats consistently pawed a small round object amongst square blocks to win a food reward. Some studies have concluded that cats do as well with this kind of learning as monkeys.  According to Dr. John Wright, a certified animal behaviorist and psychology professor at Mercer University, "most cats are extremely capable problem solvers. Cats know how to size up a situation and then act on the information received". Many cats cat even train their owners to feed them, pet them, and take care of them. A behavior that, when you think about it, is pretty darn smart!