Tech | June 17, 2009 | 12 comments

Cats vs Dogs: Who's Smarter?

source: http://www.livescience.com/animals/etc/090617-are-dogs-smarter-than-cats.html

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DeliaTheArtist
"The answer to this question probably won't change the fact that dogs and cats are the most popular pets. But it's a good argument starter.

In an experiment, scientists gave cats string with a treat on the end. The cats would pull the string and get the treat. Faced with two strings — one bearing a treat, the other not — the cats were befuddled.

Dogs figured the two-string experiment out, however. "Cats do not understand cause-and-effect connections between objects," the researcher says. Perhaps that explains how they can sneak up and scratch you, again and again, even though you make it clear you do not like it. Dogs, well, they learn to please, don't they?

A study in 2007 found dogs could use touch-screen computers to accurately classify color photographs by recognizing the concept of a dog vs. a photo with no dog."

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Does this mean that dogs are smarter than cats? Do cats care? What do you think?
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12 comments // Cats vs Dogs: Who's Smarter?

  • arcticspirit
    • 0
      arcticspirit  

    • Cats and dogs are individually smarter or not so smart, but compare a dog to a cat and you will find, there is no way to compare them. They are equally intelligent, but gifted in much different ways.

      They have completely different skill sets. It would be like having a 160lb Ninja do the job of a Linebacker in football ... TACKLE the other big guys!!! or and the 240 lb Linebacker go slice and dice, flip around, step off walls, land in the splits while blocking a sword blow, then defeating his opponent. & vice versa... they might get by, but the test would be all crazy and skewed!

      So... if Cats and dogs are very intelligent in different ways... add birds, many rank right up there with intelligence of any dog or cat, some even higher!
      My example: Congo African Grey Parrot.

    • 2 years ago
  • shocksopping
    • 0
      shocksopping  

    • I think both cats and dogs have their strengths and weaknesses. Cats are great for passive attention and cuddling at night, but dogs are more affectionate and happy to see you when you get home (typically. I know there are exceptions!)

    • 2 years ago
  • Gargaryun
    • 0
      Gargaryun  

    • Thank You for again giving the People on current something inconsequential to fight about, Delia...LMAO!
      By the way....DOGS!!!

    • 2 years ago
  • BOBALOB
  • cybexg
    • +1
      cybexg  

    • I think the study is improperly designed. I worked and was very well known In AI for many years (1st career).

      1st, they should have clearly defined what they were testing - there's no comprehensive definition of intelligence that lends itself to testing.

      2nd, they should then have considered the natural limitations of each of the two types of animals. For example, cats have an unusual neurological response to negative situations, potentially preventing them from learning from pain or other unpleasant stimuli. To give you a better example, dogs will learn helplessness (for example, they can be conditioned to willfully accept a pain stimulas) Cats usually can't learn helplessness.

      3rd, They should also have considered the various differences in the senses of the animals.

      etc....

    • 2 years ago
  • arkansasrednck
    • 0
      arkansasrednck  
    • cybexg:

      I agree; the test in this article is a single point on a graph. My cat learned to turn off the ceiling fan cause he disliked having his fur blown around when he was a kitten. Perhaps they don't learn cause and effect like dogs; but to take this one test and simply say one is better then the other is rather myopic. My personal observation as I love both cats and dogs, is they are like different tools for various jobs. One thing share in common is communication and empathy with their owners and each other; and empathy (not stupid string tricks) is the highest form of intelligence IMHO.

    • 2 years ago
  • NewChannelMedia
  • jaystyx
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