Most of us have lived with a pet at some point, whether it was a dog, cat or another type, and on many occasions we have been surprised by its behavior.
But which ones are the smartest? Let’s discover if cats or dogs are more intelligent, and its biological explanation
Society is divided between cat lovers and dog lovers, excluding a small part of the population who either adore these animals equally or do not like either of them. Frequently, discussions arise between one another about whether cats or dogs are more intelligent. But what is the truth about this issue?
The truth is, advancing the conclusion of the explanations that we are going to see below, dogs are more intelligent than cats, in general terms Surely many people (cat lovers) will disagree with this statement, but let’s carefully explore the foundations that support it.
In the following points we will delve into the brain structures of these two species, the different types of intelligence that have been evaluated and the curious experiments that have been carried out to be able to measure them in an appropriate way, adapting to the characteristics of these peculiar subjects. study.
The brain of dogs and cats
Ignoring the obvious differences between races and taking the average sizes as a reference, The dog’s brain is much larger than the cat’s brain In fact, we would be talking about a difference of more than double, since the dog’s cerebral cortex is made up of about 530 million neurons, compared to the 250 that make up that of cats.
Why this huge difference? Some studies relate it to a characteristic of dogs that is not present in felines: sociability While cats prefer a solitary life, with occasional interactions with their peers and with humans, dogs need continuous contact, like the gregarious animals that they are.
In fact, A dog that does not have proper social stimulation can develop pathologies and behavioral disorders, since they are being deprived of an element that is necessary for their development and daily life.
This socialization requires more developed brain structures, and it is observed not only in dogs, but in other species such as dolphins, elephants, horses or monkeys. On the other hand, animals that do not live in communities, such as rhinos or deer, like cats, have not experienced this brain growth in the evolutionary history of the species.
Experiments with dogs
There are countless studies carried out to measure the intelligence of dogs in some way. Let’s see some of the most interesting ones.
1. Distinction of stimuli
In an experiment, the dog was placed in a room where there were toys (which he did not previously know) and other everyday objects that can be found in a house, such as books. Then he was given the order to bring the toy or bring the non-toy, and the success rate was extraordinary.
This test worked even without using words and simply showing the animal a copy of the article we wanted it to give us.
2. Vicarious learning
Another study showed that Dogs are capable of learning by imitation, a relatively complex method which requires brain structures (mirror neurons) that not all animals have.
In this case, some dogs were taught to open a door, showing them how to do it and reinforcing them when they managed to do it. A control group was established that was not previously shown the procedure to open the door. The result was clear: those who had seen the human open it, learned much faster.
3. Discern mental states
A very peculiar test consisted of putting the dog in the position of having to request food from one of the two researchers in the room, one of whom was blindfolded In all cases they preferred to address those with whom they could establish eye contact as a form of communication.
Going one step further, another experiment was done in which a man kept a series of objects in boxes, locked them, and then hid the keys. Then he left and another person came in, trying to open the boxes, and It was the dog that brought him the hidden keys so he could do it
But the best thing happened when the dynamics of the experiment were changed and this second researcher was present when the first one put the objects away. In that case, the dog did not try to take him to where the keys were, because he knew that he had seen how they were hidden. In other words: they knew that the human knew it, which is a mental process that demonstrates great intelligence.
4. Empathy
Another situation that has been observed in the laboratory consisted of exposing the dog to two situations, one in which a person is singing or simply speaking in a neutral way, and another in which he pretends to be crying. The animals always decided to approach the person who was crying first rather than the other They knew how to interpret that that person needed help.
Experiments with cats
It is true that Historically, cats have not aroused the same interest as dogs when it comes to carrying out experiments that measure their capabilities, perhaps due to the ease and docility of the former when exposing them to very varied situations and the difficulty that the latter present in participating in strange processes, far from the place of reference that is their home.
However, in recent years some researchers are trying to explore this field, so we do have some examples that allow us to compare whether cats or dogs are more intelligent.
1. Point
One of the tests that has been carried out in a controlled manner is to check if a cat is capable of interpreting the human gesture of pointing. And if, These domestic felines are able to interpret what object or place we are referring to when we point our finger to him.
Although it may seem like a very basic behavior, it is not so. It is a good indicator of social intelligence and interpretation of intentionality, and not all species are capable of carrying it out, not even some as extremely close to us as chimpanzees.
2. Social interaction
Another experiment consisted of placing cats in a room in which toys and food were available on one side, and people on the other. In a higher percentage, felines preferred social interaction with them rather than going towards food or recreational elements
In another curious test, the cat and its owner were inside a room, and the researchers turned on a fan that made a powerful noise. The cat’s reaction, logically, was to take refuge next to his reference person. The key to the experiment was that the person had to speak to the cat in a positive tone so that he could interpret that the situation was not dangerous and that the fan was not a harmful element.
By doing so, the cats ended up approaching and lying down without any problem. It is deduced that the felines had interpreted the owner’s mental state, attributing that if he was calm it is because there was no harmful element in the environment for which to be on guard.
4. Recognize your name
A recurring question is whether your cats really recognize your name since on many occasions they do not react to it when called.
This test has been carried out under laboratory conditions to clear up doubts once and for all and it has been shown that yes, they do recognize their name, so if on some occasion you call your cat and he does not react, it does not mean that he does not know that you are calling him, it is simply that he does not feel like going to where you are.
Conclusion
After knowing a small sample of all the tests in which these two animal species have participated, we are in a position to return to the answer to the question of whether cats or dogs are more intelligent.
Dogs have shown to be capable of more complex skills, which require greater neuronal plasticity and more evolved brain structures, and we have seen that this is linked to greater socialization.
Be careful, this does not mean that cats are not intelligent, since they are, very much so. And they are also extremely skilled in very complex physical behaviors. But when we talk about situations that require greater mental complexity, dogs come out winners.
