Dogs vs. Cats: Science has shown which animals are smarter

Controversy over whether the cats They are smarter than dog They have been around for a long time, and owners offer their arguments in defense of their favorite pets, however, they always lack a solid scientific basis.

Researchers in Eötvös Lorand University He sought from Hungary to end this “confrontation” and compared the intelligence between the two species in a series of tests under the same conditions.

The surprising results revealed that the answer to what if is more tasty Dogs or cats have different needs, and the tools that both types have make each of them smarter at their own game.

The study was conducted by Attila Salamon, Stefania Uchido, Melita Šebrije, Adam Miklosi and Marta Gashi, researchers in comparative ethology in collaboration with the Department of Ethology at Eötvös Lorand University From Hungary, they compared dogs, which scientists say have shaped their intelligence around their social environment and developed a set of social-cognitive skills consistent with humans.

The researchers noted in the study published in the scientific journal nature In October 2023, canines are able to “rely” on gestures such as turning the head, bending, pointing the body, and pointing with the finger, so they depend on human signals.

“Cats are generally not monitored in their outdoor activities, while dogs may engage in some type of activity with their owner when away from home,” says the study co-author. The statement explains that cats' adaptation to the human environment appears less clear.

After domestication, both species have “important” differences, as dogs are kept as indoor or outdoor pets, while most cats typically do not have access to areas outside the home.

“Cats are generally not monitored in their outdoor activities, while dogs may engage in some type of activity with their owner when away from home,” the article states. The statement explains that cats' adaptation to the human environment appears less clear.

Scientists evaluated the cats' ability to test in the laboratory and at home, while dogs were only studied in a controlled environment outside their home.

The study consisted of seeing the reaction of both types after an experimenter pointed to a plate with hidden food after attracting his attention with short sounds such as gently tapping on the floor or wall and categorizing three types of results: correct, incorrect and no choice. .

The correct result depended on the animal approaching directly to the object that the experimenter was pointing to, while the incorrect result was the result of those included choosing the container that was not being pointed to, while failure to respond to the signals was considered “no choice.” “.

In the laboratory, all dogs made a decision in at least half of the trials, while 15 of 33 cats did the same. In a home environment, 14 of 19 cats made the choice.

After repeating the test several times, scientists came to the conclusion that the answer depends on the opportunities and needs of the species, as both are the most intelligent in their area.

“Our findings provide direct evidence that dogs' ability to test is significantly better in a test conducted in a laboratory setting than that of cats, even if cats undergo prior habituation,” the publication said. However, “cats appear to be able to rely on distant human gestures if they are motivated to choose.”