Reigning cats or dogs?
Pet owners will always be divided on the matter of whether the cat or the dog rules in the intelligence stakes. People will often be divided on the subject, even when they are owners of both species as pets. You could argue that the dog can be trained to respond to commands and appears to remember them effortlessly or that the cat has an innate instinct for finding the cosiest places to sleep and often seems to “just know” when the owner’s car will come round the corner, and is usually waiting patiently at the window.
Recent research indicated that dogs have the edge in the brainpower stakes because they could learn the correct sequences for pressing buttons, motivated by tasty rewards. But those taking a cat-centred perspective could easily appreciate that the cats involved in the experiment may well have learnt or even reasoned that their performance in tests was irrelevant as they would get fed anyway!
A large proportion of dogs do not get enough exercise because their owners are too busy, or too lazy, to walk them, and that many cats are overweight and lethargic because they are given far too many treats and totally inappropriate foods. Efforts by dog owners to treat their pets more like humans than animals has apparently led to an increase in canine psychological problems. Cats who are confined to the house may suffer anxiety and symptoms of cystitis when they regularly watch other felines invading their territory.
Furthermore, there are still cat and dog owners guilty of denying their pets vital vaccinations and flea and worm treatments because they haven’t budgeted for vet bills and large numbers of unwanted animals are continuing to turn up at rescue centres as a result of pet owners being unwilling to invest in spaying or simply not being able to meet their needs.
Clearly the intelligence debate is set to run indefinitely but whether you think canines or felines come out on top, it’s easy to spot an intelligent pet owner by simply assessing whether they understand what is required to maintain the health and happiness of their animal, regardless of its species.