Are Cats or Dogs Smarter?

Looks like you’re looking for a companion that can help you cheat in exams at home or be trained to do all the household chores for you. Whatever the reason, it’s going to be a tough match here.

In one corner we have the cunning and aloof feline, master of the mysterious stare and stealthy pounce. In the other corner, the loyal and lovable canine, champion of fetch and sniffer of everything. We’ll have to go back a little to the ancient times to get a bit of context here. 

From the Mesopotamian times to the ancient Egyptian times to the times of The Mahabharata and The Ramayana, cats have found mentions and have been accompanying mankind for ages. We domesticated them mostly because of their hunting skills but their intelligence far exceeds than just that. ⁽⁷⁾

Dogs on the other hand are believed to be the first species tamed by mankind about 15,000 years ago. Since then, they’ve helped us in hunting, protection, herding, and much more. In today’s times, dogs are rescuing people and helping people cope with depression. They clearly are not just adorable creatures but highly intelligent ones as well. ⁽⁷⁾

So, are cats or dogs smarter? Now, the debate of which four-legged pet is smarter has created a divide among pet owners. Some feel that just because dogs are known for their loyalty and trainability, they are smarter than their feline counterparts who are more known to be aloof and independent. However, comparing intelligence is not a simple task.  

Animal intelligence is typically measured in terms of the animal’s ability to perceive, think, and learn from its environment. These can be subjective as they relate to cognitive abilities like problem-solving, as well as memory, decision-making, and even emotional intelligence. And for testing these, an artificial environment must be created, which may not represent the true picture. ⁽³⁾

Then there is something called as practical ability. A cat is natural at hunting with stealth. Dogs, on the other hand, are good at companionship, herding and agility. A cat’s independence can be seen as a sign of intelligence by some, while a dog’s ability to learn commands and perform tricks can be the same for others. 

Let’s try another textbook method to solve this debate then - 

What is the IQ of a Cat?

This actually would be a wrong question to ask. IQ as a concept is difficult to assess for any other creatures apart from humans. This is because there are tests developed for measuring it. But unfortunately, they only take answers in human languages. So, unless your dog or cat can speak the same language as you, we wouldn’t know their IQs.

Having said that, a cat’s intelligence can be assessed by studying cognition. Basically, the way animals gather information, process it and then react to it. Here are some findings based on cognition research on cats – ⁽³⁾

And then there are all the orange tabby cat videos on the internet showing cats playing basketball, jamming on songs, playing the piano, purposely irritating their humans and much more. 

Having said that, the intelligence levels in cats may vary from one cat to another. One cat may be a master problem solver, and another may be a feline therapist who can instantly recognize your mood and make it better. 

Some cat breeds, however, are known to be smarter than others. These include – ⁽³⁾

What IQ Do Dogs Have? 

The same logic applies here as for cats – We can’t really know a dog’s IQ. Some scientists, however, have suggested that a dog’s brain may be equivalent to that of a 2-year-old human toddler. While dogs possess on average about 530 million neurons in the cortex, cats have only about 250 million. ⁽¹⁾ 

To know if your dog is smart, here are some signs you can look for – ⁽⁴⁾

And then again, we’ve seen dogs being trained to use men’s urinals, open doors, guide the visually impaired and much more. Even here, some breeds are known to be smarter than others. These include -  ⁽⁴⁾

Are Cats Smarter Than Pigs? 

Pigs evolved completely differently from cats. So, their abilities and cognition are expressed in very different ways. The real shocker here is that pigs are not the dirty and dumb animals that most of us think. 

Studies have shown that pigs can feel a variety of emotions. They can resolve conflicts in a group. They are also very social. They use 20 distinct sounds to interact with each other. They even have social preferences within a group. And the biggest shocker of all – they are actually very tidy creatures. They will defecate only in designated areas. The only reason they spend a lot of time in mud is to cool themselves down as they cannot sweat – after which they will clean the mud off by rubbing themselves against a tree. 

While intelligence can mean different to different people, in comparison to cats, pigs are actually considered to be smarter! (we were as shocked to know this). A cat’s brain is considered to be equivalent to a 2-year-old human baby. A pig’s brain, on the other hand, is considered to be similar to that of a 3-year-old baby (don’t think of it as just a year but as 50% more).  ⁽⁵⁾

What is the Smartest Dog? 

If you look at the top 5 smartest dog breeds in the world, you’ll see the names changing from rank 2 to rank 5 in different lists. But rank 1 will always be the same – Border Collie. 

To justify this, a Border Collie named Chaser holds a record for learning the meaning of 1000 proper nouns as compared to 160 for any other average dog. ⁽⁶⁾

More About Spot Pet Insurance

Cats and dogs both are smart in their own ways. But you might want to think again if you’re smart enough if you haven’t already got pet health insurance for your four-legged buddy. 

For your dog, Spot accident and illness plans can be used with any licensed vet in Canada or the U.S. Whether you are home, or traveling to the U.S., veterinary services your pet receives for the diagnosis, treatment, or management of covered conditions can be eligible for reimbursement. Spot’s accident and illness plans can help cover a variety of conditions including broken bones, lacerations, aggression, kidney disease, diabetes, and more. With the addition of Wellness Riders for an extra cost, you can also receive reimbursements for wellness exams, certain vaccinations, dental cleanings, and more. 

With a Spot accident and illness plan, you can take your cat for treatment at any licensed vet in Canada or the U.S. Spot plans don’t have networks, so whether you’re home or traveling within the U.S, veterinary services your cat receives for the diagnosis, treatment, or management of eligible services can be covered. Spot’s accident and illness plans can help cover a variety of conditions, ranging from broken bones and bite wounds to behavioral conditions, and cancer. While base plans do not offer coverage for preventive care services, Spot’s Wellness Riders can be added to any base plan for an additional fee and can help cover the eligible costs of wellness exams, vaccinations, dental cleanings, and more!