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Dog Tips

Pet Intelligence Face-Off Sparks Debate

In the perennial battle of wits between America's favorite pets, new research throws a curveball into the dog vs. cat intelligence saga.

Analysis by Dr. Karen Shaw Becker

• 6 min read
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dog vs cat intelligence

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

  • A recently published study from Hungary suggests that not only are cats unwilling test participants, but unlike dogs, they also show little interest in following human pointing gestures to score treats
  • Just 7% of the cats followed pointing gestures at least half the time and were above chance; the remaining 93% were guessing rather than gathering information about which container held the treat based on where the experimenter was pointing
  • An earlier study produced different results — this group of cats understood pointing gestures at least 75% of the time, performing significantly above chance
  • Further exploration is necessary to understand the underlying mechanisms of the cats’ behavior; is it possible the process of domestication has resulted in cats with social-cognitive abilities that allow them to communicate better with humans?

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bark & whiskers disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your own veterinarian or doctor. Dr. Karen Becker cannot answer specific questions about your pet's medical issues or make medical recommendations for your pet without first establishing a veterinarian-client-patient relationship. Your pet's medical protocol should be given by your holistic veterinarian.

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