Though this data might seem to suggest that dogs are twice as intelligent as cats, a direct correlation between larger brain size and increased intelligence has not been conclusively proven. Regardless, dogs' higher neuron count is often viewed as a gauge of their superior intelligence.
The cerebral cortex of cats is greater and more complex compared to that of dogs. The cerebral cortex is the part of the brain responsible for cognitive information processing. A cat's cerebral cortex contains about twice as many neurons as that of dogs.
The domestic cat is attributed a value of between 1–1.71; relative to human value, that is 7.44–7.8. The largest brains in the family Felidae are those of the tigers in Java and Bali. It is debated whether there exists a causal relationship between brain size and intelligence in vertebrates.
Many feline behaviorists as well as child psychologists seem to agree that the intelligence of an adult cat equals that of a 2 to 3 year old child.
According to The Intelligence of Dogs, which ranks 131 dog breeds in terms of their relative intelligence, the border collie is the smartest dog breed known to man.
C ats are just as loyal as dogs and children, according to new research. Although feline pets are seen as distant and aloof, researchers claim this is an unfair myth.
Cats lack the cognitive skills to interpret human language, but they recognize when you talk to them. To put it another way, cats comprehend human language in the same way that we understand meowing. It's similar to how you interpret your cat's language by "reading" how they arch their back or swish their tail.
Grooming your pet will still require assistance
Cats are, in fact, cleaner than dogs. Cats do not require as frequent bathing as dogs do due to their capacity and proclivity to clean and groom themselves. Most cats, especially those with medium to long fur, should be brushed on a regular basis.
Dogs have 100 million odor senses. The area of their brain dedicated to analyzing odors is 40 times larger than that of a human brain. Cats have 200 million odor senses. Their noses are very sensitive — and sense of smell is 14 times better than humans.
Owning a cat can actually reduce your chances of having a heart attack by 40%. It's a win-win situation. You lower your blood pressure, reduce stress and have the bonus of a fluffy little friend. Cats also live longer than dogs, so you can really make the most of the health benefits they provide.
A recent study by researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia, shed new light on how cats' scratchy tongues enable them to keep themselves so clean: they're covered with hundreds of sharp, tiny hooks called filiform papillae.
What does it mean? "Your cat is most likely staring at you while crying because they're trying to make sense of what they see and hear," McGowan says. Your cat might not understand human crying, but she'll gather as many clues as she can and use them to adjust her behavior.
Cats do often treat humans like other felines, using gestures like licking or rubbing on both feline friends and human caregivers, she says. “In a way, cats think of us as bigger cats,” Bonk says. “They might not necessarily know that we're a different species or they just don't care.”
After several years, they can still remember people, places and events from the past. So maybe next time you find your cat staring blankly at a wall or closet, it may be possible that she is thinking of the past and replaying it over and over again.
Quite often, when owners go away, their cats seem also to disappear. Whether they are hiding or are having their own vacation, disappearing can be a sign that a cat is distressed and misses their owner. Illness. Some cats become unwell with the anxiety of their owner's absence and the change in their daily routine.
Cats are often stereotyped as standoffish and aloof, even to the people who love them most, but the truth is that cats can be just as protective of their people as dogs are of theirs. Put simply, cats love their family and their family loves them right back.
Cats groom each other as a display of affection, and this behavior will extend to humans when trust is built. Cats will often lick their people or allow them to brush them. Licking is similar to the grooming they would perform on their feline friends and allows for marking of each other.
Cats can also discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar humans, recognise human faces and voices, and make the mental match between the two.
As explained by Popular Science, cats actually don't recognize themselves in the mirror, despite what you see in those cute cat videos or in your own home.
Color vision
A cat's vision is similar to a human who is color blind. They can see shades of blue and green, but reds and pinks can be confusing. These may appear more green, while purple can look like another shade of blue. Cats also don't see the same richness of hues and saturation of colors that we can.
Can Cats Sense Depression? It appears that cats can sense human moods as well as depression. Cats are observant and intuitive, and this allows them to understand emotional cues from humans. So when you are depressed, they can sense that too.
Ears flattened back against the head and slightly sticking out—”like airplane wings”—are a sure indicator your cat is upset, Shojai says. Don't worry too much but do keep your distance. “An all-out attack toward people isn't terribly common and, when it happens, may actually be a redirected aggression,” she explains.
Although a cat may not care (as that word is generally used) about human morals, cats can and do distinguish between good and bad people, and are excellent judges of human character and emotion.
To be safe, avoid kissing your cat on the lips. A peck on the head is just as affectionate and carries far less chance of disease. To ensure your cat's oral hygiene, you might consider regularly brushing your cat's teeth or administering mouth wash.
Cats' mouth bacteria could trigger a skin infection, abscess or even potentially fatal sepsis. That's why vets advise pet owners to prevent their cats from licking their wounds.