Research has shown that “cat people” tend to be more intelligent than “dog people.” On top of that, the study found the pro-cat camp tends to be more creative, independent, and rebellious. However, the science suggests it isn't all negative for
Dogs, it turns out, have about twice the number of neurons in their cerebral cortexes than what cats have, which suggests they could be about twice as intelligent.
It seems that based off of all the questions and scoring among those in the study, cat people were found to score higher intellectually speaking and were considered to be more “intellectually curious” compared to others.
Researchers examining the differences between "dog people" and "cat people" found that feline fans score higher on intelligence tests and are more introverted, open-minded, and sensitive, LiveScience reports. On the other hand, "dog people" are more outgoing and energetic, and they prefer to follow the rules.
Cat people are generally more introverted than dog people. While dog owners might prefer spending time outdoors and seeking out opportunities for social interaction, cat people seem to prefer spending time at home with their pets. Possibly even curled up together, taking an afternoon nap!
As a side note, 352 were self-declared dog people and just 66 confessed to preferring cats. The cat admirers scored higher in a test for reasoning and general intelligence, plus they also proved better at abstract thought, self-reliance, and open-mindedness.
There is a fair amount of research to suggest that cat owners tend to be more trusting of other people, and also have the inclination to be more socially sensitive. Psychology Today also mentions that cat people often score higher in intelligence, and tend to be more intellectually curious.
Although more people in the world own cats, if you ask people you'll generally find that dogs reign supreme. We understand their appeal, but we also understand that dogs aren't for everyone.
Educated people with more professional jobs may tend to work longer hours and opt for pets that compliment their personal circumstances and lifestyle, and cats fit that niche. Researchers suggest that perhaps this is the reason cat owners are more likely to be more intelligent than dog owners.
Dog owners averaged a significantly higher happiness score when compared to their feline counterparts. Compared to cat owners, dog owners are 5% happier than cat owners. Dog owners are +5% happier than cat owners.
The general pattern that comes out of both studies is that dog owners are more social, interactive, and accepting, and cat owners (who own cats exclusively) are more introverted, self-contained, and less sociable.
Research has proven that petting a cat causes a release of the “love hormone” in humans. The technical term for this neurochemical is oxytocin, a hormone that is released when people fall in love. Oxytocin has also been proven to increase your emotional perception!
Within the encephalization quotient proposed by Jerison in 1973, values above one are classified big-brained, while values lower than one are small-brained. The domestic cat is attributed a value of between 1–1.71; relative to human value, that is 7.44–7.8.
1: Chimpanzee
Chimpanzees can learn sign language to communicate with humans. Topping our list of smartest animals is another great ape, the chimpanzee. The impressive intellectual abilities of this animal have long fascinated humans.
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.
1. African Grey Parrots. African grey parrots are one of the most intelligent birds in the world. They have the highest levels of animal intelligence of any creature domesticated or wild.
Cats not only excel at learning new information, but they can also mesh that information with things they've learned previously, recall it when needed, and apply it to the current situation. While we do know that cats are highly intelligent, we may never know the full extent of their cognitive abilities.
Overall, these studies prove that cats can interpret human emotions, including depression and anxiety, to a certain degree. Your cat will often act in accordance with the visual and auditory cues that you are giving off, such as crying or anxious motion, and they will change their behavior correspondingly.
Siamese cats are perhaps the most intelligent of them all. They are forever getting into mischief with their inquisitive nature making them explore every corner of the house. This breed may respond better than others to training and many owners report that their Siamese cats can do tricks.
Chimpanzees
We share 99 percent of our DNA with chimpanzees, so it comes as no surprise that countless hours of research have been dedicated to understanding the intelligence and behavior of our sister species. This research has firmly established that chimps are one of the most intelligent species on earth.
Cat lovers are generally more sensitive and intuitive, and may be more likely to prioritize their own needs and well-being over the needs of others. On the other hand, dog lovers tend to be more extroverted and outgoing.
The survey found that cat owners were more likely to be curious, unconventional in thinking and actions, and more prone to worry than dog people.
Another study found that cat people are more hostile and that they rate their own cats as more hostile, less friendly and less submissive in comparison to dog owners and their pets.
Cats are among the smartest creatures in the animal kingdom. They often get short shrift on the perception of intelligence, especially when compared to dogs, but not because dogs outsmart them.