Both cats and dogs are domesticated animals. Which of them is smarter?

In the simplest form, cats are smarter in the tasks they need to complete, and dogs are better in taking the initiative to complete the tasks. I don't think there's any point in talking about the 'relative intelligence' of species.

Brian hale, a professor of Evolutionary Anthropology at Duke University, agrees. Distinguishing whether a dog is smarter than a cat is like asking whether a hammer is a better tool than a screwdriver, which depends entirely on its purpose. But this is not to say that animal behavior researchers cannot measure the intellectual differences between dogs and cats, or more accurately, beyond the cognitive abilities needed to sustain life.

Christine Vitale, assistant professor of animal health and behavior at the United College of Maine, said that animal intelligence is usually divided into three main areas: problem-solving ability, concept formation (the ability to form general concepts from specific experience) and group ability.

Vitale mainly studies cats. At present, she focuses on the group ability of cats to produce thinking activities. She points out that cats are usually considered indifferent and uninterested in humans. In fact, they show high group social IQ, which is similar to that of dogs.

For example, research shows that cats can distinguish between their names and words with similar pronunciation, and they prefer to interact with people rather than food, toys and smell. Human attention will have a certain impact on cats. A research report published in the Journal of behavioral process in 2019 shows that when people pay attention to the activities of a cat, the cat's response is to spend more time with him.

In a study that directly compared cats and dogs, the researchers found little difference in the ability of cats and dogs to use clues indicated by humans to find hidden food. However, the researchers pointed out that compared with dogs, cats lack some attention attracting behaviors. Pet owners usually see dogs wagging their tails and begging in front of the feeding basin, while cats don't.

So, which animal is more intelligent in the end? The conclusion may depend on your special ability to appreciate pets, especially the social ability to make them a pleasant partner.