Q&A for How to Test Your Cat's Intelligence

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Which is smarter: cats or dogs?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

Cats have 300 million neurons in the brain, compared to 160 million in dogs. However, these neurons are used for different purposes in each species, which makes it hard to judge which is the cleverer.

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Question

Do cats have IQ?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

IQ is merely a matter of intelligence, and yes, cats are intelligent; therefore, they have IQ. Of course, how you measure IQ in a cat is going to be different than how you measure it in people!

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Question

Do cats know their owners?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

Most definitely cats know their owners. You have only to see the trust an anxious cat places in their owner to see this bond in action.

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Question

Are house cats intelligent?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

In terms of intelligence, cats have twice the number of neurons as dogs. So yes, house cats are intelligent, but tend to use their brain power to train their humans to wait on them.

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