>>Dogs are in fact more intelligent than cats. Cats' independence is often mistaken for intelligence.
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>Where on earth did you get that? Everything I've ever read says exactly the opposite. The fact that one can teach a dog tricks is no real indication of intelligence. You say to a dog, fetch, and it runs after the stick thinking it'll get fed or something as a reward. A cat, when told to fetch says, "You threw it, you fetch it. you're gonna feed me anyway."
>
>Seriously, though, watch a dog when a ball rolls under a couch. It will bang it's head against the couch or sniff around where the ball went under for days. A cat will run around the couch to the back and get the ball.
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>>Likewise, mules are more intelligent than horses. Horses (like people) get undeserved credit for being better looking.

Cats have more instincts, and more finely-tuned instincts, than dogs. But they are less able to learn.

Put a cat in a situation that isn't handled in its ROM and it's either completely flummoxed or completely irrational. For example, give one a cardboard box:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPzNl6NKAG0

hPzNl6NKAG0