>>>Dogs are in fact more intelligent than cats. Cats' independence is often mistaken for intelligence.
>>
>>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.
>>
>>>
>>>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.
I'm not sure they're less able to learn. They just don't bother learning stuff that is only important to you and not to them.
>
>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=hPzNl6NKAG0I would really love to know exactly what goes through a cat's head when presented with something new and playable. Or why they will sometimes suddenly jump up from a quiet relaxation and go tearing out of the room, turn around and tear back in only to lie down again.
