How smart are cats? Here's what science says

There is no doubt that our cats are very smart. They recognize their own names and their owners' voices and are very curious, which is a sign of intelligence. They can also be trained - if they want to, of course!

Here, we look at how smart cats are and what makes them so smart. We also look at some studies that have measured cat intelligence in general, and which cat breeds are the smartest.

Before we begin

There has been notably little research into cat intelligence (there has been a great deal of research into dog intelligence).

David Grimm, Web news editor for Science magazine and an expert on dog and cat science, said that by 2004, multiple papers had been published worldwide on dog intelligence from multiple labs, but that up to that point, there had been no studies on cat intelligence.

There have been a few studies looking at cats since 2004, but of course the world needs more! The studies that have been done show that the biggest obstacle to studying cats is their independent nature.

Dr. Ádám Miklósi, a Hungarian animal behaviorist who has written a paper about how he studies how dogs and cats communicate with humans, said he finds working with cats quite challenging because they don't usually cooperate, follow instructions, or participate the way dogs do.

Therefore, the lack of research on cat intelligence is due to their lack of cooperation. Anyone who has a cat should fully understand this. Our cats prefer to do things their own way most of the time, if ever. But isn't that why we love them?

Independent cat

Cats can be quite mysterious and they choose when they are willing to do something for us. They are generally less patient than dogs and more impulsive. Most dogs are very loyal to their owners and will do almost anything for them, especially if there is praise and a snack involved.

Although cats have intelligence and the ability to be trained, they will only do what they are told unless they want to, even if they love their owners.

Cat owners may not be surprised to learn that cats can recognize their owners' voices, but may choose to ignore them, according to a 2013 study reported in Smithsonian Magazine. The study concluded that because cats are never trained to follow human commands like dogs are, they have a higher degree of independence.

Miklosi also believed that cats did not perform as well as dogs in laboratory tests due to stressful environments and interactions with unfamiliar humans. However, some cats have passed laboratory tests, so Miklosi concluded that if cats were socialized and relaxed, they would be able to successfully complete these studies.

Additionally, animal behaviorist Péter Pongrácz attempted a study with 99 cats, but due to feline independence, was able to obtain data from only 41 of them.

The smartest variety

All cats are pretty smart, but certain breeds come out on top. Cats that tend to be curious and seem to want to know everything tend to be smarter cats, especially because they enjoy a challenge.

So, here are the top five smartest cats in alphabetical order:

• Balinese: These cats are related to the Siamese and are talkative cats who tend to get into trouble, especially if they are not challenged enough.

• Bengal Cat: These mini jaguars have lots of energy and need mental challenges to keep them from getting bored.

• Birman: Expect mischievous behavior from Birman cats when they get bored. They are playful, can be trained, and enjoy spending time with their owners.

• Savannah Cats: These cats were originally bred from the African Savannah cat, so they are active and larger in size. You need to provide them with opportunities for exercise and mental challenges, as they can get bored easily.

• Siamese Cat: Last but not least, the Siamese cat is one of the most popular breeds in the world. They are very intelligent and are known for their talkative and affectionate nature.

How Smart Are Cats?

It's hard to say, given the difficulty of studying cats. We all know they're smart, but measuring that intelligence in scientific studies has proven difficult.

"When researchers encounter challenges studying cats, the problem is not with the cats themselves, but with the methods the researchers use," Vitale said. "So unless they find the right methods to get the answers they want, the mystery of cats will continue to exist in science. In the meantime, we cat owners just know that our cats are smart."

Does your cat seem to respond when you call his name? Can he differentiate between your voice and that of a stranger? If there is something behind a toy or snack, such as a piece of furniture, can he figure out how to get to it (unless it's impossible, of course)? If the answer to these questions is yes, then you probably have a smart cat!

Conclusion

Cats are smart, but only on their own terms. They can make decisions that benefit themselves, not necessarily their owners, and they are very independent, which also speaks to their intelligence.

We also know that our cats can act in mysterious ways. Why does your cat keep knocking the remote to the ground? While it may seem like your cat is messing around, consider that this behavior gets your attention every time.

It's likely that our cats are smarter than we realize, so while science and research try to figure this out, we just know that our cats are intelligent and sensitive creatures, and we love them.