Is Your Cat Smarter Than Your 2-year-old?
Understanding Your Cat’s Brain
Could your cat outsmart your toddler? Let’s dive into the mind of your feline friend to see just how sharp they really are.
In the fascinating realm of cat cognition, recent research has uncovered that our furry friends possess the ability to understand human emotions, choose the most nutritious meals, and solve puzzles that might perplex your 2-year-old.
Note: Non-members can read the full story at this link.
Dogs hold the title of man’s best friend, so until recently, studies on the cats were rare. It appears that the well-known independence of cats isn’t just aloofness, but due to their semi-domesticated nature (they’re not completely under human control).
Cats do much more than just sleep all day. They’re quick learners who are good at understanding the human world, thanks to their advanced social and thinking skills.
Although cats seem to show little emotion, they actually form close relationships with their owners, understanding and reacting to how their human feels. Your cat might know you better than you think, able to tell when you’re happy or upset. They’ve learned to live well with humans, recognizing who we are by our looks and sounds, figuring out what our movements mean, and looking to us for help with new or scary things.
If you’ve ever had a cat bring you their just-caught prey, you know they’re bringing you the “prize” to you to show you they consider you a part of their family.
And like tiny, furry geniuses, cats also understand that objects still exist even when they can’t see them, remember things for a short time, and even understand numbers and time. They also know how to pick the most nutritious food when given a choice.
However, without the right stimulation, smart cats can get bored. So to keep your cat’s brain active, you need to treat them like the smart creatures they are. Activities like safe outdoor adventures, watching birds, or playing with interactive videos are important to keep your cat’s mind sharp.
I’ve had many cats over the years and these are some of the tricks they knew:
1. When we lived on a boat with a cat, he learned to climb out of the water when he fell in and we wouldn’t know it until he showed up looking like a drowned rat.
2. The same cat learned to fish from the boat and when he wasn’t fishing, he was acting as deckhand, rounding up the fish on the deck.
3. When my sister lived with me, she taught her caught to use the toilet.
3. I’ve taught an ADULT cat to walk on a leash. It took me a couple of months because he was older, but you can easily teach a kitten.
4. All my cats have learned to use doggie doors.
5. I’ve taught all my cats not to scratch the furniture.
6. My adult cats have welcomed numerous foster dogs they didn’t know.
7. All my cats have learned to come when I call their name.
Cats are incredibly intelligent and adaptable, capable of learning a variety of interesting behaviors. With patience and positive reinforcement, you can also teach your cat to:
- Perform Tricks
- Fetch
- Open doors
- Use scratch posts
- Navigate obstacle courses
- Ring bells for treats
Training a cat requires understanding their motivation and interests, and unlike dogs, cats are more likely to participate in activities that have a clear benefit to them. Treats, praise, and playtime are all good incentives. Remember, every cat is different, and their individual personality greatly influences what they can learn and how quickly they pick up new skills.
So, the next time your cat ignores you, remember: it’s not you, it’s them — just being their smart, independent selves. And if you want to test your cat’s genius, try the old treat-under-the-cup trick.
You might just be living with a feline prodigy. But that’s no surprise — they’ve been secretly running the show. We just didn’t know it.
