Cat Owner's Manual › Introduction › 

Intelligence of Cats

Though gauging the intelligence of a nonhuman species is difficult, scientific as well as anecdotal evidence supports the cat's standing as one of the most intelligent of domestic animals. Its situational awareness is unrivaled—as anyone who has ever watched a feline investigate every nook and cranny of an unfamiliar room already knows. Cats learn by observation; they can discover how to turn doorknobs, open cabinets, and turn lights on and off simply by imitating their owners. Kittens download a great deal of learned behavior simply by watching their mothers.

Some experts believe that cat intelligence is roughly analogous to that of a 2- to 3-year-old child. This does not mean, however, that they are easy to train. Cats, unlike dogs, are not social animals programmed with an innate desire to please their superiors. Cats are solitary hunters with only the vaguest concept of hierarchy and little desire to "please" anyone but themselves. They are capable of mastering complex behaviors, but only on their own terms. Often the only effective motivation is food and, to a lesser degree, praise.

Comments (2)

Introduction

Comments for This Page (2)  |  Post a Comment

I have to agree, in part. The 'guys' we have are all rescue cats- 2 from the same household (w/80 others) and 1 foundling who lost his mom. They act as a 'pack' and have become on intrical part or our family. The black & whites (Watson & Mycroft) will come when called- (Watson especially where food is involved) but Champ (Maine Coon) has learned to open doors, flush toilets (to our dismay), fetch, and even push the video into the VCR=

purred by Lynn Davis on Apr 22, 2008 AT 5:54 am PDT
2 people found this comment helpful.
Helpful? Y / N    Report this Comment

MISS/MR. JINX SHAKES PAWS, WAVES HI & GOODBYE, GIVES HIGH FIVES, W/BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT PAWS, SITS UP AND BEGS, SWIMS, MEOWS WHEN I ASK HER TO SPEAK

purred by CHARLES JETTER on Jul 13, 2008 AT 12:45 am PDT
Helpful? Y / N    Report this Comment

Post a Comment for This Page

Please log in or register to post a comment.

Email
Password:

Quirk BooksThe Cat Owner's Manual is a basic guide to cat care.
The book was written by a celebrated veterinarian and an acclaimed author. It provides cat owners with well-researched and helpful information presented in a lighthearted manner. The creators chose to write the book in a style similar to what you'd find in "operating instructions" for a car or computer. Of course they--and we--respect the fact that our beloved pets are not products or machines!