Cat Intelligence: Understanding How the Capacity of your Feline

Most pet owners love boasting about how clever and intelligent their pets are. Dog and cat lovers alike even seem to delight in never ending debates as to which pet is ‘smarter’. And while most dog owners argue that their pet dogs have distinct abilities of doing tricks, feline lovers often counter such claims saying their cats are most of the time too intelligent and smart to perform on command. However, both dogs and cats are smart in their own rights. Like smart dogs, cat intelligence is also something that felines can learn as they grow. 

So are cats really intelligent? Just like humans and other animals, cats have different levels of intelligence. Some cats are bright while others are just ordinary. Anybody who lives in a household full of felines can attest to that fact. Intelligent cats often display their smartness by showing keen interest in the things around them, attempting different strategies especially when an effort to reach a goal is crucial, learning from their various experiences, or communicating with their humans and other pets at home. 

Cat Curiosity.

The classic adage “curiosity killed the cat’’ often begs the question why a particular animal that lacks intelligence is still willing to risk his own life in order to learn something out of an unfamiliar situation or object that rings his curiosity. Why, purely out of instinct, do some animals like cats show a strong sense of interest on things that do not necessarily have any direct deportment on his survival? In essence, the behavior is actually very human. Most people in fact have risked their own lives just to satisfy their curiosity. Just like human children, cat intelligence begins with kittens. The baby felines, when exposed and provided with an interesting and stimulating environment from the time they are born, are more likely to development sharp abilities. When handled and played regularly, these kittens are expected to grow up smart than those raised in a surrounding with less sensory stimulation. 

Experience and Practice.

Have you noticed at some point in time that your cats may seem unable to learn? This is actually a common issue among pet cat owners. However, this happens when a particular subject matter does not catch their interest. Studies show that cats actually learn from experience especially when they a situation information relevant. Meaning, the most interesting a situation is, the more likely your pet felines develop cat intelligence. Additionally, cats have very strong sense of memory. They can easily remember useful information like the sound of their humans or the animals they have interacted with. 

Communication.

Another impressive trait is their ability to communicate. Although only a few cats are vocal, all cats generally communicate. Communication may include cheerfully greeting their owners once they arrive from work, or seeking for food by trying to express anxiety about the issue. 

Navigational Skills.

Cats have very remarkable sense of direction. In fact, cats can easily find their way back home even from long distances. Their superb navigation skills is believed to come from two things: their being sensitive to the magnetic fields of the Earth (although this is only a hypothesis after it was discovered that when a magnet is attached to a cat, their sense of navigation is disrupted), and by using the sun’s angle for navigation. 

Understanding cat intelligence will give a better and deeper relationship between pet owners and their felines. Cats are indeed truly rewarding and enjoyable pets at home. With their intelligence, having a pet feline at home is one thing pet owners should be proud of.