Just how intelligent are cats?

Question

I sometimes get the impression my cats know what I am going to do before I do it and the only thing that holds them back is communication. That and the lack of an opposable thumb. See link below for very funny article on the same subject.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2006/jan/10/tvandradio.timdowling

Answer 1

We have two cats. Psycho is unbelievably smart and intuitive - she knows what we're thinking before we do. We call Mini our "special needs" cat because she's quite thick - keeps forgetting how to use the catdoor. Love them both though.

(Yes, as someone else said, definitely telepathic)

Answer 2

True story. I always turn my cat's head away when I enter my password.

Answer 3

According to a comprehensive (REALLY INTERESTING AND INFORMATIVE!) web article on catsinternational.org,  (http://www.catsinternational.org/article...

cats have the equivalent intelligence of a 2-3 year-old child. It's amazing how they are able to intuit 'their people', and access their surroundings to guage the next best move and/or to problem solve to get what they want (such as using a path we wouldn't think of to get to a favorite treat).

One important point they made, however, that I feel MUST be mentioned, is that although felines have great memories and high intelligence, they are still unable to understand any type of punishment unless it's a scolding at the moment they are acting out. A few minutes later only confuses them. Positive reinforcement works best.

I have several cats and two dogs (not to mention a bunch of exotic birds) and decided to try some of the trainings I used with my dogs - and some from the Animal Planet shows - and their response has been incredible...not that I'm reeeal surprised - LOL.

Thanks for letting me share. :0)

PS: No, we do not have any problems with the cats bothering the birds. Actually, my big Orange-Wing Amazon and my oldest kitty like to lay together in the window, on the edge of the bed and the back of my computer chair!

Answer 4

Very clever and intelligent, as my cat can truly understand the differences between the types of food in his sachets even if they are all the same colour but with different recipes. I think he reads the packets as we show them to him to ask him which one he would like to eat and he picks the ones he doesnt want to eat and chooses the ones he does want to eat. So as a trick i have taken 2 packets of food and showed them to him and he has chosen the one he wants , so behind my back without him seeing them i swapped the one he didnt want for the one he wanted. I put it in his bowl and put it on the floor for him and he didnt even look at it , swished his tail in dissaproval and went out the cat flap meowing outside until i put the one he wanted into his bowl. After that he sat indoors reading the newspaper and choosing where he would like to go on holiday next year...

Answer 5

Cats are really intelligent I had a cat who loved to play with jingle ball toys and when I said jingle bertie he would go and get the ball in his mouth and drop it at my feet. I would throw it for him and he would bring it back again to my feet.

Our other cats open doors windows, the fridge, turn the cd player on and turn it off if they don't like the music that is playing!

My cat maoie i think is telepathic, he is always looking out the window as I arrive home in the evenings, either he is telepathic or he can tell the time both of these are pretty cool and intelligent!

Cool article btw thanks!  

Answer 6

cats are very intelligent that when a person opens a door (without a k**b) they would follow him/her

Answer 7

My cats can unlock the catflap and when we had an electromagnetic catflap, Salem learned how to hook his claw underneath the door and lift it upwards. I never bothered replacing his collar after that.

They also seen to know exactly when to make the most noise for maximum irritation.

Answer 8

Cats are clever and a little bit on the sly side to.  God love 'em.  I think Eddie Izzard explained it very well....

Answer 9

I tend to think you're right, cats are very intelligent and have been known to be able to foretell things like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and the like!  There's certainly a lot more going on in a cats head than we'll ever know...  ;)

Answer 10

Very very intellegent!!! much more than dogs as they can bury their own **** too!!!

Answer 11

Cats are clever animals.  What other pet has persuaded their owner to provide (and clean) an indoor toilet for them, or to fit a door so that they can come and go as they please?   They're also very adept at switching from cute fur-baby mode into highly skilled predator in an instant.

On a more serious note cats are more intelligent than people give them credit for and studies have shown that they are capable of solving quite complex problems.  This article about their level of intelligence makes interesting reading.

http://www.messybeast.com/intelligence.h...

Answer 12

Luckily not smart enough to work out how to use Home Delivery services, credit cards and tin openers. Then you would find out how much they really appreciated you and you 'd be in trouble..

Answer 13

I think cats are very intelligent. My kitten has started going up to the door and jumping up trying to get the door handle when she wants to get out. I think shes learnt that that's what we use to get out.

They know what cupboard is the cat food cupboard and can tell us when theyre hungry, by sitting next to it and meowing.

Answer 14

cats are highly intelligent animals. they are quick, clever and smart. There is no doubt about that. I totally thing you are right about what is holding them back is the communication thing, but even without communication, they use their paws and meows , my cats wake me up in them morning by softly pawing my face or rubbing their face in my head, they do this to wake me up to let them out , they groom me to show their affection, they claw on the door when they want in or out, when i drive home my cats come running from across the street they are so attentive!  they respect me when i feed them by rubbing up against me before they eat to say thanks.  

Answer 15

Cats are amazingly intelligent.  I have one cat that I think is the kitty form of Einstein.  We were trying to potty train 3 kittens with no luck, we left town for the weekend, came back, and all of a sudden the 3 kittens pop into the litter box, do their thing, and pop out, with Uncle Vinny watching proudly.  He taught them!!  We were sooo happy!  And then when they would go outside on their own, and we would call them to come in, if they wouldn't come on their own, he would go out and get them.  Also, he knows the kitten's different names, so if I tell him to wake up Abbey, he wakes up the right kitten haha!