Cats: Not as clever as we think

“slob on my door knob, like corn on the cob”

“According to Osthaus, dogs were able to solve the parallel string test, but cats weren't. This test was flawed. Firstly, cats are less food motivated as dogs, and are as likely to be interested in the string as a toy as in achieving a treat. Tests need to be set up with an animals natural behaviour in mind (cats hunt and stalk single prey, dogs are pack-hunters evolved to select prey from a herd). Secondly, the comparison with dogs was also incorrect as another paper, co-authored by Osthaus - if the strings were placed at an angle or were crossed, the dogs tended to paw or mouth at the location closest in line with the treat (Osthaus B, Lea SE, Slater AM. 2005. Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) fail to show understanding of means-end connections in a string-pulling task. Anim Cogn 8(1): 37-47.). In other words, both cats and dogs understood the means-end connections involving strings, but they were both unable to understand
crossed strings - something very different from failing to understand cause and effect.

Pet cats have learnt how to open doors using door-knobs and experimental cats have learnt to dispense food using a lever; both instances of cause and effect.”

“TO: Anarchos

Who has that much to say about cats, besides a cat scientist? I agree with Whocares; with cat lovers it's always, "Well, my cat..."

...And, every time I've actually been in the presence of the cat in question, it acts like every other cat - oblivious, as long as some simpering human is digging its **** out of a box for it.

Cat owners, you'd get a lot more respect from your cat and the rest of us if you could just swallow your pride and love the dumb beast. Do your part, and when they're done leaving their filthy hair everywhere and a steaming load for you to shovel up, you know they'll try to make time for you.”

“Three are brilliant. One, not so much but very loving and sweet. Two of them play fetch and will find their toys on command. To wake me up one will poke me in the back with a single claw. One will consistenly walk across my body. One will sit in front of my face and huff and purr and lick my eyelids until i stir. So they work not only singularly but in a group. They know what they want and how to get it.

My tuxedo cat knows six commands. up, lay down, kiss, give me a hug, and no.The dumb cat knows the vacuum cleaner is scary.

My point is, you cannot learn any thing about cats through inane experiments. You need to live with them as companions like i have for the last twenty five years.”

“Glad to see, in these hard economic times, researchers are plugging away on critical assignments.”

“Hahaha, look at all the cat owners get offended and say, "well my cat..." too funny.”

“I am getting a laugh out of seeing censoring software edit out the word for the 'door handle'.”

“My cats are pretty smart. They learned that jumping on the counters will lead to a swat on the behind, that getting into the bathtub means they are going to get a bath and the putting on of the kitty harness means they're going for a walk outside. They also know the sounds, location of the treat packs pretty well. My cats would rather play with the string than get the treat off the end of it. IMO they knew what was expected of them and did the opposite just to mess with the heads of the researchers.”

“There isn't even enough 'science' in this to call it shoddy science.”

“I had a cat who learned to escape from the basement by learning to turn the door knob. That seems a bit like understanding cause and effect to me.”