Cat Recapitulation—Part 2

So that's one data point: an article on the likelihood of cats of responding to their names. In a second article, this time in Slate magazine, a writer explored the fact that cats seem to be less responsive than dogs to human requests. He contacted an animal researcher at a university in Hungary, who is well-known for his expertise on cats and dogs, who claims that dogs are far more tuned into humans; that they can learn hundreds of words, are capable of abstract thought, and even appear to comprehend what is going on in the mind of their human companions! It seems that cats can't really be bothered with these deeper types of connections with humans.

The intrepid Slate investigator also contacted another animal expert at an Italian university, who has experimented with cats, dogs, and even fish. The Italian professor said that, in trying to evaluate the cognitive abilities of all three critters, cats come in last. In fact, fish were much easier to study and train than cats. Furthermore, he felt that the attention span of a cat is shorter than that of a fish!

Finally, back to NPR, in an article titled, “All Right, Some Cats Do Fetch.” It is well known that dogs are naturally inclined to fetch—which has endeared them for millennia to human hunters. Dogs want to please their human companions, so even though what sometimes appears to be a dog's mindless behavior to chase a thrown ball or stick and retrieve it (again and again and again), the fetching of food was likely crucial to the survival of ancient peoples who bonded with dogs.

In a query sent out by NPR, some cat owners testified that they were able to train their cats to fetch. One cat person noted, however, that indeed, his cat did retrieve, “... but only when he wants to.” That seems to sum up a cat's service to their human companions: they may be trainable in some sense, but only when they wish to be.

As far as the retrieving game goes, it should be fairly noted that cats often bring dead animals that they have caught and dispatched, almost as if in offering a gift. This is not a process of fetching, however. Additionally, most cat owners do not relish discovering a lifeless or partially eaten mouse or bird on their doorstep. It may be a demonstration of a cat's affection, but the gift is not something one desires as part of a human meal, much less enjoy the sight of a mutilated, dead animal deposited on the porch.

And so I wrap up another examination of the contrast between cats and dogs and their relationships with humans. Even though I do my best to maintain a balanced view, it seems as if my inner bias towards our more advantageous connections to dogs is verified by ongoing research by the world's prestigious universities. Sorry, cousin, but I guess that the truth is not on your side.