Posted: December 14, 2009, 3 a.m. EST
Buddy |
New Scientist magazine has surely raised the hackles of cat lovers with its latest cover story,"Why Dogs Are Smarter Than Cats," which proclaims canines smarter than felines by a small margin.
It used 11 categories to compare the animals, including problem-solving and tractability (dogs won) and popularity and vocalization (cats won.)
I am intrigued by this notion; while I don't like to compare my "children," I would have to say that my experience contradicts New Scientist's findings. Hey Jude, my dear departed rescue cat, would probably win the intelligence race over Buddy, my adorable rescue dog. Sorry, New Scientist. (And sorry, Buddy. Don't read this.)
Buddy is as lovable a lug as you could hope to meet — patient, sweet and kind. He loves children and women and senior citizens. But try to tell him anything other than "eat," "walk" and "car," and you get an affectionate slobber and an excited back flip, not exactly signs of comprehension.
Hey Jude |
My tuxedo cat Hey Jude knew who was boss — him. He communicated his wishes and needs through his meows and body language. He always made his intentions perfectly clear — he would look you in the eye and tell you exactly what he wished to convey, and he listened while you spoke to him.
For one year we lived in a historic home in downtown Savannah, Ga. One of my favorite memories of Hey Jude was how he would plant himself on our broad front porch and pose for the tourists taking pictures. Now, if only he had charged for those photos — that would have been really smart.
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