this post was submitted on 09 Jun 2026
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What if they're actually just too dumb?
(I haven't seen the research, just wondering if maybe they just don't get it)
I know it's a meme com, but they really aren't. In this case it's more about humans being "dumb". They try to apply the same methodology they use with dogs to cats. And that in itself is dumb. There are studies out there that treat cats as cats and yield actual results.
Another thing is there's much, much more funding for dog research simply because dogs are far more useful to humans than cats. E.g. guide dogs for blind people, other service dogs, bomb sniffer dogs, rescue dogs, etc.
Meanwhile, useful cats are just cats doing cat things, like chasing mice and rodents in the house or in a barn for barn cats, as they require much less training since it’s their natural instinct and much less maintenance since some don’t crave human attention constantly (for barn cats).
We actually train dogs to catch mice, because cats are, as concluded in the study, dicks that will only do what they please.
There was a documentary about rats on Netflix I think and there was a segment about rat hunting terriers. There was a pack of them on a farm and they were just ripping those rats apart. Completely vicious like fighting over rats.
And then we have mink trained to exterminate rats together with dogs. That might be the most entertaining way of rat extermination to watch.
At least for my cat, I would say he both is dumb but definitely also plays dumb when I try to get him to do things. Sure, it's fun to jump over the human's arm and get a treat after, but what's also fun is to watch the human crawl pathetically on the floor while he tries to adjust his arm to a good jumping height.