Study Finds Dogs Are Better Than Cats

(Victoria Herald Sun) - A study of pets' character, intelligence and usefulness has shown dogs are better than cats - but only by a whisker.

In the "great pet showdown" experts compared 11 traits from brain size to environmental impact by looking at research published in scientific journals. Dogs came out on top in six categories, compared to cats' five.

Staff at New Scientist magazine said cats fared best in categories including having bigger brains in proportion to their body size.

But in the other six categories examined, many of which related to how the animals interact with humans, dogs had the edge.

Dogs have a longer shared history with people and may have been domesticated as long as 135,000 years ago. Cats are relative newcomers to human homes.

Canines also have a greater ability to bond with their masters. Even four-month-old puppies choose a human companion over another dog, research has shown.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/world/new-scientist-study-finds-dogs-are-better-than-cats/story-e6frfkyi-1225809115169

Watch a video report from New Scientist: