Do dogs pick up human language better or quicker than cats?

Murrmurr

Murrmurr

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I think they do but I'm not sure.

Maybe cats just ignore you until you say words they like, like "food" and ....well, that's the only word I can think of that Pixel recognizes ...or doesn't ignore.

Oh, wait: his name. He usually responds to his name. Usually. And another one is "goodnight". He runs to the bedroom when I say "goodnight" to him, or to anyone. But when I put my hand up and say "Gimme five" or when I open the door and tell him to stay inside or ask him if he wants the fish or the chicken, he looks at me like I just stepped out of an alien craft. And he's lived with me for over 4 years.

When I'm in my recliner and he's in my lap, if I get up and I tell him I'll be right back, he will wait for me. But maybe he just wants the recliner....sometimes. He doesn't always wait.

But dogs, though. You tell a dog "This is a ball" they get that you're showing them a ball. And it only takes 3 or 4 times before they understand "Go get the ball" and "Bring me the ball." And that's just a start. You can literally have a conversation with your dog and s/he'll look at you like s/he understands every word. They even give out a little woof now and then...at appropriate moments! They'll whine a bit when you're talking about something sad, and even lay a sympathetic paw on your knee or whatever.

But maybe dogs are just good at reading a human's body language. And maybe cat are, too, but they couldn't care less. idk

What do you think?
 

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Nathan said:
Dogs are willing to engage humans verbally on human terms. Cats will verbalize but expect humans to come their way.
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Engage is a good word for it. That's the difference right there.

When I talk to Pixel, his eyes seem to say "Why?"

Until he hears the word "food". Then he says "Myeah" and it's definite, but he's still looking at me like "Why?" (Maybe "Why do you ask?")

I haven't had a dog in a really long time. Not since the kids were in grade school.
 
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caramel said:
I agree with this. I think cats don't care unless it interests them. I'm guessing though, based on other people's cats I've seen. I've never had a cat, only dogs.
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I think we're right about that, because I don't think they're stupid. Or I should say, I don't think they're not as intelligent as dogs. For example, Pixel's hyper-aware of his surroundings, seems to recognize visitors who've been here before, knows every nook and cranny throughout the house, and he'll follow me into the kitchen but not the bathroom. That requires intelligence.
 
IDK, my cat understand me perfectly. But then again, I am constantly talking to them. If I tell one "I love you," it rubs it's face on me and starts purring. When I say, "it's bedtime," they go off to their spot for the night and never bother me during the night. If asked, "do you want to play?" they bring the toy they want to play with and they all engage playing. To me, they are just like the dogs that I've had, just don't have to take them outside.
 
I love cats but have had only one in my life. I was a child then and found out that I was very allergic to cats. I had to go get shots just to keep him. I never tried again.

My life has always been filled with dogs. I brought home every stray I found. My stepdad would just say put him in the back yard with the others. If I found out where they belonged they were always taken home by me. I did not have a problem with that, I just wanted them to be safe, fed and loved while I had them.

My dogs, I have three, know a lot of words. I keep to simple statements, I use them all thru the day and they do understand. If I get up from bed, I say, Mama go potty. They stay in the bed or area they sleep. If they go out to potty when they come back, I say, Mama shut the door, and they wait for that. Then they are back in my lap. If I say, Mama up, they know I am going to stand up and get out of my lap. Of course they know hungry, breakfast, dinner and treat.

My little one knows, not for baby girls, she always wants to drink my cup of tea or coke. They all know you have to wait, if I am eating they know they get a bite at the end.

The one thing they don't listen to is no barking. Can anyone give me suggestions to take care of this problem when I have a migraine which is most of the time.

My BIL is a dog whisperer, he has trained his dogs to get their leash, get his hat, open the fridge and bring him a drink!!
 
Murrmurr said:
I think they do but I'm not sure.

Maybe cats just ignore you until you say words they like, like "food" and ....well, that's the only word I can think of that Pixel recognizes ...or doesn't ignore.

Oh, wait: his name. He usually responds to his name. Usually. And another one is "goodnight". He runs to the bedroom when I say "goodnight" to him, or to anyone. But when I put my hand up and say "Gimme five" or when I open the door and tell him to stay inside or ask him if he wants the fish or the chicken, he looks at me like I just stepped out of an alien craft. And he's lived with me for over 4 years.

When I'm in my recliner and he's in my lap, if I get up and I tell him I'll be right back, he will wait for me. But maybe he just wants the recliner....sometimes. He doesn't always wait.

But dogs, though. You tell a dog "This is a ball" they get that you're showing them a ball. And it only takes 3 or 4 times before they understand "Go get the ball" and "Bring me the ball." And that's just a start. You can literally have a conversation with your dog and s/he'll look at you like s/he understands every word. They even give out a little woof now and then...at appropriate moments! They'll whine a bit when you're talking about something sad, and even lay a sympathetic paw on your knee or whatever.

But maybe dogs are just good at reading a human's body language. And maybe cat are, too, but they couldn't care less. idk

What do you think?
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My father trained war dogs during WW2. He often said that it was believed the dogs understand through voice inflection what you 'mean'. However, I had a female golden retriever who would verbalize to me a 'yes' when I asked her if she wanted to take a walk. But, only when I asked her that specific question.

As for cats. Cats seem to take to me easily. But, I don't like cats as pets as much as dogs. However, when meeting a cat for the first time I am much more at ease with a cat than an aggressive/protective dog.

Once I befriended a homeless cat. I encountered her many times. I eventually named her 'Pretty'. And, I would then always address her by that name when I met her. One day I saw her a distance away and called out her name. She stopped, sat down, and then looked about from where the name she had heard came. She understood her name and who it was who gave it to her. However, to answer your question which learns more and faster, I cannot say. They both learn in their own way and to their own purposes.
 
We stayed in a B&B where the man had trained his cats to sit in a horizontal row at dinner time. He would set their bowls in front of them and none would eat until he gave them the signal. As I recall, there were seven cats, all strays. He hadn’t even liked cats until he was in his forties and a stray was hanging about their house.
 
My dog understands quite a few words. I think it's because I talk to her all the time. I treat her like a fellow human and love discussing different things with her. When one uses the same words over and over, it begins to sink in and they understand what you are talking about.
 
Most cats just have to think about it 3 times as long, you ask, you ask, you ask, then they saunter over rubbing stuff and finally do something.
The longer your dog is around cats the more the dog starts to copy the cat's indifference to what you want.
 
papa tiger said:
Most cats just have to think about it 3 times as long, you ask, you ask, you ask, then they saunter over rubbing stuff and finally do something.
The longer your dog is around cats the more the dog starts to copy the cat's indifference to what you want.
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That's interesting. That tells me dogs are followers and cats aren't.

Or dogs need a leader, cat's don't. That makes sense.
 
Copilot

Yes, dogs generally pick up human language better than cats.
Dogs have been shown to process human speech in a way that’s similar to humans, but they don’t pay attention to the phonetic details1. They can learn strategic words like “sit”, “stay”, or “down”, and their brains process speech very quickly1. Some dogs can even learn hundreds of vocabulary words1. However, they might not distinguish between similar-sounding words1.
On the other hand, cats may only understand 25 to 35 words2. Recent studies suggest that cats might be able to pick out particular words that their owner says, but only in very specific circumstances3.
So, while both dogs and cats can understand some aspects of human language, dogs are generally better at picking up and understanding human language than cats. However, it’s important to note that this can vary greatly depending on the individual animal and their experiences.

Learn more​

1akc.org2blog.mysanantonio.com3catster.com4hillspet.com
 
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I think dogs pick up more on human behaviour than cats. Dogs are so eager to please . They are probably more receptive to behavioural cues than cats. Cats are far more independent . The only words they probably know, like others have said, are food related.
 
I like both and find both intelligent in their own way. Canines adapt to human commands better which is perhaps why we applaud dogs over cats and say they are smarter? But I think cats are the smart ones. They get everything their way and don't have to lift a paw to do it. They're also psychic or give that impression successfully. I admire them for it. Love them both.

:giggle:
 
I've had both my entire life & the cats were the smartest over a majority of my dogs. The breed of dog has a lot to do with their smarts. Mom's miniature poodle was a chicken, pouted when she wasn't there & ran off all the time. My husbands family had a poodle growing up that didn't know her name or simple commands & also ran off getting hit one day. My aunt & SIL chihuahuas were all noisy, bit & most not good at getting housebroke. My German shepherds were smart & the Schnauzers the smartest (sometimes too smart). Most dogs love to please, but cats want to be pleased. My cats always ruled over the dogs.

My cats know what I'm saying, but it's if they choose to listen or not. You can also understand their answer by watching their face.

cats worshipped.jpg8fbeb711fdc7a6553821e37f5b0dd127.jpg
 

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