Thought for today:
"Different animal lovers will hold different views upon which creature pet is the most intelligent; cat or dog? Do owners teach their dogs to 'fetch' the sticks they throw or do dogs teach owners how to throw the sticks? I have always preferred dogs to cats and I actually grew up disliking cats. It was only when I researched cats for over five years whilst writing my 'Kilkenny Cat Trilogy' (where all the book characters are cats), that I truly came to understand cats. Having learned how 'independent' and 'superior' in guile and intellect they are to all other creatures apart from the monkeys, I came to respect them greatly. By the end of my five-year's book research, I actually came to like cats. I grew to appreciate that whilst dogs can read their owner's instructions, not only would a cat refuse to carry out anyone else's commands, but they are undoubtedly able to read their owner's minds. They are also probably able to read their owner's books! The shift I'd experienced in changing my former dislike of cats to one of deep admiration I hold for them today merely shows, that often, humans tend to profess an instant dislike for all manner of things, customs, cultures, religions, creatures and other humans that 'they don't understand.' So, despite still liking dogs better than cats, I have not the slightest of doubt that in the 'intelligence stakes' cats win hands down over dogs (and humans) every time!" William Forde: March 22nd, 2013.
"Different animal lovers will hold different views upon which creature pet is the most intelligent; cat or dog? Do owners teach their dogs to 'fetch' the sticks they throw or do dogs teach owners how to throw the sticks? I have always preferred dogs to cats and I actually grew up disliking cats. It was only when I researched cats for over five years whilst writing my 'Kilkenny Cat Trilogy' (where all the book characters are cats), that I truly came to understand cats. Having learned how 'independent' and 'superior' in guile and intellect they are to all other creatures apart from the monkeys, I came to respect them greatly. By the end of my five-year's book research, I actually came to like cats. I grew to appreciate that whilst dogs can read their owner's instructions, not only would a cat refuse to carry out anyone else's commands, but they are undoubtedly able to read their owner's minds. They are also probably able to read their owner's books! The shift I'd experienced in changing my former dislike of cats to one of deep admiration I hold for them today merely shows, that often, humans tend to profess an instant dislike for all manner of things, customs, cultures, religions, creatures and other humans that 'they don't understand.' So, despite still liking dogs better than cats, I have not the slightest of doubt that in the 'intelligence stakes' cats win hands down over dogs (and humans) every time!" William Forde: March 22nd, 2013.
