In just a few minutes, assess your cat's intelligence by taking our quick home test! To find out your cat's IQ, answer ten questions! Depending on your score, you'll know if your cat has exceptional intelligence, average intelligence, or is below average intelligence compared to other cats.

Take the test now

But first, learn more about cat intelligence and the importance of interacting with your kitten and keeping them active to support their development and encourage pleasant behaviors.

How intelligent is a cat?

Cat intelligence is complex and is divided into three dimensions:

• social intelligence;

• emotional intelligence;

• practical intelligence.

Each of these dimensions can be more or less developed. To assess an IQ, all three dimensions must be considered, as it is not simply limited to the ability to solve a problem, adapt to a new situation, or express emotions. It is therefore essential to assess a cat's intelligence as a whole.

Kitten Education

Early in their lives, the mother plays a key role in raising kittens. From the first few weeks, she teaches them behaviors essential to their survival, such as toilet training, hunting, and good social manners. She shows them how to feed themselves and how to interact with her and their siblings. Through her gestures and behaviors, she sets an example with communication signals, such as meowing and body postures.

At 8 to 10 weeks old, the kitten begins to gain independence. When you adopt it, you take on a crucial role by replacing its mother. This is when you help it continue its learning, refining its social behavior and emotional intelligence through your daily interactions. You ensure its safety and teach it how to interact with humans, how to understand the boundaries and rules of its new environment.

Two simple tips to boost your cat's intelligence

1. Talk to your cat.

A cat with high social and emotional intelligence will try to communicate with its owner every day. Take advantage of this opportunity to interact with it and learn to recognize its nonverbal signals and vocalizations.

2. Play with your cat.

Educational games are a great way to stimulate a cat's practical intelligence and keep them as active as possible. For example, by simulating hunting situations, you can teach them how to defend themselves, face challenges, and recognize dangers.

Examples of educational games for cats

1. Place a treat under a jar or blanket for him to search for.

2. Throw him a small ball or cat toy to get him to run towards the object.

3. Teasing him with a stick or feather rope will stimulate his hunting instinct.

Test your cat's IQ

Take this fun quiz to test your cat's IQ!

Read each statement and circle the letter that best describes your cat's behavior. At the end of the test, add up your points. Depending on the number of points you tally, you'll know if your cat is exceptional, average, or less intelligent than the average cat.

Play the game!

Cat IQ Test

Step 1: Answer the questions.

1. You move in bed with the cat next to you:

a) He gets out of bed.

b) It repositions itself, but remains stuck.

c) It doesn't move at all.

2. You are moving furniture around the house or moving:

a) No problem, it installs.

b) He has to re-establish his territory and urinates everywhere.

c) It takes a few days to acclimatize.

3. You are watching television and you hear bird noises:

a) He remains indifferent.

b) He raises his head to listen.

c) He meows and approaches the television.

4. The different meows:

a) The cat has more than four different kinds.

b) He always has the same one.

c) He owns a few.

5. A stranger enters your house:

a) He is discreet, but approaches.

b) He will naturally caress the stranger.

c) He hides until the person leaves.

6. You hide a treat under a blanket:

a) He loses interest and leaves.

b) He prowls around, but eventually meows for help.

c) He solves the problem alone.

7. You call it by name or by a sound:

a) He rushes.

b) He doesn't move.

c) He reacts after a few moments.

8. He gets stuck in a room by mistake:

a) He does his best to get attention by scratching and meowing.

b) He sleeps until someone opens the door for him.

c) He knows how to open the door using the handle.

9. An insect flies in the house:

a) He doesn't pay any attention to it.

b) He catches it, as he always does.

c) He mows it down, as he does half the time.

10. You throw him a small cat toy:

a) He will play with it because he loves to play with toys.

b) One swipe and the game is over.

c) He doesn't pay any attention to it.

Step 2: Calculate the points.

Calculate the points obtained using the key below. You will get the result of your cat's IQ.

1. — a) 1 b) 2 c) 0

2. — a) 2 b) 0 c) 1

3. — a) 0 b) 1 c) 2

4. — a) 2 b) 0 c) 1

5. — a) 2 b) 1 c) 0

6. — a) 0 b) 1 c) 2

7. — a) 2 b) 0 c) 1

8. — a) 1 b) 0 c) 2

9. — a) 0 b) 2 c) 1

10. — a) 2 b) 1 c) 0

Step 3: Interpret the result.

What is your cat's IQ score?

15 points or more: Your cat is exceptional!

As with all mammals, some are more cunning than others. Yours is probably in this lineage. Not because it comes from a more intelligent family or breed, but probably because it is more cunning than the others.

Between 7 and 14 points: Your cat is within the norm (average cat)!

He decides when to listen to you, but his affectionate side has charmed you. Still, it's not too late to teach him a few tricks. Check out our blog post on cat training: 10 Tips for Raising a Friendly Cat.

6 points or less: Your cat is a bit silly!

A hyperactive cat, like a depressed cat, may have difficulty concentrating and solving problems. Some are smarter than others, and sometimes they're just a little lazy!