You might think the smartest cats would be the easiest to teach. Well, think again. The relationship between feline intelligence and trainability isn’t as straightforward as most people assume. In fact, some of the most brilliant cat breeds are the ones that challenge their owners the most when it comes to training.
Cats are notoriously hard to train. Not because they lack the cognitive ability, but because they tend to not seek out social contact. Their independence and intelligence often work against traditional training methods, creating unique challenges for even the most experienced cat parents.
Siamese Cats
Often called the most intelligent cat, this breed is extroverted, playful, curious, and loving, so count on your Siamese needing lots of one-on-one time with you. Yet their intelligence comes with a hefty price when it comes to training.
However, they have a penchant for getting into mischief, which is in part due to their inquisitiveness and natural desires to occupy their minds, making them excellent escape artists who outsmart their owners regularly. These vocal cats often use their communication skills to argue back rather than comply with commands.
Bengal Cats
Bengals are a highly sought-after breed because of their striking leopard-like spots, but they’re equally known for their wits. As a highly energetic breed, they love to climb, jump, and play with toys. Their wild heritage, however, creates training obstacles that domestic breeds don’t face.
Bengals are very alert and are social cats, and while they usually have a playful personality, they’re prone to developing destructive habits – like turning light switches on and off – if they get restless. Learning tricks comes easy for Bengals and they especially enjoy a game of fetch and splashing around in water. The challenge lies in channeling their intelligence into desired behaviors rather than creative mischief.
Turkish Angora Cats
Turkish Angoras are highly intelligent and athletic with a keen sense of independence. They might not be your typical cuddly lap cat, but they’re very affectionate and will form strong bonds with humans and other pets. These kitties also love water and are known for being excellent problem-solvers.
They do tend to be curious and explore open cabinets, drawers, and empty boxes. They can be talkative and devoted to one family member in particular. Their problem-solving skills often lead them to figure out ways around your training efforts, making consistency incredibly challenging.
Burmese Cats
One of the smartest cat breeds, the Burmese craves attention, something you can learn from its body language. “This intelligent breed loves to entertain its resident humans so much that it often checks to make certain someone is watching.” However, this attention-seeking behavior can backfire during training sessions.
And they’re adorably stubborn. “When they make up their minds that they want something, they simply don’t take no for an answer and usually figure out a way to get it.” And that includes attention from you. Burmese cats are all about give-and-take when it comes to affection, but if you’re busy and ignore them too long, they might take it upon themselves to follow you around the house, rub against your leg or plop down on your lap and snuggle, all to remind you that you have a cat that needs some loving.
Abyssinian Cats
The Aby is a colorful feline known for their energy and striking ticked pattern. They are often described as looking lovely, but are also courageous, high-spirited, and extremely curious. They are natural athletes, and no closed room or cupboard is safe from their agile paws and inquiring minds. Abyssinian cats are good problem solvers.
Known for their playful and curious nature, Abyssinians are energetic cats that love to climb and explore. Along with being smart cats, they’re highly social and bond closely with their pet parents. Abyssinians enjoy brain games like interactive toys and puzzles, and they’ll gladly tag along for your daily stroll around the neighborhood if you leash train them. Yet their endless curiosity means they get distracted easily during training sessions.
Scottish Fold Cats
Taylor Swift’s beloved, the Scottish Fold is distinguished not just by his unique ears but also by his sweet soulful eyes, which echo his personality. Laid-back and friendly, this breed can be trained to perform tricks but shouldn’t be left along for long periods. “These cats show intelligence by forming emotional connections and adapting to training,” he adds. “They’re gentle sweethearts that are easy to maintain, but ear care is key to prevent issues.”
The Scottish Fold cat can be trained – but don’t expect anything extraordinary. Although you can train this particular cat, it typically takes them weeks – sometimes months – to finally understand what you want them to do! Their intelligence shows in unexpected ways that don’t always align with traditional training expectations.
Cornish Rex Cats
Cornish Rex have great personalities and only two speeds – fast & curious or fast asleep. No shelf, drawer, countertop, or cupboard is safe from the curious Cornish. They are perfect for people who like energetic, inquisitive, agile felines. The Cornish cat can be easy to train and loves for you to toss toys, which they will fetch and return over and over.
The Cornish Rex cat is one of the most intelligent cat breeds, known for its sleek, curly coat and playful personality. Unlike most cats, this exotic breed has an athletic build and a love for movement, making it one of the most energetic brainy breeds. These highly intelligent felines thrive on mental stimulation and enjoy solving puzzle games. Their curiosity and problem-solving skills set them apart from other cats, ensuring they are always engaged. The challenge is keeping up with their endless energy and need for mental stimulation.
Savannah Cats
Similar to the Bengal, the Savannah cat is an exotic breed known for being highly energetic, adventurous, and intelligent. They adapt quickly to learning new cues, how to walk on a leash, and even play fetch with their pet parents. Given their unique genetics – plus their curious and brainy nature – Savannah cats need plenty of space and stimulation to avoid unwanted destructive behaviors, such as furniture scratching and knocking things over.
They require plenty of mental and physical stimulation, and their high energy levels can be challenging to handle. They also have wild instincts, which may result in destructive behavior if not properly trained and socialized. Training a Savannah requires understanding their wild heritage and incredibly high intelligence, which they often use to find creative ways around your rules.
Maine Coon Cats
The Maine Coon is a gentle giant with an easygoing personality and solid cat intelligence. They’re problem-solvers who enjoy cat trees, food puzzles, and time interacting with both other cats and humans. Their laid back charm hides a clever mind.
They are known for their problem-solving abilities and adaptability. Their intelligence, combined with their size and strength, made them excellent mousers on farms. However, their size and strength mean that when they decide not to cooperate, there’s little you can do to physically guide them. Their gentle nature masks a stubborn streak that emerges during training sessions.
Russian Blue Cats
When it comes to the smartest cat breeds, the Russian blue is so clever that it’s more apt to train you than the other way around. Like an alarm, the Russian blue will wake you up to feed it breakfast and remind you when it’s dinnertime. When it comes to the smartest cat breeds, the Russian blue is so clever that it’s more apt to train you than the other way around. Like an alarm, the Russian blue will wake you up to feed it breakfast and remind you when it’s dinnertime. In fact, if you’re looking for an accountability partner to maintain a strict schedule, this might be the cat for you.
Their intelligence manifests as manipulation mastery rather than traditional obedience. They’ll learn your routines faster than you learn theirs, using this knowledge to get exactly what they want when they want it.
Persian Cats
Getting a Persian cat to listen to their owner will be incredibly difficult unless training starts when they are kittens. The breed can be affectionate and good companions, but they are incredibly difficult to motivate. Getting a Persian cat to listen to their owner will be incredibly difficult unless training starts when they are kittens.
The Persian cat originated in the region of Persia and Iran possibly as far back as the 1600s, but the breed became popular in the West at the end of the 19th century. The Persian is one of the most intelligent cat breeds and is recognized for their ability to be trained. Their intelligence exists but remains largely hidden beneath their calm, regal demeanor and strong preference for doing things on their own terms.
Japanese Bobtail Cats
The Japanese Bobtail cat breed has ancient origins in Japan, but was brought to America in 1968. This makes the Japanese Bobtail a breed with a long history. Japanese Bobtails are highly intelligent and are capable of learning many tricks and commands, like fetch. They are also known to respond to their name, but only when they want to like most cats. This breed is very loving and will follow their favorite human around, demanding attention.
They make excellent pets, with Dr. Cahn calling the Bobtail “good-natured, playful, outgoing, and intelligent. These petite cats with short tails (often called a pom) are quick learners and love interactive play.” As comfortable with dogs as they are with children, the Bobtail is an agile jumper with an independent streak. The independent streak means they’ll learn what they want to learn but ignore commands that don’t interest them.
Conclusion
Intelligence in cats doesn’t automatically translate to obedience or easy training. These twelve breeds prove that the smartest cats often present the biggest training challenges precisely because of their mental capabilities. They think independently, problem-solve creatively, and often use their intelligence to outsmart their owners rather than comply with training efforts.
Dr. Rakestraw says a super smart cat might do anything from opening childproof locks, to getting into mischief like knocking over vases, or demanding mental stimulation to avoid boredom. That’s not to say there are no challenges involved in having a kitty that’s more or less got the mind of toddler. Dr. Rakestraw says a super smart cat might do anything from opening childproof locks, to getting into mischief like knocking over vases, or demanding mental stimulation to avoid boredom. The key to success lies in understanding that these brilliant felines need mental challenges, consistent boundaries, and patience from owners who appreciate their complex personalities. What would you have guessed about the relationship between cat intelligence and training difficulty?
