How smart is your cat?

Some cats are A* students, acing puzzle feeders and memory tests. Others? Wellllll, they’re in detention for napping through class and failing the cup game — oops. Want to find out which yours is? Keep reading! 

Think of this as a pop quiz with snacks instead of pencils. You’ll need a few treats, some cups and a cat who’s either ready to smash every challenge or spend the whole lesson chasing their own tail while the snack sits untouched. 

So read on and get ready to grade your cat, give out gold stars (or extra cuddles), and find out if your cat is a mastermind… or just really, really cute. 

🧩 The Puzzle Feeder Test

Pop some treats in a puzzle feeder (or make your own with cardboard rolls) and see what your cat does. Some will paw, twist and dismantle the thing like tiny engineers, extracting snacks in record time. Others will sit directly in front of it, blink at you and wait for their “assistant” (that’s you, btw) to do the hard work.

What It Shows: Instant success? You have a puzzle prodigy on your hands: a kitty who thrives on mental challenges. Slow or hesitant? Your cat might prefer low-pressure learning or is just… savouring the suspense (ahem...).

🎩 The Cup Game Test

Hide a treat under one of three cups, shuffle them and see if your cat can track it.

What It Shows: A cat who remembers the correct cup and retrieves the treat is showing off their memory and focus. A cat who knocks over every cup and eats whatever they uncover? We’ll call that creativity and improvisation. Even a total flop shows personality: some cats just don’t do predictable human games, they make their own rules, and we love that.

👂 The Selective Hearing Test

Call their name and watch for signs they’re listening (ear flick, tail twitch). Then try “cheese,” “Nibbles,” or any other food they love.

What It Shows: If they respond only to snacks, congratulations, your cat understands priorities and has mastered the art of selective attention. If they come running at everything, you’ve got a curious, socially engaged little explorer.

✋ The High Five Test

Offer your hand for a high-five, with treats as bribery.

What It Shows: Cats who nail it on the first try are focused, fast learners. Those who raise a paw only when it benefits them? We'll call them... strategic negotiators with a healthy sense of entitlement.

💖 The Emotional Intelligence Test

Act sad or stressed — sigh dramatically, maybe slump into the sofa, put The Notebook on and cry (hey, we're not judging). How does your cat react?

What It Shows: Cats who curl up beside you, purr or nudge you with a paw show they're empathetic little fur babies, tuned in to human emotions.

⬜ The Illusionary Square Test

Tape a square on the floor (or outline one with objects) and wait.

What It Shows: Cats who immediately claim the square are geometry appreciators and rule followers. Ignored it altogether? Abstract thinkers, unwilling to conform to human-imposed boundaries (!).

Ok, so these aren’t REAL IQ tests, but they are a fun way to spot the ways your cat's mysterious little mind works.

And cats show off their smarts in everyday life, too. Some figure out how to open doors, ring doorbells and even use the loo, while others are masters of ritual, knowing exactly what happens before feeding time or waiting by the auto-feeder like clockwork. And then there’s the ultimate flex: using humans as tools, whether that’s meowing at a door until it opens or neatly placing a toy at your feet to demand playtime.

So, whether your cat’s an A* scholar or the class clown, rest assured: in their own little way, they’ve probably already outsmarted you!