Do you own a geni-puss? After the Mail's great moggie circle mystery, use our feline quiz to assess your cat's IQ


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Earlier this week the Mail featured the delightful and as yet unexplained phenomenon of cats sitting in circles. We asked you to send in pictures of your moggies displaying the curious behaviour — and we've been swamped with photos.

While the reason behind the feline quirk is baffling, it suggests there's more going on inside their heads than we think.

Indeed, if you've ever wondered about the intelligence of your feline, you can put it to the test, thanks to the book Test Your Cat by E.M. Bard. The cat-behaviour expert has devised a quiz for you to discover if you've got a feline Einstein or a pretty dim puss.

If you fancy giving it a try, pick a time when your cat is in a calm and co-operative mood. If he gets annoyed, stop — then start again later when he's cheerier and more amenable. The tests are suitable for any cat older than eight weeks. And they can be done more than once — although teaching your cat the 'correct' response is cheating!

Simply answer the questions and keep a note of the score for each section. When you've finished, add all scores together and look at the chart at the bottom of the quiz to see how well your cat did.

Good luck, moggies!

Puss in petals: Madeline Shepherd's Buttons of East Grinstead, West Sussex

Puss in petals: Madeline Shepherd's Buttons of East Grinstead, West Sussex

Toy town tabby: Childminder Jo Yeal's cat was entranced by this ring of colourful vehicles

Toy town tabby: Childminder Jo Yeal's cat was entranced by this ring of colourful vehicles

The cat sat on the circular mat: Tina Grant's pet Sooty likes to play it safe in his personal 'lifebelt'

The cat sat on the circular mat: Tina Grant's pet Sooty likes to play it safe in his personal 'lifebelt'

Got it taped: Jenni Norris's moggie Olli was tempted by this ring of blockbuster videos

Got it taped: Jenni Norris's moggie Olli was tempted by this ring of blockbuster videos

Lord of the ring: Dion Scott's pet will sit in any circle - except the cat bed

Lord of the ring: Dion Scott's pet will sit in any circle - except the cat bed

In a grump: Joy Cropper lives in Cheshire but her cat wasn't grinning in his circle

In a grump: Joy Cropper lives in Cheshire but her cat wasn't grinning in his circle

Feline delicate: Owner Leigh Dawson claims Sasha was a bit fragile after a night on the tiles  

Feline delicate: Owner Leigh Dawson claims Sasha was a bit fragile after a night on the tiles  

Front page mews: Keith Elliot's Layla likes the circle while Penny prefers the Mail

Front page mews: Keith Elliot's Layla likes the circle while Penny prefers the Mail

Rope trick: Marilyn Shirt's cat Timmy went to investigate this simple circle and stayed put

Rope trick: Marilyn Shirt's cat Timmy went to investigate this simple circle and stayed put

Hoover pretty boy: Shella Godwin's Fluffy in the vacuum cleaner hose

Hoover pretty boy: Shella Godwin's Fluffy in the vacuum cleaner hose

Shady lady: Pickle in a circle of sunglasses made by Georgie Smith, nine, of Naseby, Northants

Shady lady: Pickle in a circle of sunglasses made by Georgie Smith, nine, of Naseby, Northants

SECTION A – CAT OBSERVATION TEST

Read each of the following questions and rate your pet according to the scale below.

This is best done on a cat you've had for a while, rather than one who's only just come into the family.

And don't worry, while we use 'him' throughout, it works for female cats, too.

Rating scale:

Never – 1

Seldom – 2

Often – 3

Usually – 4

Always – 5

Question 1: Does your cat keep its tail flat on floor when eating?

Question 2: Is your cat able to follow moving objects with his eyes only, without moving his body?

Question 3: Does he show awareness of odours in his immediate surroundings, ie, does he either like or dislike the smell of perfumes, medicines, lotions, other animals, etc?

Question 4: Does he favour one front paw over the other and use this favourite paw for various activities such as washing his face, playing with toys or grasping objects?

Question 5: Does he show preference for specific objects — a favourite pillow, toy or blanket, for instance?

Question 6: Does he enjoy being touched around the neck, back and face — especially stroking or petting?

Question 7: Does he react to rhythm and music — for example, does he like sitting on a radio or piano, moving in time to the music by rocking, dancing or twitching his tail?

Question 8: Is he aware of the passing of time, such as being able to predict or anticipate when certain people will leave or return home?

Question 9: Can he predict a change in the weather — eg, does he hide before a storm or stay close to the fireplace before a cold snap?

Question 10: Does he show his feelings, such as jealousy, love or worry, towards other animals or humans in the house?

SECTION B – CAT PERFORMANCE TEST 

Here, you'll be testing what your cat does rather than just observing him. If he does more than one thing, circle each one and add all the scores together.

You'll need some materials, including string, a thick rubber band and a bell or something else that makes a ringing noise.

TEST 1: Touch your cat gently on his back with a finger or pencil. What does he do?

Ripples or moves back fur – 2 points.

Shakes fur – 2 points.

Licks spot touched – 4 points.

TEST 2: Pull a piece of string across the floor in front of your cat. What does he do?

Watches with his eyes – 2 points.

Touches with nose – 2 points.

Grabs with paw – 4 points.

TEST 3: Ring a bell or tap a glass with a knife to make a soft ringing noise behind your cat. What does he do?

Moves or twitches ear(s) – 2 points.

Turns head around partly – 2 points.

Turns head around completely to see where the sound comes from – 4 points.

TEST 4: Place a thick rubber band on the floor 2-4in (5-10cm) in front of your cat. What does he do?

Touches it with paw – 2 points.

Touches with nose – 2 points.

Begins to chew band – 2 points.

Picks up band with paw – 4 points.

Transfers band from paw to paw – 4 points.

SECTION C – EXTRA CREDIT

This is a bonus round. Simply read these three statements and see if your cat can do them. If he can, add the points to the final score.

Question 1: Can your cat sit, stand or roll over upon request? If so, add 4 points.

Question 2: Is your cat able to balance on his hind legs for at least five seconds? If he can, add 4 points.

Question 3: Has he learned to use the bathroom toilet rather than a litter box? If he has, add 4 points.

SECTION D – CREDIT DEDUCTIONS

This is the opposite of Section C — this time we're taking off points for less than intelligent behaviour! Again, read these statements. If they apply to your puss, deduct the requisite number of points from your total so far.

Question 1: Does your cat go to sleep on a ledge and fall off while asleep? If so, deduct 1 point.

Question 2: Does your cat constantly sit, stand, step or sleep in his food dish? If he does, deduct 1 point.

Question 3: Does your cat continually walk or run into doors? If so, deduct 1 point.

Now add together all the points your cat has accumulated and compare them to the chart below.

Test Your Cat, The Cat IQ Test by E. M. Bard (Harper-Collins, £4.99).

WHAT'S YOUR CAT'S SCORE?

Under 29 — Below Normal

Cats in this range often need special assistance or they may not be able to cope with their usual routine. But spending extra time helping them will pay off and lead to considerable improvement.

30-36 — Low Normal

These cats may need extra time or experience to realise their potential. Their scores often improve as they get older and more mature.

37-47 — Normal

Usually well liked by their owners, these cats are sociable and have developed ways to cope with life's daily frustrations.

47-53 — ABOVE Normal

These pets display commonsense, strong social skills and a better-than-average ability to communicate.

53- 59 – Superior

Quite clever and able to grasp new information quickly. They adjust quickly to changing situations and know how to get the attention and approval of their owner.

ABOVE 60 – GENIUS

Gifted and extremely bright, they com-municate well — often having a strong relationship with their owner. These pets tend to be attractive, mature, healthy and stable.

 



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