It’s thought that cats have been living with humans for more than 10,000 years, with the first domesticated felines evolved from fierce African wildcats.
They are now Britain’s, and the world’s, second most popular pet, just behind dogs when it comes to the animals we most like to welcome to share our homes.
In Britain alone there are more than 10 million feline friends enjoying our sofas.
There are penty of types of cat to choose from - according to The International Cat Association (the world's largest genetic registry of pedigreed and household cats) there are 73 ‘standardised breeds’ out there, along with a bewildering number of crosses and the ubiquitous ‘Moggy’ cat.
There are many factors to mull over before choosing a breed - perhaps a smaller cat for a more modest home or a hypoallergenic cat for those with allergies.
Meanwhile, some cat breeds have the reputation of being far more intelligent than others - although it’s worth pointing out that individual animals may buck the general trend and there’s no academic research on the subject as there is for dogs.
But if you want a cat you can train, or who will delight you with their intellect and boundless curiosity, there are certain breeds that should top your list.
Meanwhile if you want a cat that’s just happy to cuddle up without needing constant stimulation and interactive games then you should look at another set of kitties.
To help out, here are the 18 most and least intelligent breeds of cat.
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9. Persian
Now we're moving to the cats whe appear to have been last in the queue for intelligence. Fluffy Persians are often so relaxed that they seem to have little in the way of curiousity or resourcefulness. Give these cats an interactive game and they'll probably just ignore it. | AFP via Getty Images
10. Exotic Shorthair
Essentially a less-fluffy Persian, the Exotic Shorthair shares that breed's utter contempt for anything that needs anything in the way of intellectual effort. | Canva/Getty Images
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11. Himalayan
The Himalayan is a cat of routine that favours a sedentary lifestyle over adventure. Brain stimulating activities are really not their speed. | AFP via Getty Images
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12. British Shorthair
Part of cat intelligence is how easily they can be trained to carry out simple commands. In the case of the British Shorthair, the answer to that is 'not very easily'. | AFP via Getty Images