Dogs vs. cats: Scientists reveal which is smarter

A new study may put to rest the age old question among pet owners: Are dogs or cats smarter?

The study published in the science journal "Animal Cognition" took a close look at the debate.

Researchers from the University of Salford, in Manchester analyzed 37 domestic dogs and focused on 47 gestures the canines used to communicate with each other. 

Out of the 47 gestures, the researchers "translated" 19 of them in an effort to understand how canine's think and communicate.

What they learned is that that dogs have 530 million neurons calculating their behavior versus 250 million neurons typically found in cats. 

Experts believe the number of neurons may determine a lot about an animal's intellgence level. "... the absolute number of neurons an animal has, especially in the cerebral cortex, determines the richness of their internal mental state and their ability to predict what is about to happen in their environment based on past experience,” according to Vanderbilt University neuroscientist Suzana Herculano-Houzel.

In fact research shows dogs have the most neurons of any carnivore, despite the fact that they don't have the biggest brains. 

Cat owners may find it "ruff" to accept but according to science, when it comes to brain power, it looks like dogs are ahead.