Meet Stubby, a remarkable stray Boston Terrier crossbreed who became a hero during World War I. Serving in the U.S. Army, Stubby bravely warned soldiers of gas attacks and helped locate the wounded.

Stubby served for 18 months and participated in 17 battles, making him one of the most decorated dogs in military history. He was awarded a gold medal, two Purple Hearts, and even received a promotion to sergeant.

While history is filled with stories of canine heroes, one must wonder: where are the feline counterparts?

The answer? They’re likely lounging comfortably on the radiator.

Cats have a reputation for being aloof and self-centered. To investigate their tendencies to help humans, researchers at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, Hungary conducted an intriguing experiment. In this study, they observed interactions between a cat, a dog, and a 2-year-old child.

The experiment was conducted in a home setting where unsuspecting participants watched human scientists hide various items. These included uninteresting dish scrubbers and engaging toys or food.

After hiding the objects, the scientist observed how the “witnesses” reacted—whether the child’s parents or the pet owners would seek assistance.

In a performance worthy of an Oscar, the caregiver expressed frustration, repeatedly saying, “Oh, I can’t find it! What should I do?” But would the witnesses lend a hand?

Regardless of the item, over 75% of dogs and toddlers pointed towards or fetched the hidden objects without any special training. They simply seemed eager to help.

Cats, however, rarely “help” unless their owners are directly involved. The only time a cat may show interest is when a treat or toy is missing, and even then, only 40% of them approach the hidden object.

This leads to an interesting question: Do cats not understand the problem, or do they simply choose not to care? If it’s the former, they may be unaware; if it’s the latter, they might be seen as selfish.

Personally, I lean towards the latter conclusion since my cat seems to know everything but chooses not to assist. Nonetheless, this behavior may not even be entirely her fault.

Unlike dogs, whose ancestors, the gray wolf, were inherently sociable, domestic cats evolved from solitary wild ancestors. Human intervention led to selective breeding for both physical and behavioral traits.

While we have successfully bred selflessness into dogs, a naturally social species, we have not replicated this trait in cats.

The takeaway? If you misplace your keys, don’t expect your cat to be your helper—ask your dog instead.

This article addresses the question: “How selfish are cats?” (submitted by Thomas King of Leicester).

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