• Question: why do some animals like dogs or cats have better hearing than humans?

    Asked by aimeeculley to Dean, Jess, Luisa, Sian on 23 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Sian Foch-Gatrell

      Sian Foch-Gatrell answered on 23 Jun 2010:

      Humans used to have better sensory systems like hearing, and detecting pressure changes through the feet etc, but we no longer directly hunt to stay alive…instead we go to Tesco 🙂 so we have lost some of our honed senses where as other animals haven’t!

    • Photo: Luisa Ostertag

      Luisa Ostertag answered on 23 Jun 2010:

      Because they need it – they totally rely on their hearing when they hunt prey (especially in the dark). That’s why their sense of smell is also a lot more sensitive than the one of humans.

    • Photo: Dean Whittaker

      Dean Whittaker answered on 23 Jun 2010:

      Evolutionarily it’s more advantageous for them so they can listen out for preditors etc…

    • Photo: Jessica Housden

      Jessica Housden answered on 23 Jun 2010:

      Each creature has developed certain skills more than others. For example; dogs and cats eyesight is not very good, so the senses compensate for this with better hearing, taste and smell. Our dog used to always know someone was coming home before their car had even started to drive down the road; it was amazing!

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