If you're of the belief that Hollywood's Cats & Dogs didn't offer a clear enough victor in the age-old "cats vs. dogs" debate, don't worry. Science is here with an answer of its own.
A new study published in PNAS reveals that, when taking history and science into it or whatever, cats have proven to be the more successful species over time.
According to the study, an analysis of more than 2,000 fossils revealed that prehistoric cats and dogs competed for food, and cats won. Cats, being the better predators, at least partially caused the extinction of 40 different canine species.
The canine species we know today (wolves, foxes and their relatives) survived the competition, which is maybe why they're sooooo much cooler than cats (Editor's Note: This is the author's opinion, but it is true, so whatever).
"We usually expect climate changes to play an overwhelming role in the evolution of biodiversity. Instead, competition among different carnivore species proved to be even more important for canids," the study's leading author said in a statement.
The study also revealed that, contrary to the effect cats had on dogs, prehistoric canines had little impact on the survival of cat species.
Let's just see what happens in the next few thousand years before we make too quick a judgment on this one, okay?