Would you know a maine coon from a lykoi, a bergamasco from a munchkin or a Basenji? Answers at the end of the article.

Cats and dogs have taken a prominent place in the lives of the French: 55% of them own at least one, with a clear preference for cats (39% vs. 30%), more compatible with the small spaces of a city life. "And yet, scientists have long disdained the study of domestic animals in favor of more prestigious research on wild species. Fortunately, this inclination has changed in recent decades," said Sophie Lécuyer, curator of the "Cats and Dogs" exhibition, which opened on Tuesday, February 18 at the Cité des sciences et de l'Industrie in Paris.

Greeted by an invigorating red universe, visitors are immediately invited to test their mettle against the physical prowess of these four-legged athletes: Imitate a feline leap under a graduated arch before discovering that a fictitious cat, measuring 1.80 meters, for example, would have reached a height of nine meters; slalom between studs and perform at a speed four times slower than that of the average poodle; or assume the posture of a cat or dog – without fear of ridicule – in order to grasp their formidable and unattainable sense of balance.

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