Will a cat go hunting with you in the bush...
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I think not!
I had one I tool Quail hunting with me or years. She was as good as any dog at flushing Quail. Occasionally she got one for herself. That was her reward. She was a cross between a Maine Coon and a Siamese. Weighed in at about 20 pounds and not an ounce of fat on her.
I'll be the first to admit, while all cats have it in them to hunt, many of the domesticated breeds have had that instinct dulled. Generally speaking, dogs are easier to train, but cats have an instinct for hunting most dogs lack.
Interesting to note that vision between dog breeds varies a great deal more than with cat breeds. Some dog breeds have excellent vision while others are not very good. Many dog breeds do have cats beat for long distance sight, while others are very near sighted (German Shepherds, for example). Cats have dogs beat in being able to see details for longer distances. Cats also have superior night vision.
If I was going to pick a dog to take to Mars, I would take a working class, rough coat, Saint Bernard. Their sense of smell rivals a cat sense of smell, with excellent visual acuity, loyal, and easy to train. They can also act like a small pack mule when needed. They are also very tolerant to cold weather. Cats hate the cold.
