Why do we love cats and dogs so much?

[Stevicus]

I was posting in another thread and recalling a recent article I read about feral cats in Hawaii depleting the bird population and how the state authorities want to eradicate them. I've seen documentaries where they were facing a similar situation in Australia with people bringing in mainly European housecats into environments where they didn't exist previously.

Clearly it was a problem to be dealt with, but that aside, it never ceases to amaze me at just how accomplished hunters and predators cats are. And of course, the big cats are the stuff of legends - very much admired and "lionized" in the eyes of many.

Dogs are also admired and loved for their loyalty, but they also have a certain predatory nature which humans might relate to.

So, it seems that the two animals that humans love and relate to best are also part of the two most successful predatory species - canines and felines. I don't think there's anything wrong with that, as I love both cats and dogs myself. I guess this is just something I was thinking about, and thinking that it might say something more about us, as a species, than anything else.

I'm not sure if I have any real to point to any of this, as this is just idle musing on a Sunday morning. But if anyone has any thoughts about dogs or cats or humans, it might be interesting.

 

[Ella S.]

I think it's cultural. Not all cultures have domesticated dogs or cats. Some don't even have the concept of owning "pets" at all and might even view all animals dismissively.

This perspective is even common in places where pets are owned. For many people, their own pets become an exception to their dismissive attitudes towards animals because they form an emotional bond with them. This often gets projected to that whole type of pet.

Since cats and dogs are the most common pets in many places, they naturally become the most humanized. You will still find a few "cat people" who hate dogs and "dog people" who hate cats, though.

 

[Secret Chief]

I think it's cultural. Not all cultures have domesticated dogs or cats. Some don't even have the concept of owning "pets" at all and might even view all animals dismissively.

This perspective is even common in places where pets are owned. For many people, their own pets become an exception to their dismissive attitudes towards animals because they form an emotional bond with them. This often gets projected to that whole type of pet.

Since cats and dogs are the most common pets in many places, they naturally become the most humanized. You will still find a few "cat people" who hate dogs and "dog people" who hate cats, though.

Yes, it's weird how one culture can have such close bonds with cats and dogs and yet they can be on the menu in another culture.
Personally, if one did a Venn diagram of the personality overlap between me, my cat and other people, there'd be the most overlap with my cat. (There's another cat in the household but he's a bit meh).

 

[Polymath257]

Well, humans do form bonds with other animals.

But cats and dogs are the most common medium-sized intelligent domesticated animals.

Until fairly recently, horses were common and people had very strong ties with their horses. In some places elephants and humans form bonds that are quite close. Many people have pigs as pets-they are intelligent and affectionate.

But large animals are harder to own in an urban setting, so you don't find nearly as many horses today existed 120 years ago (also, cars took over their practical uses).

Smaller animals tend to have shorter lifetimes, so it is harder to get a devoted following. Nonetheless, hamsters, gerbils, rabbits, and rats are fairly common pets.

Let's not forget birds and reptiles. They are harder to care for, but parrots, for example, are very intelligent and long lived. Snakes and lizards are not as intelligent, but have their following.

But cats and dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years. Except for horses and camels (larger animals), they have a history that is not matched by other species.

 

[The Hammer]

Dogs have a history as old as 45000 years with us.

And cats less time, but just as intensive.

We are attracted to their facial features, big round eyes, small faces. It reminds us of children in a deep primal level.

 

[ChristineM]

At one time cat were thought of as gods, they have never forgotten this.

 

[pearl]

So, it seems that the two animals that humans love and relate to best are also part of the two most successful predatory species - canines and felines.

And sometimes they cheat. My cat use to bring home fresh kills and proudly bring it to the door. Once she brought home a little critter I recognized as road kill!

 

[Stevicus]

And sometimes they cheat. My cat use to bring home fresh kills and proudly bring it to the door. Once she brought home a little critter I recognized as road kill!

We had cats that did that, too, bringing home birds and rodents of various types on a regular basis. I remember our tomcat came to the back door with this big rat in his mouth. He was really proud of it and wanted to show it to us, but my dad didn't want him to bring a dead rat into the house.

 

[ChristineM]

We had cats that did that, too, bringing home birds and rodents of various types on a regular basis. I remember our tomcat came to the back door with this big rat in his mouth. He was really proud of it and wanted to show it to us, but my dad didn't want him to bring a dead rat into the house.

We've got 4 or 5 depending on how you count. One is a master hunter, bringing home live birds and mice on a regular basis. Recently he's began bringing snakes home too. Grass snakes are fine but when he drags in an angry viper it's not so good

 

[Quagmire]

And sometimes they cheat. My cat use to bring home fresh kills and proudly bring it to the door. Once she brought home a little critter I recognized as road kill!

We had cats that did that, too, bringing home birds and rodents of various types on a regular basis. I remember our tomcat came to the back door with this big rat in his mouth. He was really proud of it and wanted to show it to us, but my dad didn't want him to bring a dead rat into the house.

We've got 4 or 5 depending on how you count. One is a master hunter, bringing home live birds and mice on a regular basis. Recently he's began bringing snakes home too. Grass snakes are fine but when he drags in an angry viper it's not so good

My land ladie's cat once brought home a full grown mallard duck, almost as big as the cat was.

 

[sun rise]

We had a cat who we thought of as not very smart who used to practice catch and release. Catch outside and release in the apartment we were living in at the time. Two crickets once. Birds a couple of times.

As far as cats remembering they were worshipped, dogs do OK Dogs in religion - Wikipedia

 

[The Hammer]

And sometimes they cheat. My cat use to bring home fresh kills and proudly bring it to the door. Once she brought home a little critter I recognized as road kill!

We had cats that did that, too, bringing home birds and rodents of various types on a regular basis. I remember our tomcat came to the back door with this big rat in his mouth. He was really proud of it and wanted to show it to us, but my dad didn't want him to bring a dead rat into the house.

We've got 4 or 5 depending on how you count. One is a master hunter, bringing home live birds and mice on a regular basis. Recently he's began bringing snakes home too. Grass snakes are fine but when he drags in an angry viper it's not so good

My land ladie's cat once brought home a full grown mallard duck, almost as big as the cat was.

Your cat is killing the Earth - but you can prevent it | DW | 08.08.2017

 

[Wildswanderer]

I was posting in another thread and recalling a recent article I read about feral cats in Hawaii depleting the bird population and how the state authorities want to eradicate them. I've seen documentaries where they were facing a similar situation in Australia with people bringing in mainly European housecats into environments where they didn't exist previously.

Clearly it was a problem to be dealt with, but that aside, it never ceases to amaze me at just how accomplished hunters and predators cats are. And of course, the big cats are the stuff of legends - very much admired and "lionized" in the eyes of many.

Dogs are also admired and loved for their loyalty, but they also have a certain predatory nature which humans might relate to.

So, it seems that the two animals that humans love and relate to best are also part of the two most successful predatory species - canines and felines. I don't think there's anything wrong with that, as I love both cats and dogs myself. I guess this is just something I was thinking about, and thinking that it might say something more about us, as a species, than anything else.

I'm not sure if I have any real to point to any of this, as this is just idle musing on a Sunday morning. But if anyone has any thoughts about dogs or cats or humans, it might be interesting.

Only because we bred them as pets.
It hasn't always been that way and still isn't in a lot of places.
Many people see dogs as livestock or working animals for example. Cats are really kind of useless for anything but pets, I think.
But people can bond with almost any animal if they tame it.

 

[ChristineM]

Cats are really kind of useless for anything but pets, I think.

There is many a farmer that relies on cats to keep their barns clear of vermin.

Other facilities such as factories food stores, warehouse and churches keep working cats for the same function.

They are also shown to improve cardiovascular health and reduced stress/anxiety.

 

[The Hammer]

There is many a farmer that relies on cats to keep their barns clear of vermin.

Other facilities such as factories food stores, warehouse and churches keep working cats for the same function.

They are also shown to improve cardiovascular health and reduced stress/anxiety.

And they are typically healthier then any small dog that was bred for ratting, looking at you mini terriers.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Dogs and humans have evolved side by side for a very long time now, so our bonds with eachother have probably evolved into us by now.
Cats are just weird. The lovable ******** of the animal kingdom. And they've been with us long enough they do love us and crave attention (though they'll never admit this) amd we love them back.

 

[Wildswanderer]

There is many a farmer that relies on cats to keep their barns clear of vermin.

Other facilities such as factories food stores, warehouse and churches keep working cats for the same function.

They are also shown to improve cardiovascular health and reduced stress/anxiety.

Ours don't seem to do that great a job of elimination of rats and mice .. mostly they just eat cat food.

 

[Mock Turtle]

Ours don't seem to do that great a job of elimination of rats and mice .. mostly they just eat cat food.

Feed them less cat caviar.

 

[Wildswanderer]

Feed them less cat caviar.

We don't buy the expensive stuff, just dry cat food. They also feast on muskrats I trap all winter and get fat off of that.

 

[ChristineM]

Ours don't seem to do that great a job of elimination of rats and mice .. mostly they just eat cat food.

I was raised on a farm, working cats earned their cat food.