Something fun for Adopt a (Shelter) Cat Month!

Is It Strange that Cats Act Like Dogs?

As humans, we tend to give our animal human-like characteristics to explain their behavior. However, sometimes felines act like canines, and some canines can have feline tendencies. This article from Cuteness.com discusses why those differences may exist:

There are dog people, and there are cat people, and those groups tend to choose their companions of choice by the behaviors they exhibit. Sometimes, however, there may be some crossover in the way they act, and cats may end up acting more like dogs than most people would expect. This could be thanks to being raised in close proximity to a canine, or it may just be chalked up to a cat’s specific breed or personality.

While dogs and cats do have some personal characteristics in common, there are a few very distinct differences between them.

Most notable, perhaps, is the natural social nature of canines compared to the typically solitary personality of felines. While dogs are pack animals, most cats tend to operate alone. This means that many cats prefer to eat, sleep, and share their space with no one. Cats also have a hunter’s instinct that some dogs don’t tend to act out on, and will often spend much of their time stalking or hunting anything that moves, outside and inside of the house. So Is it strange that cats act like dogs?

Dogs and cats also have different tastes, literally. While dogs are omnivorous and able to eat a variety of foods from meat to vegetables, cats are what are known as obligate carnivores, meaning that they need to eat meat-based protein in order to remain healthy. When it comes to potty training, cats and dogs differ in a big way too — cats tend to pick up the litter box routine fairly quickly, while dogs usually take several weeks to months to learn when and where to relieve themselves.

How Cats Act Like Dogs

Cats and dogs aren’t entirely different, however, especially when it comes to their physical makeup. For instance, they both navigate the world through their noses, and are susceptible to the same ailments, diseases, and pests, from heartworms to fleas and everything in between. In terms of behaviors, cats and dogs can both be vocal for a variety of reasons, like asking for something they want, or expressing discontent. The two also tend to prefer the comforts of life, which include the basics like food and shelter, but also love and affection from their caretakers, with some individual exceptions to the rule, of course.