Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: Jimbee on 05/03/2023 19:00:11
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Are dogs and cats evolved to hate one another? Because I have always wondered.
Take our cat Fluffy (1988-1999). We got him, more or less as a kitten. And his first experiences with dogs weren't really that bad, it seemed. He was mostly fascinated, as a kitten, by what they could be. "Look at that big kitty there" we'd joke, he seemed to be saying (maybe you had to be there).
So is there evolution involved? Or something else perhaps?
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No.
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I would say not. Dogs could certainly see cats as potential prey. Likewise, a cat would see a dog or wolf as a potential predator (under the right circumstances). However, that isn't hatred and not all dog/cat interactions are like this.
Dogs and cats can be raised together and end up getting along quite well. I've seen it with my own eyes.
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Depends strongly on the dog and cat.
I had two retrievers that always tried to attack a stone statue of a cat in a neighbor's front garden, and any live cat they encountered on a walk, but ignored my daughter's three cats who shared the house.
Then there was a retriever who played, hunted and slept with the Boss's Maine Coon - clearly a cat but almost as big as the dog.