Posted on 12/08/2014 12:07:41 PM PST by shove_it
Unlike dogs, cats are at best semi-domesticated—and we love them for that.
Dog lovers will find it baffling that cats are the world’s most popular pet. After all, they’re passive-aggressive, emotionally unavailable, and known for their chilly independence—traits that at most qualify felines for the role of “man’s best frenemy.”
It turns out, though, there’s an evolutionary reason for this tense relationship. That is, cats are in many ways still wild.
“Cats, unlike dogs, are really only semi-domesticated,” says Wes Warren, professor of genetics Washington University and co-author of the first complete mapping (paywall) of the house cat genome—specifically, that of an Abyssinian named Cinnamon.
~snip~
They came for the mice, stayed for the food scraps, and whenever it suited, kept cuddly with the cats from the other side of the granary. In other words, not only are cats still mostly wild, but they also pretty much tamed themselves. Maybe that means humans are “cats’ best friend.”
(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...
I’ve owned multiple dogs (shelties, labs, rough collie), but of the many pets its our emotionally available, loving cat that’s been the best pet I’ve ever owned. My beagle comes in second.
I do believe it matters if the cat picks you as owner instead of you picking the cat.
Mine do too. One of mine is a stalker though, staring me down and poised to jump in my lap when I look away.
When her mother fell off the fence, hit her head and broke her tail, Blackie and her brother followed their mother under the bed trying to look at her face to see the hurt.
He darned-near knocks me over when he does it.
If cats were the size of dogs, we would be food.
My homepage shows the extent of my cat's activity..........she doesn't even know how to play.
Mine walked down the driveway while I was shoveling snow. I sat down to rest, he jumped up in my lap. Been here ever since.
What if you have a cat that is a dog? Charlie fell off the bed never tried to land on his feet. He doesn’t cover his poop. He can catch treats in his mouth. He runs to the door when people come in......he’s not right.
We think his breed is a Bullcat.
My cat is basically a rattle snake with a soft, furry belly.
She’s adorable and lovable, but pet her at your own risk and always keep track of her head, or else you will GET THE FANG!
That describes our Stella pretty well - though not all the time - but Beaux is the most passive, emotionally available and sweetest kitteh I've ever known. He's ALWAYS ready for a snuggle.
No doubt dogs were domesticated first but cats were domesticated by the Egyptians at least 4000 years ago which does classify as millennia.
Were they truly ‘domesticated’ or just allowed free run of the houses and streets to keep down the vermin?...............
A dog will save your life. A cat will watch you die and then eat you.
Collars do not belong on Cats
Depends on the cat I suppose. One of ours is way too clingy...just won’t ever leave us alone. Doesn’t match the aloof stereotype at all.
Do we want to count the number of dogs that kill their owners each year—compared to the number of cats that kill theirs?
Remember the cat that chased off the vicious dog from attacking her little boy family member? It was in the news recently. That cat made the cover of Cat Fancy.
My sister trained her cat to sit up, roll over, play dead, speak, etc...
I love dogs and cats. But cats are better than their reputation. I think it has to do with the time spent with them.
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