Why Are Cats Not As Friendly As Dogs?

The age-old debate of which is the superior pet, cats or dogs, is still ongoing. While everyone has their preferences when it comes to their furry friends, almost everyone agrees that cats are more closed up and indifferent, whereas dogs are super enthusiastic about their owners. So why are cats not as friendly as dogs? Read on to find out!

Why Do We Think Cats are Unfriendly?

Of course, cats love their owners. So why do they seem indifferent? It is because their ques and body language are different, less subtle, and harder to read. There is no doubt that cats are also affectionate towards their owners; they just have a different way of going about it. When a cat’s owner calls for it, its ears turn towards that direction, and its pupils dilate. It also slowly blinks, showing that it trusts you.

Also, Check Out: Disoriented Cat with Dilated Pupils: Why And How To Help

Cats also “cat kiss”, where they softly touch their mouths against their owners. They also display their affection in many other ways, such as rubbing themselves against you and sitting in your lap and purring or even bringing you a gift, such as a dead mouse. Even their lying around is misunderstood. If a cat is lazing around the house while you are there, it signifies that it is comfortable with you.

Find Out: Why Do People Hate Cats? All You Need To Know!

Why Will Cats Probably Never be as Domesticated as Dogs?

Cats are different creatures that live solitary lives. They hunt for food on their own and do not have a pack system like dogs do. When cats initially entered our lives way back in history, they came mainly for the perks like feeding on mice and rats that attacked crops, which benefited both humans and cats. They did not rely on humans for food and were occasional visitors, wandering off to fulfil their needs themselves. Dogs, on the other hand, either live in packs or depend solely on humans for their survival; hence their domestication process was different.

1. Domestication Process of cat

Cats entered into our lives gradually around 10,000 years ago in the Neolithic Countryside in the Middle East. They were occasional visitors that dropped by for mice and rats, which humans benefited from and rewarded with food. However, unlike dogs, they hunted and lived on their own. Eventually, humans picked more docile cats to be their companions, and that is where the genetic shift for domestic cats began.

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2. Cats are Lovely too

How a cat behaves around humans depends largely on its interaction with humans from the age of 6 to 8 weeks. If a feline had a negative experience during this time, it would surely be more hostile than a cat who had a loving experience with humans.

That being said, cats are lovely creatures and pets, too; they are just often misunderstood. While dogs wear their emotions on their sleeves, cats have more subtle signs of their affection towards you. For example, if it is glaring at you, slowly blinking or lying around you and stretching, it is showing it loves and trusts you. Just because your cat isn’t jumping for joy when you enter the house does not mean that it adores you any less.

Check Out: Why Do Cats Meow Back At You When You Talk to Them?

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line on Why Are Cats Not As Friendly As Dogs

It is often assumed that cats are not as friendly as dogs, whereas the truth is that cats are merely misunderstood. Granted that genetic studies show that they are semi-domesticated, it still does not mean that cats are any less affectionate. Rather, they are more subtle in how they show their love, whereas dogs are more enthusiastic. You can say that cats and dogs have different love languages.