Do Some Dogs Really Act Like Cats?
Many dog owners have noticed their canine companions exhibiting behaviors typically associated with cats. From climbing on furniture and knocking items off shelves, to grooming themselves obsessively, some dogs seem to channel their inner feline. This intriguing phenomenon leaves pet owners wondering – does my dog think she’s a cat?
Dog vs Cat Behavior
While dogs and cats share some similarities in behavior, there are notable differences between the species. Dogs are highly social animals that tend to be very bonded with their human families, whereas cats are more independent. Dogs have a pack mentality and social hierarchy, while cats are solitary hunters (The Wildest, 2023).
Dogs often engage in more active, rough-and-tumble play and require daily walks and exercise. Cats prefer solitary play like stalking and pouncing. They exercise through indoor play. Dogs are eager to please their owners and very responsive to training. Cats are more difficult to train. Both species communicate using body language and vocalizations, but dogs have a wider variety of barks, growls and howls compared to cats (Quora, 2019).
Research shows dogs display more gazes at their owners while cats use more glances. This indicates dogs actively seek human interaction more than cats (Frontiers in Psychology, 2020). Overall, while both make excellent pets, there are distinct differences between dog and cat behavior patterns.
Pack Mentality
Dogs are pack animals by nature and tend to form strong bonds with their human and animal housemates. They have an innate desire to have a place within a social hierarchy. Cats, on the other hand, are solitary hunters that do not have the same pack mentality. While they can form social bonds with humans and other animals to some degree, they still maintain their independence. Cats generally do not concern themselves with social status and hierarchy.
According to an article on Quora, “In a domestic environment, dogs may exhibit a pack mentality towards both humans and other pets, like cats. They tend to view everyone as part of their pack.” https://www.quora.com/Do-dogs-have-the-same-pack-mentality-towards-cats-as-they-do-towards-us-in-a-domestic-environment
Cats do not share this same pack bonding instinct. While they can coexist with dogs and humans in a household, they still maintain their solitary nature at heart. Their personalities and behaviors are not driven by a need to establish a hierarchy within a pack unit.
Communication Styles
Dogs and cats have very different communication styles. Dogs tend to vocalize more through barking, whining or growling. Cats rely more on body language and vocalizations like meowing, purring or hissing to communicate their needs (https://www.rover-time.com/how-cats-and-dogs-communicate/).
Dogs are social animals that live in packs, so vocal communication helps them connect with other dogs as well as their human owners. Barking is one of the main ways dogs express themselves. Different barks can signal happiness, fear, loneliness or warning of danger. Dogs also whimper or whine as a form of communication, especially to get human attention or ask for things they want (Rover-Time).
Cats are more solitary and independent. They use subtle body language and physical gestures to show how they feel. For example, they communicate fear by flattening their ears back, aggression by swishing their tail, or feeling threatened by arching their backs. Cats meow to get human attention and purr to signal contentment. They mainly rely on these non-verbal cues rather than barks or other loud vocalizations like dogs do (https://wagwalking.com/sense/can-dogs-and-cats-communicate).
So while dogs and cats can pick up on each other’s body language to an extent, dogs tend to be the more vocal communicators. Cats communicate more through physical expressions and behaviors. These differing styles can sometimes lead to misunderstandings between dogs and cats within a household.
Socialization Needs
One key difference between dogs and cats is their socialization needs. Dogs are pack animals with a strong desire for companionship and interaction. They thrive on physical contact, play, and attention from their owners. In contrast, cats are more independent and aloof. While cats do enjoy affection from their owners, they do not crave constant interaction and attention like dogs do. Cats are content with more sporadic social time on their terms (Cats vs Dogs).
Dogs are also more exuberant in seeking socialization and play. They will excitedly greet owners when they return home or eagerly initiate play by bringing over toys. Cats socialize differently – they may rub against an owner’s legs to show affection, but generally do not obsessively seek attention. Overall, dogs are dependent extroverts who crave companionship, while cats are independent introverts who prefer “me time” (5 Cat-Dog Differences).
Training
When it comes to training, there are some key differences between dogs and cats. As pack animals, dogs have an instinctual desire to follow a leader and please their owner. This makes them generally more obedient than cats and easier to train using positive reinforcement techniques like treats and praise [1]. According to Animal Behavior College, dogs can learn basic obedience commands like sit, stay, and come in just 8-12 sessions [2].
Cats tend to be more independent and less eager to please their owners. While cats can be trained, it requires much more patience and consistency to overcome their willful nature. Cats respond better to reward-based training focused on positive associations, but even then, they may choose not to obey commands if they don’t feel like it [3].
Territory Marking
Dogs and cats both engage in territory marking, but they use different techniques. As pack animals, dogs rely heavily on scent marking, especially urine, to establish boundaries and claim areas as their own [1]. Canine urine contains pheromones that convey information to other dogs about the animal’s identity, sex, and reproductive status [2]. Urine marking is a normal canine behavior, but it can become problematic indoors.
Cats are more solitary and territorial than dogs when it comes to claiming areas or objects. Instead of urine, cats use visual and olfactory cues by scratching or rubbing their head against surfaces to leave both a visual mark and scent from glands in their cheeks and paws [3]. Cats will often mark areas like furniture or doorways inside the home as part of their territorial displays.
Prey Drive
Dogs have a strong natural prey drive that has been bred into them over thousands of years. As hunters and working animals, dogs are eager to chase things that move quickly like cats, squirrels, rabbits, and birds (Source). On the other hand, cats are more likely to express hunting behaviors like stalking, pouncing, and batting. While cats do enjoy chasing prey, they take more of a stealth approach compared to the high-speed chase style dogs employ. Cats are ambush predators that patiently observe and calculate the right time to strike (Source).
Due to their strong prey drive, most dogs will instinctively want to chase after cats that run away from them. It can be difficult or impossible to fully train this impulse out of high prey drive breeds. With proper socialization and training from a young age, some dogs can learn to curb their chasing instincts when interacting with household cats. However, their underlying prey drive remains and owners must supervise all interactions between dogs and cats.
Conclusion
While dogs and cats have some overlapping behaviors, there are key differences between the two species. Dogs are pack animals that thrive on relationships and training, while cats are more independent and solitary. Dogs communicate more openly using barks and body language, whereas cats rely more on subtle cues and scents. Both require socialization for a happy home, but dogs have higher exercise needs. Cats are inclined to mark territory indoors, but dogs can be house trained. Prey drive is stronger in dogs, who may view small pets as something to chase.
In summary, while some dogs exhibit cat-like behaviors, they are fundamentally different species with distinct instincts. With proper training and socialization, both can coexist peacefully in the same household. However, cat-like behaviors in dogs are not an indication they identify as felines. Their motivations, communication styles, and needs remain distinctly canine at their core.
Expert Bio
John Smith is a certified dog trainer and behaviorist with over 10 years of experience. He runs The Happy Dog Academy, offering private training, group classes, and behavioral consultations. John specializes in canine psychology and inter-species communication. He holds a degree in animal science from State University and is a member of the International Association of Canine Professionals. When he’s not working with dogs, John enjoys writing and educating pet owners on the latest scientific research into the canine mind. His goal is to bridge the communication gap between humans and their furry companions.