Basic instinct: why cats don't get along with dogs

A stereotype has been cultivated in society for more than a century: cats and dogs are the worst enemies. Everywhere, from children's cartoons to proverbs, these tailed beasts rarely get along. How does science explain the complex relationship between cats and dogs, why are there often exceptions to this rule, and is it possible to consolidate the interspecific friendship of these animals?

Regardless, cats and dogs have totally unique social practices. In 2010, Oxford University analysts coordinated a gigantic extension study, learning about a large portion of 1,000,000 types of vertebrates, and reached the resolution that the homegrown canine is the most friendly creature. They effectively cooperate with the individuals from the pack, attempting to perceive their expectations, states of mind, and activities. Simultaneously, researchers recently accepted that dogs have a straight progression, the two guys and females.

With the coming of a new examination, numerous specialists completely reject such friendly models in the canine pack, inclining towards agreeable connections between dogs. Also, there are various examinations that discussion about the threats of predominance strategies while adjusting a canine's conduct. Some zoopsychologists are certain that this way you can harm the mind of the creature.

Cats in this regard are the complete opposite. Yes, they, like dogs, are social animals, capable of active interaction with other individuals of their species, but whenever possible they avoid any unnecessary contact, preferring to watch what is happening from the side and preferably from afar. Unlike dogs, cats do not recognize any other predators on their territory and actively protect it. Exceptions are dogs and other companion animals (including those that are their victims in nature), friendship with which was laid "from the cradle": if a mouse is brought to a kitten at the age of several weeks, they can maintain friendly relations for a long time ... Yes, and the establishment of friendly relations with dogs in adulthood, although an exception, is common.

Thus, when dogs show interest out of curiosity and the establishment of social connections, cats, due to the peculiarity of their behavior, try to avoid contact with the last. This is not so bad. Both dogs and cats are good hunters with a highly developed hunting instinct. Dogs are, in principle, larger than cats, therefore, every dog sees in a cat avoiding communication an object of pursuit, a victim. The hunting reflex is triggered, and the chase begins: the dog chases the cat until it overtakes it or it runs away, more often climbing onto an inaccessible object.

Scientists classify dogs as the dominant predators in the city's ecosystems. As a result of studies carried out in Moscow in the early 2000s, an expert survey of environmental institutions, observations of interspecific interactions between stray cats and dogs, and even a survey study by VTsIOM, experts concluded that in ecosystems of cities, dogs have an extremely negative effect on the species composition of cats. Moreover, in the behavior of cats, a type was identified, called the phenomenon of mental inadequacy of cats under the influence of stress. It manifests itself most often in states of panic, loss of orientation, lack of recognition of the owner, inadequate assessment of the choice of a safer place, and may even cause death. Guard and fighting dogs often kill cats. Cats and stray dogs are killed, but the reason for this is still unknown - stray dogs do it even without the need for food.