The DU Lounge
Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsCats are as affectionate as dogs, says science. We're just misunderstanding their purrs, blank faces
http://www.stylist.co.uk/life/cats-are-as-affectionate-as-dogs-says-science-were-just-misunderstanding-their-purs-and-blank-facesBut cats and cat lovers alike can now prove their critics wrong, because according to a growing body of scientific research, felines are probably just as expressive as canine companions. Its just that humans misunderstand or dont always see what cats are trying to communicate.
Sharon Crowell-Davis, a professor of veterinary behavior at the University of Georgia, says in New York Magazine's blog Science of Us, that compared with dogs, there are likely many cat behaviors that owners are misinterpreting, because so much more research has been done on canine behavior.
"Part of the problem arises when people take their knowledge of dogs and apply it to cats," says Karen Sueda, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. She believes feline body language is more nuanced than that of dogs.
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)And the people who say "cats scare me" -- uh, which animal is capable of attacking you and ripping out your jugular? Hint: It ain't kitties.
mythology
(9,527 posts)Granted most people don't have pet leopards, but she was very clearly capable of ripping out one's jugular. I remember once feeding the cat while they were away and she would get a whole frozen chicken and snap it in half with one bite.
Of course she was actually well behaved. She once dragged 7 or 8 year old me around by the hand without breaking the skin. I have no comment on whether I needed fresh underwear afterward.
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)that cats are every bit affectionate as dogs, but have different ways of showing it.
But cats are not nearly as interested in greeting strangers as dogs are, giving rise to their reputation as cold and standoffish.
narnian60
(3,510 posts)Very true.
Arkansas Granny
(31,516 posts)I sometimes think that he thinks we're a couple.
cwydro
(51,308 posts)Cats and dogs are both wee lover fuzz faces.
My goose is pretty affectionate too. He loves to cuddle.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)So you actually could lay down! (in most states )
cwydro
(51,308 posts)Bogart and Penelope.
Bogart is just a love bug. He likes to be picked up and cuddled.
Lol, he has slept in bed with me. When he lost his first mate, he was inconsolable (they mate for life), and so I let him sleep with me. Such a sweet boy.
If I ever figure out how to post pics here, I will post pics of him.
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)Anybody who has spent any time with kitties knows they have many, many expressions.
cwydro
(51,308 posts)When my Skeeter (RIP) was angry with me...it was literally written all over her face.
If I spent the night elsewhere, she wouldn't come near me for days.
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)Their eyes alone communicate so much.
Skittles
(153,160 posts)he had just given up after wailing for an hour
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)that is NOT a happy kitteh.
Skittles
(153,160 posts)so of course when he is really miffed with me, he sits on it and WAITS for me to notice - then he does this head tip as a I holler before he leaps off and runs....OMG when I hear that cats are unemotional I have to laugh
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)Skittles
(153,160 posts)there's something about hairy-devil tuxedoes
underahedgerow
(1,232 posts)I'll stick with doggies. My dog knows his right foot from his left foot. And he brings me things when I ask him to.
'WINNING'
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)Heavy bags of dog food for a larger breed.
underahedgerow
(1,232 posts)HUGE completely secure and enclosed garden with bits of bushy woodland. He does his business in private, I never see his poo!
That aside, walking your doggie gets you out and about with excellent exercise, talking to people, visiting shops, meeting other dog owners and socializing. I've met some of my very best friends and the most wonderful people out walking my pooch! In fact I got the most wonderful job in the world because of my (now deceased ) doggie, working for the top female athlete on the planet, 'cause her PA fell in love with my lil pooch and we started chatting in Starbucks!
Still WINNING!!!!
cwydro
(51,308 posts)when we have animals whom we love and who love us.
No matter their breed, species, whether furry or feathered.
underahedgerow
(1,232 posts)xoxoxoxo
cwydro
(51,308 posts)Serena?
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)winner of the women's wheelchair division of both the New York and Boston Marathons.
But then, as a dissability advocate, I'm kind of biased.
cwydro
(51,308 posts)But kudos to her!
mythology
(9,527 posts)I don't think there's anybody currently as dominant in any sport as she is in hers.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)but also a solid pick.
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)having a dog blow stinky air in your face ... having to walk them in bad weather ... getting that smelly, greasy dog film on your hand after petting them ... No thanks!
I'll stick with kitties!
underahedgerow
(1,232 posts)smelly to not smelly, big poos, little tootsie rolls... long hair, short hair, sporty, lazy, bouncy, calm... Huge, HUGE choice in doggies.
I looked at over a thousand doggies before I found the right fella after my last one died in my arms (heart condition we knew about and coddled and treated, but it was terminal...).
That's the other nice thing about doggies; you can really determine their character while they're still really little... and as for barking, well that's the owner's fault, not the dog! (Cesar Millan ROCKS)
Doggies win!
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)I've been around both cats and dogs a lot ... cats are clearly superior in my view, but I get that some people don't agree and have their preferences. However, I don't know why so many dog people feel the need to constantly disparage cats. I see it all the time on the Internet. Cats get a bad rap from people who don't understand them. They are awesome, affectionate, smart, funny, entertaining family members. I can't live without them.
narnian60
(3,510 posts)Cat AND dog lover here, but what you say is SO true.
Skittles
(153,160 posts)whenever I hear someone trashing cats, or simply saying they are inferior to dogs, I know they have no clue
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)I much prefer to live with cats. My own personality is very cat-like, so maybe that's why.
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)I have friends with Labs and Goldens and they get on my nerves quickly -- way too "in your face" for me. But other friends have collies and those dogs are mellow -- like big kitties. I like them.
ariesgem
(1,634 posts)My cat, Bootsy and Theo the GSD:
we can do it
(12,184 posts)If you call that a win......
underahedgerow
(1,232 posts)in the shower or on the bathroom floor.
And he's relatively self cleaning, jumps in the pool. He's kind of the perfect pooch... his name is Kevin!
Ok there are issues with duck & seagull poop... he insists on rolling in it if I don't sound him off.
#dogbragging
clarice
(5,504 posts)TeamPooka
(24,226 posts)narnian60
(3,510 posts)So many wonderful homeless critters out there looking for a loving home.
Sobax
(110 posts)A cat would jump out of the window, saves its own skin, and then sit on the lawn and watch your house burn down with everyone inside it.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,692 posts)and wouldn't shut down. I'm sure it would have set the place on fire if I hadn't managed to turn it off, and I wouldn't have done that if the cat hadn't yowled in my ear until I woke up. And there's this:
http://mashable.com/2014/07/31/rescue-cat-saves-familys-home-from-massive-fire/
And this: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2739780/A-whisker-away-death-Family-saved-devastating-house-fire-Simba-cat-woke-up.html
And this: http://www.today.com/pets/good-kitty-these-6-hero-cats-saved-humans-they-loved-2D79677090
...Just to mention a few incidents. I don't understand why so many dog owners are so hateful toward cats. Evidently the haters don't know anything about them.
Sobax
(110 posts)But I am more of a dog person.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,692 posts)I like dogs too and I don't say mean things about them.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)and woke up fifteen hours later to the sound of "Meow! Meow!"
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)Why are so many dog people always so rude about cats? It's tiresome.
Skittles
(153,160 posts)Last edited Wed May 20, 2015, 10:17 PM - Edit history (1)
teabaggers, for example
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)That's one reason liberals are more likely to be cat people.
Skittles
(153,160 posts)teabaggers are like that
DamnYankeeInHouston
(1,365 posts)dawg
(10,624 posts)He brought the suck monster.
DamnYankeeInHouston
(1,365 posts)Skittles
(153,160 posts)the kicker is, the vacuum cleaner wasn't even turned ON at the time
DamnYankeeInHouston
(1,365 posts)sakabatou
(42,152 posts)grasswire
(50,130 posts)It's just dumb to think otherwise. Different from dogs, for sure, but so expressive.
Major Nikon
(36,827 posts)TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)Cats don't "meow" to other cats -- that is a communication they save primarily for humans. To other cats (and humans) they chirp, trill, purr, howl, and make many other sounds that are quite distinctive. That's one reason I love them so much -- the many ways they communicate.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,692 posts)One of my cats trills all the time. The other two are just really loud meowers.
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)I have three talker/squawker/trillers. There is A LOT of feline chatting going on in our house all the time!
Skittles
(153,160 posts)I agree it is just delightful
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,692 posts)Behind the Aegis
(53,956 posts)To me, it is like knowing Spanish and French. Both are similar languages and at times the other can be easily understood if you only know one, but it is much easier when you know both languages. Dogs and cats have many similarities, they just express themselves in different ways and most people are so accustomed to having things on their terms as opposed to understanding differences. So, dogs "speak" Spanish, but often speak "Spanglish" in order to get along with the human world. Cats "speak" French and if you don't know French, C'est dommage!
olddots
(10,237 posts)I love cats and dogs equally but dogs seem to enjoy me more than cats because I smell like a stale donut .
Skittles
(153,160 posts)I posted this pic further up but wanted to make sure you saw it - my cat after he did not get what he wanted:
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)well, you know.
IrishEyes
(3,275 posts)Cats can be very affectionate. They will climb on my lap, purr loudly and snuggle. Especially when they know that I will be there for awhile like when I am watching a movie, playing video games or working on my computer.
Skittles
(153,160 posts)yes INDEED
ProfessorGAC
(65,042 posts)They NEED to sit on laps, and get attention and roll over and have their bellies rubbed.
One of our cats, though, NEEDS the dog. She won't stay in the room if he leaves. We're in the rec room, and he gets up to go drink water. Up she gets and follows him to the utility room. (Garage in the basement, so the rec room is there too. Direct access to the outside.)
If i take him out to do his business, she sits by the half bath door waiting for him to come back in.
So, she obviously fits this description in a multi-species way.
BlueJazz
(25,348 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,692 posts)https://boxerworld.com/forums/threads/my-dog-just-killed-two-baby-birds.122535/
http://www.dogforum.net/dog-healthcare/16026-dog-killed-bird.html
http://www.livescience.com/27330-dogs-disrupt-wildlife.html
http://www.cesarsway.com/dog-behavior/obsession/Prey_Drive
http://www.caloriecount.com/forums/the-lounge/dog-caught-killed-ate-bird-last
... and so on.
My own cats have never killed a single bird because they stay inside.
BlueJazz
(25,348 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,692 posts)are carnivorous predators and will hunt, catch and eat damn near anything. But unlike cats, they will also eat cat poo out of the litter box.
BlueJazz
(25,348 posts)..gross me out. Thanks for the info on the dog-eating-bird stuff. I Learn something every day.
La Lioness Priyanka
(53,866 posts)BlueJazz
(25,348 posts)La Lioness Priyanka
(53,866 posts)the controversial lounge thread from years ago.
BlueJazz
(25,348 posts)NCarolinawoman
(2,825 posts)"be my friend, please" and you can slow blink right back and they "get it".
Also the silent meow that can melt your heart.
I do like dogs A LOT, but I need the quiet of the kitties when I paint. They seem to like Gregorian chants and Bach. It sends them into a zen mode. I'm painting landscapes and wildlife to the music and they are laying peacefully with half closed eyes.
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)Gawd how I love all kitties, big and small.