Of the whole animal world, two species in particular have become part of human life, more than as pets , as real members of the family : we are obviously talking about the dog and the cat .

Those who live with these beloved furry ones know well how much joy and satisfaction they can bring to everyday life, each in their own way …

In fact, these are two very different types of animals, and each one interacts with man according to the typical characteristics of its own species.

DOG, CAT AND MAN: THE ORIGINS OF FRIENDSHIP

But let’s start from the beginning: the relationship between man and dog has very ancient origins. Most likely the ancestor of the dog is the wolf, which shared very important characteristics with man, such as leading an individual life but within a community (the pack), where the relationship between the individual members of the group was essential for the survival of the community itself.

The domestication of the cat, on the other hand, is much more recent (just over four thousand years), nevertheless, this animal has managed to keep its freedom and independence intact. To quote the famous ethologist K. Lorenz: “There is no animal that, in the course of a millennial association with man, has changed as little as the cat” .

Having said that, let’s now go into more detail of what most distinguishes our two four-legged best friends:

THE RELATIONSHIP OF MAN WITH DOG

The dog tends to replicate with the man the relationships that took place within the herd. This animal, in fact, he chooses a member from within the family identified as the pack leader , and associates with each of the other members of the group other roles, just as it did in the wolf communities from which it comes.

For this reason the dog will tend to be very sociable and collaborative both with those he recognizes as pack leader and with the other members of the group.. In fact, one of the things that he can’t stand is precisely that of not being considered by us. It is therefore very important to involve him as often as possible in all our daily activities and assign him specific tasks, to accommodate his nature and thus maintain our bond with him, but also to live with a happy and satisfied animal.

One of the best ways to do this is to entertain him with the game. For the dog, the moment of the game is indeed synonymous with acceptance by the pack , therefore an essential moment for its formation and its life.

If our trusted friend spends a lot of his time indoors, it may be helpful to understand how to entertain the dog at home .

THE RELATIONSHIP OF MAN WITH THE CAT

The cat, as we all know, has a much more solitary nature but this character trait should not be mistaken for asociality. On the contrary, his strong independence does not limit his being sociable and affectionate, where he finds a human being who knows how to understand and appreciate him. The cat, in fact, is capable of establishing relationships of surprising closeness, love and sweetness towards the person to whom it chooses to reserve its affection. And this is precisely an aspect much appreciated by people who choose this feline as a pet, finding it in him an au pair who knows how to take his liberties and his spaces. The cat is in fact a very territorial animal, both towards the house and the space that surrounds it.

In the cat we can find an innate and strong parental instinct , which tends to look also towards humans. The demonstrations of affection we receive from our cat are not done with the sole purpose of obtaining food – as is common to think – but also and above all to receive pampering, attention and protection. The fact of being reciprocated, even with just a few caresses, will be for him the demonstration of our closeness and will serve to strengthen the bond.

If for the dog the moment of the game means entering fully into the family, for the cat it embodies an important learning phase.. In fact, this is how he was taught to hunt and become independent from an early age. It is therefore important to dedicate yourself to playing with your cat to strengthen his instincts and his personality. Let’s not be disappointed, however, if after the game he tends to move away: that is the phase for him to put into practice what he has learned with you.

A great idea if our cat spends most of his life in an apartment, is to create a corner of the house especially for him , so that he can fully express all his needs.

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As you have certainly understood, these are very different animals, but the coexistence of a dog and a cat together in the same family is not at all impossible, indeed. In this regard we have already written an article on how to make cat and dog get along .

There are also elements that the dog and the cat have in common, and that make us appreciate them more than all other animals. It is indeed two very species communicative, lively, intelligent, playful and sociable .

Another very important aspect not to be overlooked is that they are very patient animals towards us , always ready to tolerate our mood changes and our mistakes, in the name of the affection they feel for us and thanks to the bond we establish every day with they.