Living with a dog and cats under the same roof makes one thing obvious: they definitely don't see us—or the world—the same way.
Scientists have actually tested how dogs and cats respond to humans in the same situations. Some results are exactly what you'd expect. Others... not so much.
Here are five of my favourites.
1. If I died at home, would my pet stay beside me... or eat me?
Let's get the horrible one out of the way first.
We've all heard the stereotype: your loyal dog will sit beside you waiting for help, while your cat will eventually think: Well... dinner.
Apparently, I owe the cats an apology.
Forensic cases have documented both dogs and cats scavenging their owners' remains when someone dies at home and isn't discovered for some time.
Yes. Dogs too.
It isn't really a measure of loyalty or love. What happens depends on the animal, the circumstances, how long they're alone and whether food is available.
Still, I have four cats. Statistically speaking, I should probably make sure somebody checks on me.
2. Put their favourite treat somewhere they can't reach
Give a dog an impossible problem—say, a treat trapped somewhere it can't reach—and after trying for a while, many dogs do something very familiar.
They look at you. Human. I've tried. You fix it.
Cats are more likely to keep working at the problem themselves.
Dog: Dad? Little help here?
Cat: Move. I'm working.
Researchers have tested this using what's called an unsolvable task, and dogs generally look toward humans for help more readily than cats do.
That probably reflects their different histories with us. Dogs were bred for thousands of years to work cooperatively with humans, while cats largely moved into our settlements as independent rodent hunters.
So when something goes wrong, the dog recruits us.
The cat? Apparently, management has not yet been notified.
3. You point at something across the room
Point at something for a dog and there's a good chance he'll look where you're pointing.
Try it with a cat and, if yours are anything like mine, there's also a good chance they'll walk over and sniff your finger.
No, not my finger. Over there.
Sniff.
I'm pointing at it.
Sniff again.
But here's the surprising part:
Cats actually can understand human pointing.
Experiments where researchers point toward hidden food have shown that cats can use the gesture to make the correct choice.
Dogs, however, tend to be much more consistent at following our pointing cues—and much more interested in what we're trying to communicate.
Dogs were selectively bred for jobs requiring close cooperation with humans. Cats never really had the same job description. They may understand what we're saying. They just don't necessarily see why they should participate.
4. You call their name
Call a dog's name and the response is usually fairly obvious. Head turns. Ears up. Most likely the whole dog arrives.
Call a cat and you might get... nothing. Perhaps an ear rotates slightly. Maybe the tip of the tail moves.
And that's where things get interesting.
Researchers have found that cats can distinguish their own names from other similar-sounding words.
So when you call: Louie!
...and Louie continues staring out the window as though you don't exist, there's a reasonable possibility that he knows perfectly well you're talking to him.
Cats may respond by moving their ears or head toward the voice rather than actually getting up and coming over.
Which means the difference isn't necessarily:
Dog: I know my name!
Cat: What is this strange sound?
It may be closer to:
Dog: You called me! I'm coming!
Cat: Yes. I heard you.
Some studies even suggest cats can learn the names of familiar cats—and possibly their human family members, which raises a slightly uncomfortable possibility.
The cat understands considerably more household conversation than we've been giving it credit for.
5. You go away... and finally come home
Anyone with a dog knows the reunion. You can disappear for twelve minutes and return to a reception normally reserved for astronauts coming back from the Moon.
Tail wagging. Whole body moving. Possibly noises that shouldn't physically come from a dog.
Cats can be different. You walk through the door after being away and get: Oh. You're back.
It's tempting to conclude that the dog missed you terribly while the cat barely noticed. Except research suggests otherwise.
Attachment studies have found evidence that cats can form secure attachment bonds with their human caregivers, too. A cat may show security by staying near you, relaxing around you or becoming more confident exploring when you're there.
I've seen this with my own cats. After I'd been away for a week, they didn't give me Sherlock's explosive homecoming.
Instead, suddenly they wanted to be right there with me—cuddled up, pressed against me and sleeping beside me. I even posted photos of it on the Floofs & Fluffs Instagram. (@floofsnfluffs)
They'd missed me. They just showed it differently.
The dog's version of love might be: YOU CAME BACK!!!
The cat's might simply be: Good. You're home.
Different language. Same relationship.
Five situations, two very different approaches
There's already a pattern.
Dogs tend to involve us. They ask us for help, follow our gestures and make absolutely certain we know they're happy to see us.
Cats are generally more independent and more understated. But understated isn't the same as indifferent. Because while your cat may appear to be ignoring you, there's growing evidence that they're paying rather close attention.
In Part 2, we'll look at what dogs and cats know about our voices, our emotions and even where we are when they can't see us—and what happens when these two very different species have to learn each other's language.