December 11, 2024
2 minimum read
5 Cool Things We Learned About Pet Cats and Dogs in 2024
Why do some Labrador retrievers overeat? Do cats and dogs dream like humans? Is your cat really into you? In 2024, we have answers to these and other questions about our beloved furry friends.
Cats and dogs are thought to experience dreams just like humans.
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Dogs (and some reluctant cats) may be man’s best friend, but their behavior still often leaves us baffled. For example, why do some dogs feel insatiably hungry? What does it mean when cats stiffen or wag their tails? This year, science is getting closer to answering these questions. , gave us a peek into the inner world of our furry friends.
sweet dream
Our kittens and dogs experience rapid eye movements. This is a human sleep stage, which is clearly associated with dreams. What do dogs and cats dream about? Prominent dream researchers theorize that animals’ dreams reflect their everyday experiences, perhaps catching a Frisbee in the park or snuggling with a friendly human.
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sniff out stress
Not only can dogs detect the stress hormone cortisol in our sweat; They can also interpret this information and react to it by pretending to be sad. Smelling the sweat of a nervous stranger can make your pup more pessimistic and less hungry in uncertain situations. “Humans and dogs are both social animals, and emotional contagion exists between us,” said Zoe Pearl, lead author of a recent study on the topic and a Ph.D. Cortes says. A student at the University of Bristol, UK, in an interview. scientific american. “Being able to sense stress from other members of the herd may have been beneficial because it could alert us to threats that other members of the group had already detected.”
No, your cat isn’t clingy, it’s probably bored
Sorry, cat lovers. Even if your cat chases you around the apartment or meows incessantly to get your attention, it may not be attached to you. Instead, veterinarians say they may be understimulated, cold, or simply alert. Cats have evolved to carefully monitor their environment, so closed doors often stimulate curiosity and anxiety. And your cat may jump onto your lap not for your affection, but simply for a warm surface.
fat dog
Does Fido constantly ask for snacks? One in four Labrador Retrievers (and two thirds of the less common Flat-Coated Retrievers) complains that Fido constantly asks for snacks, even though they’re actually well fed. I have a genetic mutation that makes me feel as if I’m starving. The internal signals these dogs receive make them feel hungrier and lazier between meals. This feature is a remnant of an ancestral species that once caught fish for Canadian fishermen.
Baby cats have a genetic mutation that causes their tails to wrap around their backs in a Spitz-like position.
“Meow” vs.Meow”
A rare genetic mutation causes some cats’ tails to curl over their backs, giving them a striking appearance. However, that trait can also hinder a kitten’s ability to communicate clearly. One of the ways cats communicate their friendly intentions to each other is by holding their tails upright, a move that curly-tailed cats cannot do. To compensate for this limitation, such cats may also rely on other body language cues, such as ear position and scent. And with enough practice, cats who ‘speak’ different dialects can learn to understand each other, a new study shows.
