I initially was going to respond to Jenna's question, which is, "Do you think our pets can or do love us in the same way we love them? Can animals love at all?" However, Hallie does a wonderful job of answering this question in her blog. At first, I wanted to state that yes, pets do love us! Although, like Hallie said, we can never enter the mind of an animal so it is impossible to infer how animals feel and what they are thinking. I would like to think that my pets love me. For example, my cat Buttons purrs nonstop around me. He sleeps next to my head at night, kneads my arms, touches noses with me, puts his arms around my neck, and follows me around nonstop. I could guess that he does love me but he may just be doing this for attention or because he knows I'm the only one that gives him treats and wet cat food. I will never know the truth. Hallie asks the question, "Do you think domesticated cats differ from dogs on the subject of pet/human relationships based on behavioral cues?"
In general and stereotypically, dogs are more affectionate and human-like. This is because they depend on people more greatly than cats do. Dogs need their owners to take them outside, feed them, walk them, groom them, and so on. Dogs don't do well on their own because they are so greatly domesticated and have been twice as long as cats (about 14,000 years). Dogs are more excited, hyper, and loyal compared to cats because cats are independent animals and do not require very much attention. My cat, Cali, basically lives outdoors. Everyday, I find her with a different animal in her mouth. No matter how often I tell her that killing animals is 'bad', she still does it because it is in her nature and what is right to her. She is highly capable of preying on her own food and finding her own shelter. She can also groom herself. The reason why she stays with me is because such a domestic lifestyle is easy. Why choose to sleep outside when she can have a warm bed?
I think domesticated animals take on different personalities, like humans. Human and pet relationships all depend on the human and the pet. I am much closer with my cat than my dog because I find my cat more affectionate and intelligent. My dog simply does not like me and only warms up to a select few. All of my pets have different aspects and can be categorized as different types of people. I once wrote a paper on the personalities of my pets; I don't see how a person can see all animals as the same and as inferior. All domesticated animals are unique and tend to adapt to their humans as well as their surroundings. If an animal has sufficient time with their human 'owner', that animal will start to take on the characteristics of their owners, dogs especially. In my experiences, I find my cats to be more friendly but maybe this is because my dog is an old, grouchy Pomeranian who barks nonstop. I think generally dogs have better relationships with humans but, if a person learns to respect and have patience for his or her cat, this relationship can become more equal since humans have to earn their cats appreciation and loyalty.
My question to you is: Should humans be able to keep non-domesticated or exotic animals (like snakes, serval cats, chinchillas) as pets? Why or why not?
Here is a link I found interesting that compares cats and dogs:
http://www.neatorama.com/spotlight/2010/05/14/cats-vs-dogs/
This is a serval cat. When I worked at the veterinary clinic in my hometown, a woman owned a serval cat (along with many other exotic animals) as a pet and brought it in to be neutered. Let's just say it wasn't the friendliest animal when it woke up.
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