Dogs and cats have been living together for thousands of years in many parts of the world.
For instance, they were domesticated on the same day in China more than 4,000 years ago.
They also lived alongside humans for thousands of years in Egypt, Turkey, India, Central Asia, and North America.
As far as we know, dogs were first domesticated by wolves in the Middle East around 15,000 years ago.
There are several different theories about how this occurred, but all agree that some early people began to feed their dogs scraps from their kills as well as using them to hunt larger animals.
By around 10,000 BC, dogs had become highly trained to assist humans in hunting large game such as deer, bison, and bears.
In the ancient world, dogs were used to guard villages and herds against wolves and other predators.
Today, there are hundreds of thousands of different breeds of dogs around the world.
Some of these can weigh up to 100 pounds (45 kilograms) and live for 12 years or longer.
Others only weigh around 5 pounds (2 kilograms) and live for less than three years.
Of course, not every dog is a hunter-guardian.
Many dogs today are pets, companions, and therapy animals.
However, despite the vast differences between certain breeds of dogs, all of them share common characteristics.
Cats, meanwhile, have been around since prehistoric times.
For example, fossils dating back to 40,000 BC have been found in caves in France, Spain, Italy, Greece, and Turkey.
These fossils show that cats were already living among humans at that time.
In fact, the oldest known cat skeleton was discovered in Germany in 1878, and it dates back to 32,000 BC.
This means that cats have been living alongside humans for tens of thousands of years.
Like dogs, however, cats vary greatly in size.
The smallest cat ever recorded weighed just 1.5 ounces (4.6 grams), whereas the largest weighed over 35 pounds (16 kilograms).
While most modern cats are considered domestic cats, wildcats still exist.
These include jaguars, ocelots, pumas, lynxes, bobcats, and servals.
In addition to being smaller than domestic cats, wildcats don’t usually live near humans.
Instead, they prefer forests, deserts, and mountainsides.
However, they will sometimes attack livestock when necessary.
Since domestication, cats have become much more popular around the world.
Today, cats outnumber dogs almost everywhere except in Japan.
However, while dogs and cats are generally seen as a pair, the truth is that they can get along very well.
After all, they are both carnivores and therefore have similar digestive systems.
They also share many similarities in terms of appearance and behavior.
The Differences Between Dogs and Cats
Before we go further, let’s take a look at some of the differences between dogs and cats.
Dogs will protect their territory, but cats will leave theirs alone unless threatened.
Dogs can jump higher than cats.
If you think that all of these differences might cause conflicts between your dog and your cat, read on!
Why Dogs Might Be Obsessed With Cats
According to The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), there are more than 100 million cats in U.S. homes.
In fact, in 2014, there were approximately 7.6 million cats entering shelters.
The HSUS estimates that only about half of those cats will ever find new homes.
Although there are many factors contributing to this problem, one major cause has been attributed to the rise of pet overpopulation.
This has led to an increase in unwanted pets that end up being euthanized at animal shelters across the nation.
While most people would agree that these numbers seem like they would be overwhelming, the truth is that not all animals are created equal when it comes to adoption.
Some animals are much easier to place into loving homes than others.
One group of animals that fall into the latter category are dogs who have become so attached to their owners that they refuse to leave them alone.
They want to stay close by even if they don’t get enough food or playtime.
These types of dogs can be extremely difficult to place for a variety of reasons.
How to Stop Your Dog From Obsessing Over Your Cat
If you have a dog and a cat together, there’s a chance they might get on each other’s nerves at some point.
However, there are ways for dogs to stop obsessing over cats.
If you think this is happening in your home, here are some tips to help you deal with the issue.
1. Understand What’s Going On Between Them
It’s essential to understand what your dog is thinking when he starts getting too close to your cat.
You need to know if your dog is trying to get a reaction from your cat or if he’s trying to communicate something else.
Your cat may be able to tell your dog what he wants by using his body language or by making noises.
Some dogs will try to get their attention by playing with toys or tugging at them.
They do this because they want them to play with them rather than attack them.
If your dog is doing this, then he’s not interested in attacking your cat.
He just wants to play with him.
On the other hand, your dog could be trying to communicate something else to your cat.
For example, he may be asking for food or attention. If this is the case, then you should take action as soon as possible.
2. Try Changing Their Roles
If your dog has been trying to communicate something to your cat, but you can’t figure out what, then you could try changing their roles.
For instance, if your dog is always jumping up on your cat, you could give him a new role.
Instead of letting him jump on your cat, you could use treats to encourage him to sit next to the cat instead.
This way, your dog will still get to enjoy playing with your cat, but without any physical contact.
You could also use different toys to help your dog express himself properly.
Some dogs like to play with balls or tug toys, while others prefer bones or chew toys.
If you don’t know which type of toy your dog likes best, ask someone who does – preferably an animal behaviorist.
They can help you choose the right toys so your dog will be happy and content.
3. Keep Things Calm and Relaxed
When you’re dealing with two animals that are used to being alone, things can start to go wrong very quickly.
If your dog is constantly sniffing your cat, or vice versa, then you need to keep things calm and relaxed.
Hi, my name is Megan Turner and I have worked in a dog’s shelter for four years now. It is truly my dream job, and I see hundreds of dogs every month being united with new owners to give them a loving forever home.
Unfortunately, handicapped dogs are much more likely to be ignored when a family is picking out their new pet. Handicapped pets need more care than non-handicapped pets, so it is understandable why they are often harder to rehome.
