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Edwin Gonzalez
Ms. Dasher
British Literature and Composition
15 November 2012
The Astounding Attitudes of Cats and Dogs
The behavior of cats and dogs are truly an outstanding thing to look more into. Believe it
or not but cats and dogs are very much like humans when they are compared by emotions. They
might not necessarily do the same things that humans do but cats and dogs sure have a way of
showing its feelings. Cats and dogs might be animals but animals also have many moods that
people often show. Shyness is frequently seen in cats and dogs which many times is having or
showing nervousness or timidity in the company of other animals or people. Aggressiveness has
been seen in cats and dogs all the time particularly in more rural areas than in cities is an emotion
that is expressed when cats and dogs are angry or sometimes even if they feel threatened.
Happiness is a great and loving emotion that everyone loves when it is shown by cats and dogs
especially a person’s very own pet that one comes to love ever so dearly. Playfulness is another
emotion that cats and dogs can show and that is why cats and dogs must have toys to play with or
even another companion to play and interact with. Cats and dogs are really much like human
beings because of its sentiments that they have. Cats and dogs are truly marvelous in the way
they show its emotions and it is just an outstanding thing.
The sentiments of cats and dogs are unique, cats and dogs can show frequent change in
sentiment. One emotion that is seen in many nervous cats and dogs is shyness. Shyness is an
emotion when a cat or dog is feeling nervous or frightened. This can happen to many cats and
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dogs more often to ones that have been left or abandoned by its owners. A good way to help your
dog with fear and shyness is training and teaching when the dog is really young. “Early
socialization plays a monumental role in a dog’s ability to interact with people and other canines.
Without these learned skills as a puppy, chances are your dog will not see going to the park as a
fun activity but rather one to be frightened or nervous of” (“How to Socialize a Shy Dog”). Cats
can develop a fear of people they don’t know for many reasons. “To be social and comfortable
with all kinds of people, a cat must have frequent opportunities to meet numerous new and
different people in low-key, pleasant circumstances while still a kitten, especially between the
ages of two and seven weeks. Cats that didn’t spend much time with people as kittens-for
example, former stray cats-might remain skittish around people its entire lives” (“Cat Shy or
Afraid?”).There are ways to tell if a dog is fearful or shy. The posture of a dog is a great way to
confirm if the dog is somewhat nervous or scared of something. The dog can start to move in a
certain position or pattern when it is also nervous or fearful of something.
When your dog is scared, he does his best to look small. Often, his body looks hunched,
with his tail held low or tucked between his rear legs and his ears flattened back on his
skull. He might cower close to the ground. If escape is possible, he might lean so that his
center of gravity is over his rear legs to permit a hasty retreat, or lean to the side so that
he can recoil. He might look directly at the source of his fear or he might look away. The
muscles of his body and face are tense and rigid. He might yawn in an exaggerated way
(Canine Body Language).
The cat does somewhat of the similar body postures as the dog. “When a cat becomes
anxious, he crouches into a ball, making himself appear smaller than usual. Muscles are tensed
and the cat is poised to flee if necessary. The tail is held close to the body, sometimes wrapped
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around the feet. The head is held down and pulled into the shoulders (Feline-Ality Cat Body
Postures).” It is easy to know when a cat and dog is nervous and fearful of something when
knowing a cat and dog’s body language when a cat and dog is nervous or shy. Cats and dogs can
have a high chance of being socially inactive shy, or fearful to people, other animals and
sometimes noises, or objects. This is why it is very important to train cats and dogs right from
when they are puppies or kittens. “If you have a particularly shy or nervous pet, you can
encourage social behaviors by slowly exposing them to new people or animals by having them
sit for treats through desensitization: expose them to something new, offer treats and try to
encourage positive emotional responses (Socializing Cats and Dogs).” It will help cats and dogs
live a normal life.
Aggressiveness is one other kind of emotion that a cat and dog can show particularly
when the cat or dog is unhappy and it could be dangerous because of the way the cat or dog
behaves. Aggression is threatening or harmful behavior directed toward another animal or
person. Cats and dogs can show aggression by using its body language. For a cat, it’s a bit less
complex than a dog because a cat’s aggressiveness can show by it wanting to fight another cat or
animal. The cat may use its paws to strike as well and also try to bite or scratch another cat,
animal or even a human being. “Strong-willed cats that stand their ground and hiss and spit, or
swipe with a paw, are more likely to cope with a new dog, than the timid sort that run from
everything (Will They Live Together Peacefully?).” It could start to growl or shriek at something
when a cat is aggressive. It may even attempt to use different movements to attack. “Overt
aggression, whether defensive or offensive, includes: Preparing for an all-out attack by rolling
onto side or back and exposing all weapons: teeth and claws. In this position, your cat might
attempt to grab your hand and bring it to his mouth to bite it (Aggression in Cats).” Dogs have a
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more complex behavior when they are aggressive. “Dogs use facial expressions, ear set and
overall demeanor to signal their intentions and feelings to others (Canine Body Language).”
They use its ears to show that they are aggravated and could attack with its aggressiveness.
“Your dog will also raise his ears up and forward when he’s feeling aggressive (Canine Body
Language).” A dog’s mouth is very helpful when identifying an aggressive dog.
A dog may draw his lips back horizontally so that his lips are really tight at the
commissure. With this expression, you’re more likely to see both his front and back teeth.
This posture is often indicative of a dog who’s feeling afraid. However, once a dog is
ready to bite, he usually pulls his lips up and back so that his mouth is open and his teeth
are exposed. Dogs can display an “aggressive pucker.” They move their lips forward over
their teeth and exhale air so that their lips look puffy and large. You can sometimes even
hear them breathing heavily (Canine Body Language).
Dogs in particular, have more than one type of aggressiveness. They can be fearfully
aggressive and offensively aggressive towards people, animals or other dogs. A fearfully
aggressive dog is more of a defensive kind of aggression that the dog only attacks when it feels
threatened and has nowhere to hide. “A fearful dog isn’t likely to bite a person or other animal
unless all avenues for escape are blocked and he feels trapped. Some dogs wait until the person
or animal who frightens them begins to retreat, and then they dart out to nip them from behind
(Canine Body Language).” An offensively aggressive dog is more of the typical kind of
aggressiveness witnessed in hostile dogs. “He stares directly at the person or animal. He shows
his teeth by wrinkling his muzzle and retracting his lips vertically to display his front teeth. He
growls, snarls or barks in a low, threatening tone (Canine Body Language).” Although
aggressiveness in a cat or dog can be dangerous towards other animals and people, it is still an
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outstanding knowledge that is out there to understand. The emotions of a cat or a dog are truly
impressive to comprehend even though certain emotions can be harmful to cats and dogs.
One of the best emotions that a cat and dog can possibly have is happiness. Happiness
can help cats and dogs live a great and long life. If a cat and dog show friendliness and happiness
it is a sign of that cat or dog loving its owner and also an outstanding indication of a great owner.
When a cat and dog is happy, a cat and dog’s body language is relaxed. A distance reducing
behavior is a great indication of a happy and friendly cat. “Distance-reducing behaviors
encourage approach and social interaction and are meant to telegraph to others that the cat means
no harm. The act of rubbing against a person’s hand or another cat (scent marking) to distribute
glandular facial pheromones from the forehead, chin or whisker bed is calming and seems to
guarantee friendly interaction immediately afterward. The tail is usually held erect while the cat
is scent-rubbing (Feline-Ality Cat Body Postures).” Dogs can be very friendly and social to
people. A dogs muscles, ears and tail are in a relaxed state. “His muscles are relaxed, his tail and
ears are held in their natural positions, and he looks neither large nor small for his physique. He
might wag his tail from side to side or in a circular motion. His facial expression is neutral or he
appears happy—the muscles in his face are relaxed, his mouth is closed or slightly opened, and
he might be panting with a regular tempo. The corners of his mouth (called the commissure)
might be turned upwards slightly, as though he’s smiling (Canine Body Language).” The tails of
dogs are always a great way to distinct whether how a dog is feeling. It can be difficult
understanding the movement of the tail, but with the knowledge it is very helpful to see the
emotions of dogs with the movement of the tail. “When your dog is relaxed, he’ll hold his tail in
its natural position. If he’s feeling happy, he may wag it gently from side to side. If he’s really
happy, like when he greets you after being apart from you, his tail will wag more forcefully from
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side to side or might even move in a circular pattern (Canine Body Language).” Cats and dogs
can be happy when a cat or dog’s owner is a great owner. When a cat or dog shows happiness, it
can mean that it loves its life and it could not possibly be happier. Happiness in a cat or dog
increase the chances of a cat or dog living longer and a less stressful life.
Cat and dogs playfulness emotion is a great sentiment to witness and interact with the cat
or dog. A cat’s playfulness emotion often comes from a confident or confident at ease cat. The
confident cat is a cat that is well adapted in the environment surrounding it or its home with its
owners. “The confident cat purposefully moves through space, standing straight and tall with tail
erect. He is ready to explore his environment and engage those he meets along the way. His
upright tail signifies his friendly intentions, while his ears are forward and erect adding to the
cat’s alert expression (ASPCA Feline-Ality Cat Body Postures).” When a cat is confident at ease,
it shows that it feels comfortable in the environment it is in and also is comfortable with its
owners approaching it. “When relaxed, a confident cat stretches out on his side or lies on his
back exposing his belly. He is in a calm but alert state and accepts being approached. His entire
posture is open and at ease; but beware, not every cat that exposes his abdomen will respond well
to a belly rub. Some will grasp your hand with their front paws, rake your forearm with their
hind feet and bite your hand (ASPCA Feline-Ality Cat Body Postures).” A cat can very well
display a distance-reducing behavior showing that the cat can be friendly and playful with others.
“Distance-reducing behaviors encourage approach and social interaction and are meant to
telegraph to others that the cat means no harm. The act of rubbing against a person’s hand or
another cat (scent marking) to distribute glandular facial pheromones from the forehead, chin or
whisker bed is calming and seems to guarantee friendly interaction immediately afterward. The
tail is usually held erect while the cat is scent-rubbing (ASPCA Feline-Ality Cat Body
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Postures).” Although it generally good for a dog to be playful, some dogs can display a
compulsive behavior. “The word “compulsive” describes the repetitive, irresistible urge to
perform a behavior. A dog who displays compulsive behavior repeatedly performs one or more
behaviors over and over, to the extent that it interferes with his normal life (Compulsive
Behavior in Dogs).”For some cats, compulsive behavior can be almost identical, but except that
cats demonstrate different characteristics. “The most common compulsive behaviors in cats are
wool sucking or fabric eating (a form of pica) and excessive licking, hair chewing or hair pulling
(called psychogenic alopecia). When performed compulsively, these behaviors can be harmful to
a cat. Cats who eat fabric can suffer intestinal obstruction, and cats who over-groom can develop
skin wounds. Sometimes a cat becomes so compelled to engage in a compulsive behavior that it
interferes with her ability to lead a normal life and impairs her relationship with her pet parent
(Compulsive Behavior in Cats).” Some specific breeds of dogs may seem that they are playing
or showing some kind of playfulness but it can turn out to be compulsive behavior and can turn
out to cause an injury for the dog. “Bull terriers repetitively spin more often than other breeds.
German shepherd dogs seem vulnerable to tail-chasing compulsions. Sometimes they even bite
and chew their tails when they “catch” them, causing hair loss or serious injury (Compulsive
Behavior in Dogs).” Every cat needs to have fun. It can make a cat happy and healthy. However,
when people play with cats they may think that the cat is just playing, but it can be that the cat
has some aggression. It is very important that people do not misinterpret it. “All kittens and
young cats need to play. Play is normal behavior that provides young animals with opportunities
to develop their physical coordination and problem-solving skills. It also gives them a chance to
hone their social skills with members of their own species. It’s very common for kittens and
young cats to engage in rough, active play because all feline play consists of mock aggression.
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Cats stalk, chase, pounce, swat, kick, scratch and bite each other—all in good fun. However,
people often misinterpret this kind of behavior as aggression when it’s directed toward them
(Cats Who Play Rough).” Cats often play two different ways: solitaire play and social play.
Solitaire play usually is when a cat plays with objects and social play is when a cat plays with
another cat or a person. “Cats display two different types of play behavior: solitary play and
social play. They direct solitary play toward objects, like toys, skeins of yarn, paper bags, boxes
and rolled-up paper. Social play is directed toward fellow cats, people or other animals.
Unfortunately, problems can sometimes arise when feline play is directed toward people. Despite
the playful intentions of a cat, he can cause injury to his human playmates. Cat scratches and
bites are painful and can easily become infected (Cats who Play Rough).” Mostly every dog
plays with chew toys and other dog toys, but some like nipping or playing bite and even though
the dog is showing off a playful emotion, it can be dangerous. “Most pet parents don’t enjoy
dogs who bite, chew and mouth their hands, limbs or clothing during play and interaction. The
jaws of an adult dog can cause significantly more pain than puppy teeth, and adult dogs can
inadvertently cause injury while mouthing. Mouthing is often more difficult to suppress in adult
dogs because adults aren’t as sensitive to our reactions as puppies are, and they’re usually more
difficult to control physically because of their size. Adult dogs who mouth people probably never
learned not to do so during puppyhood. It’s likely that their human parents didn’t teach them
how to be gentle or to chew toys instead (Mouthing, Nipping and Play Biting in Adult Dogs).”
Cat and dogs share a wonderful world with humans and as pet owners; they want nothing less
than to have a happy and playful cat and dog. Cats may be a bit less playful at times but it does
not mean that they do not like to be playful. Dogs show more playfulness but owners may have
to watch out for biting and nipping from dogs because although they might be playing it can be
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dangerous. Cats as well may only just be playing, but pet owners must watch out for scratches
and swiping from cats. “Social bonding is somewhat different in cats, and they are generally less
socially involved than dogs. Still, the early domestic cat thrived by adapting to humans much as
dogs did. Over the centuries, dogs and cats have become uncannily attuned to us, in a survivalof-the-fittest sort of way (Can Pets Sense Our Emotions).” Playfulness is a sentiment that a cat
and dog may display when it feels happy and joyful. Cats and dogs alike enjoy various toys and
treats to keep them entertained and assertive as well as jubilant and lively.
The emotions of cat and dogs are very complex and very expressional. Cats and dogs use
body languages to interact and express its sentiments with humans and other animals. They also
may use facial expressions and other characteristics. People may not look similar or move like
cat and dogs, but cat and dogs and humans are alike in the way they express feelings and it is
very astounding how it works. Many cat and dogs may be feeling nervous when around people
that it might not know causing it to be shy and timid. A large amount of cats and dogs may feel
threatened and many times it may make them aggressive towards humans and other animals
which can be dangerous. When a dog seems relaxed in its environment and feels trust with the
owner; that is when a cat or dog may show a happy emotion. One of the many different
sentiments a cat and dogs can display is playfulness. Playfulness is another emotion that cats and
dogs can show and that is why cats and dogs must have toys to play with or even another
companion to play and interact with. Cats and dogs have similar characteristics that humans have
when it relates to emotions. To think that cats and dogs can interact with human beings and live
together with one another in a home as a family is a wonderful thing.
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Works Cited
"Aggression in Cats." ASPCA. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2012. <http://www.aspca.org/Petcare/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-articles/aggression-in-cats>.
"ASPCA Feline-Ality Cat Body Postures." ASPCA. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2012.
<www.aspcapro.org/mydocuments/aspca_felineality_cat_body_postures.pdf>.
“Can Pets Sense Our Emotions." Can Pets Sense Our Emotions. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.superhappypets.com/article_pets_sense_emotions.html>.
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"Compulsive Behavior in Cats." ASPCA. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.aspca.org/Pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-articles/compulsive-behavior-incats>.
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<http://www.aspca.org/Pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-articles/compulsive-behavior-indogs>.
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<http://petsadviser.com/behaviors/how-to-socialize-a-shy-dog/>.
"Mouthing, Nipping and Play Biting in Adult Dogs." ASPCA. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.aspca.org/Pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-articles/mouthing-nipping-and-playbiting-in-adult-dogs>.
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<http://www.petinsurance.com/healthzone/pet-articles/pet-behavior/Socializing-Cats-and-