Why do dogs usually follow instructions, but cats largely ignore them?

Humans have domesticated both cats and dogs. Why do dogs generally follow instructions, whereas cats largely ignore them?

Caroline Peters
Wokingham, Berkshire, UK

Wolves are pack animals. Therefore, as they were domesticated, human owners took on the role of the pack leader. The dogs would naturally obey commands given by the surrogate pack leader – hence the term “master” for the owner of a dog.

Domestic cats, on the other hand, evolved from a wild species that was naturally solitary. Such animals would therefore be used to making their own decisions. It is possible to train cats to respond to human instructions, but this has to be done in a way that is advantageous to the cat in order for it to want to comply.

The current trend for “adventure cats” is a case in point – if the cat enjoys trips out with its owners, it will quickly learn to follow the instructions that lead to this reward.

Cats moved into areas around human grain stores during the Neolithic agricultural revolution, attracted by rodents

We taught our own cat (who was acquired as a rescue at age 11) to respond to a hand held up like a stop sign so that she would not immediately jump onto people who don’t like cats. She very quickly understood what was required by this gesture. She also learned that the sound of the bell from one of her toys was a command to heel and would come in immediately if this was shaken, whether or not a food reward was given on her return. We even had one cat who had been taught to play fetch just like a dog.

As with all domestic animals, the key to success in training is to be absolutely consistent in the message that you’re trying to convey. All human members of the household must expect the same result from the same message and, especially when dealing with cats, the animal must see the benefit in obeying the command.

Pam Lunn
Kenilworth, Warwickshire, UK

It may be a category error to suggest that we have domesticated cats.

Cats moved into areas around human grain stores during and after the Neolithic agricultural revolution. The concentration of rodents drawn to grain stores proved a convenient attraction for cats. The “domestic” cat genome has changed very little since then: they retain their wild characteristics.

There may be an argument for saying that cats have domesticated us, exploiting us for our willingness to feed and pamper them.

The law in the UK says that cats have the right to roam, and their owners cannot be held liable for trespassing or property damage they cause.

This is in contrast to the legal position of dogs, whose owners remain liable for any injury or damage caused by them.

Simon McLeish
Lechlade, Gloucestershire, UK

Domestic dogs and cats have both been companions to humans for a long time, and they have both adapted to live with us.

The two animals are descended from very different ancestors and, accordingly, their behaviour is very different. Genetic testing indicates that the closest relative of domestic cats is the African wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica), while dogs are most closely related to wolves (Canis lupus) – so close, in fact, that domestic dogs are classified as a subspecies of the wolf, not a separate species.

Their behaviour is very different. Wolves themselves are pack animals, with a distinct hierarchy. Their place governs their behaviour and, to them, a human is a dominant member of the pack in a way that no domestic cat would recognise. For millennia, dogs descended from wolves have been bred by humans to enhance traits such as trainability.

Having said that, with patience, it is possible to train domestic cats to carry out taught actions, but it generally needs more work and time than it does with dogs.

Peter Meehan
London*, UK

I used to walk down a quiet lane and my pet cat enjoyed strolling along the other side of a hedge, jumping back to me when it suited him. A cat hears instructions, but will make the decision to act on things more interesting to them.

*Editor’s note: We would like to point out that Peter’s actual address is in Catford.

Neil Sutcliffe
Glossop, Derbyshire, UK

There is an error in the initial suppositions: humans have indeed domesticated dogs, but cats have domesticated humans, hence the reversed master-servant relationship.

Kevin Craig
Arvada, Colorado, US

Clearly the questioner has never owned a greyhound!

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