If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve seen some YouTube videos in which cats act like dogs. Or your feline pal is acting like a canine.
Either way, you’re wondering why a cat would act like a dog when it’s obvious they’re from different species.
Each kitty is unique, regardless of its breed. However, some furballs out there might indeed do things, which aren’t very…”catlike”.
For example, your pet might find pleasure in performing tricks with ease. Or it might respond to its name whenever you’re calling it, just like a dog would do.
Or it could want to play fetch. The cat might even follow you around from one room to another even when you’re going to the bathroom.
And one of the most peculiar dog-like activities for cats is…walking on a leash. Yes, that’s an actual thing and many pet owners do take their felines for a walk on a leash.
But why are cats doing all of these and some other dog-like things? Are they confused about their species?
Not necessarily! Once you discover the reasons, you will see your cat’s behavior as quite normal and sane.
Why Is My Cat Acting Like A Dog?
If It’s Dog-Like, Loyal, And Attached To Its Owner…
Your pet is following you around everywhere you go.
She’s greeting you whenever you come home from work. She’s snuggling with you whenever you’re waking up.
When you’re trying to sleep in your room, she there. She’s constantly sitting on your lap and is seeking physical contact.
Your furball may meow or even lick you as a sign of affection apart from purring or rubbing against you.
All of these things are typical dog-like activities that many cats do.
Some breeds, such as the Ragdoll have a dog-like loyalty to their owners by default.
This means they’ll choose a specific person from the household and perceive them as their favorite human. They will constantly seek this person’s presence, wishing to outclass dogs as “the man’s best friend”.
And there’s nothing wrong with any of this unless it becomes too annoying for the owner. It just means the cat got attached to its pet parent and wants to be around him/ her.
If It’s Acting Out As A Way To Receive Treats And Be The Center Of Attention…
Several feline breeds adore being the center of attention to such an extent that they’ll do anything for it.
The Oriental Shorthair and the Abyssinian are such breeds. They’ll amaze you with their unpredictable behavior just to get a few minutes of your attention.
And since cats are curious by nature, these furballs can even greet unfamiliar guests and stay with them up until they leave your home!
On the other hand, many felines start performing tricks out of the blue. They nibble at your clothes or bring you a toy to play fetch just like a dog would do when it demands attention, playtime, or a treat.
So, if your cat is behaving like a dog, it could simply be demanding some attention. Or it just wants to prove itself to you so that you can reward it with a tasty treat.
If It’s Just Susceptible To Training…
Contrary to their mischievous and headstrong nature, many cat breeds are quite intelligent and susceptible to training. The Maine Coon, Russian Blue, and Siamese are among them.
If your cat is responding to commands as a dog would do, it means your kitty is easily susceptible to training.
As you probably know, the best practices for training a cat include positive reinforcement techniques.
If your cat is easily trainable, then she will be eager to please you and get a reward for her achievements, especially when learning commands, tricks, and how it shouldn’t scratch your furniture.
Don’t be surprised if your cat manages to learn her name, the name of her favorite toy, or how to jump through a hoop.
If It’s Living Or Has Lived With A Dog…
Last, but not least, it’s possible in some rare cases for your pet to indeed confuse its species. If you are a dog owner and a cat owner, you may notice that your furball and canine have become good friends.
If your cat is close to the canine, it might even sleep next to it. And in some truly rare cases, the cat can start perceiving the dog as a role model.
So, in other words, your pet kitty might indeed act like a dog only because it’s been mimicking the dog’s behavior. That, however, is a rarity.
Even if you have a feline and a canine under the same roof, it’s far more likely for your cat to be behaving like a dog for one (or several) of the previously mentioned reasons.
