Fish generally swim in schools of like species having no idea what the individual fish itself looks like. Dolphins, whales, monkies etc. also generally hang around with their own kind. How do they recognize like-species? Have dogs and cats been too domesticated to recognize animals that look like themselves?
“If you are not becoming to others, you ought to be coming to us.”
Lasky’s hair Salon
Look up Konrad Lorenz and imprinting.
In short, dogs that we raise from puppyhood tend to think that humans are the alpha members of their pack. Dogs that are raised by their parents (as in the cases of feral packs) tend to act more like wolves, hanging out with their own species.
Cats are loners. They don’t stay with humans as a grouping behaviour. They stay with us because we feed them. Cats do not form hunting groups (except for lions). This is mostly because of their hunting styles. Dogs take down large prey by ganging up on it. Cats hide and pounce on smaller prey. Dogs are social because one elk can feed an extended family. Cats are loners because one mouse can really only feed one individual.
Yes, that’s in short. Don’t get me into full lecture series mode…
Thanks, Dr. F: At what point in the dog family for an example is the genetic imprint of “hang around with your own kind” superceded by acceptance of the human pet owner as pack leader? Is it simply a matter of the provision of food or does affection of and in itself play a part?
There are examples of cats forming small groups with hierarchies of some type. However, if you put my own cat in with any other group, she would claw the other ones to death or die trying.