# Why don't cats, small dogs and other small pets protect us like a canary in a mine? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 29, 2017, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cats-small-dogs-and-other-small-pets-protect-us-like-a-canary-in-a-mine/778469 "2017-01-29T01:44:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cats-small-dogs-and-other-small-pets-protect-us-like-a-canary-in-a-mine/778469/1 "2017-01-29T01:44:25Z")
Miners relied on canarys to warn them when dangerous gasses are present. > **[canary in a coal mine - Wiktionary](https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/canary_in_a_coal_mine)** It seems like a small pet would do the same. Yet this couple and the cats died of CO poisoning. Comparing body weights. You’d think the cats death would provide ample warning to the couple. Why didn’t the cats act as a early warning sign of danger? [https://www.google.com/amp/www.nydailynews.com/amp/news/national/couple-found-dead-berkeley-home-killed-carbon-monoxide-article-1.2958150?client=ms-android-motorola](https://www.google.com/amp/www.nydailynews.com/amp/news/national/couple-found-dead-berkeley-home-killed-carbon-monoxide-article-1.2958150?client=ms-android-motorola) Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cats-small-dogs-and-other-small-pets-protect-us-like-a-canary-in-a-mine/778469/2 "2017-01-29T01:55:23Z")
I see no mention of cats in that article, much less a mention that the cats survived. And even if they did have cats and even if the cats did die, why would they have noticed? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cats-small-dogs-and-other-small-pets-protect-us-like-a-canary-in-a-mine/778469/3 "2017-01-29T02:00:17Z")
Not quite the answer to the question you asked, but: [THE USE OF MICE AND BIRDS FOR DETECTING CARBON MONOXIDE AFTER MINE FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS](https://books.google.com/books?id=RCCWMcWoZtIC&pg=PA12&lpg=PA12&dq=canary+carbon+monoxide&source=bl&ots=B6UOCB-S_M&sig=F39OVZ4QZ-HPNu8sYp2ic9F83Gw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiNzMfUn-bRAhVDiVQKHWAGBss4HhDoAQg2MAY#v=onepage&q=canary%20carbon%20monoxide&f=false) \*These tests show that canaries may be better than mice as indicators of the presence of noxious gases in the atmosphere of mines since they more quickly show signs of distress in the presence of small quantities of carbon monoxide. In addition, the symptoms of poisoning in birds are much more clearly defined. A bird sways noticeably on its perch before falling and its fall is a better indication of danger than is the squatting, extended posture that some mice assume without much struggling, attempts to walk, or other preliminary symptom of poisoning. Consequently, birds not only give more timely warning of the presence of small quantities of carbon monoxide but exhibit symptoms that are more easily noticed by exploring parties. \* So, canaries are more sensitive than the already-small mice. A larger mammal is likely to be even less sensitive. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cats-small-dogs-and-other-small-pets-protect-us-like-a-canary-in-a-mine/778469/4 "2017-01-29T02:10:25Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I see no mention of cats in that article, much less a mention that the cats survived. And even if they did have cats and even if the cats did die, why would they have noticed? Fluffy might be a bit quiet. But I think I’d notice if she wasn’t moving at all. > [@](#): > > A friend discovered the bodies of Roger Morash, 35, his 32-year-old wife Valerie Morash and their two cats Monday afternoon in a fourplex on Deakin Street, where they’d been living for several years. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cats-small-dogs-and-other-small-pets-protect-us-like-a-canary-in-a-mine/778469/5 "2017-01-29T02:11:05Z")
Incidentally, I suspect the article is wrong about it being a 3D printer. 3D printers emit very little gas of any kind since they mostly just melt plastic (small quantities might be released, but not enough to kill you). And consumer models don’t use lasers. However, 3D laser _cutters_ can easily emit CO and other toxic gases (chlorine, etc.) since they basically burn through the material. They could certainly kill you if poorly ventilated. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cats-small-dogs-and-other-small-pets-protect-us-like-a-canary-in-a-mine/778469/6 "2017-01-29T02:27:07Z")
Cats and dogs sleep like 80000% of the time. How would I really notice if they aren’t well unless I’m staring at them? A biRd off it’s roost is very quickly identifiable as a problem. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cats-small-dogs-and-other-small-pets-protect-us-like-a-canary-in-a-mine/778469/7 "2017-01-29T03:09:03Z")
I have no idea why I thought that birds squaw all the time … miner birds especially … and that’s why they’re called miner birds … because they squaw all day in a mine … except if they’re dead … and don’t squaw … so the miner people know to leave right away … weird eh? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cats-small-dogs-and-other-small-pets-protect-us-like-a-canary-in-a-mine/778469/8 "2017-01-29T03:42:50Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > Incidentally, I suspect the article is wrong about it being a 3D printer. 3D printers emit very little gas of any kind since they mostly just melt plastic (small quantities might be released, but not enough to kill you). And consumer models don’t use lasers. > > However, 3D laser _cutters_ can easily emit CO and other toxic gases (chlorine, etc.) since they basically burn through the material. They could certainly kill you if poorly ventilated. You’re right. 😃 I just found the original local news report. There was a laser cutter and a 3D printer in the house. It probably was the cutter emitting the CO. > **[Carbon monoxide poisoning may have caused mysterious deaths](https://www.berkeleyside.org/2017/01/28/carbon-monoxide-laser-cutter-may-caused-mysterious-deaths-berkeley-home)** > > Carbon monoxide poisoning may have killed a young couple and their cats in their home last weekend, but the official cause has not been determined. I have always thought my small dog would show symptoms before I got sick from CO. It’s not comforting to know that isn’t the case. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cats-small-dogs-and-other-small-pets-protect-us-like-a-canary-in-a-mine/778469/9 "2017-01-29T05:00:46Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I have always thought my small dog would show symptoms before I got sick from CO. It’s not comforting to know that isn’t the case. Train your dog to sit on a perch. Then, when he falls off, you might have enough time to leave before you keel over. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cats-small-dogs-and-other-small-pets-protect-us-like-a-canary-in-a-mine/778469/10 "2017-01-29T05:12:03Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > …I have always thought my small dog would show symptoms before I got sick from CO. It’s not comforting to know that isn’t the case. You could get a CO alarm that emits high frequency sound audible only to dogs, then he would know before you and you could train him to bark to alert you. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cats-small-dogs-and-other-small-pets-protect-us-like-a-canary-in-a-mine/778469/11 "2017-01-29T05:50:42Z")
Years ago a coworker’s small dog saved the coworker and her family from [whatever it is when your water heater is malfunctioning], by virtue of becoming groggy way before they did. Even though they all left, including the dog, the dog did not make it, but it saved her family. It’s likely that, if everybody was asleep when the incident happened [I can’t get to that link], the pets succumbed first, but since everyone was asleep, they didn’t notice. Or maybe not likely but it’s possible. In the case of the coworker, she was going up to bed and had difficulty rousing the dog to come with her, which was unusual. If she’d already been asleep, it would have been too late. ---
**Author:** ![mistymage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mistymage/32/459_2.png) [@mistymage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mistymage)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cats-small-dogs-and-other-small-pets-protect-us-like-a-canary-in-a-mine/778469/12 "2017-01-29T09:09:43Z")
Canaries didn’t/don’t really “squaw” , they sing or chirp or trill. Dead or quiet canaries meant the air was bad. Some birds squawk. Canaries… no, not really. (turn sound down) [cockatoo video, louie squawking! - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qGOJmq_lAE) (squawk) vs canaries: [canary sound - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deYWD-1iFoc) ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cats-small-dogs-and-other-small-pets-protect-us-like-a-canary-in-a-mine/778469/13 "2017-01-29T09:28:55Z")
The wife insisted on having a canary for a while. Think cheapo 90’s car alarm. ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cats-small-dogs-and-other-small-pets-protect-us-like-a-canary-in-a-mine/778469/14 "2017-01-29T13:02:14Z")
Small pets are constantly vigilant, looking for anything that might cause harm to their owners…the thing is, owners are too busy feeding them, cleaning up their messes, walking them, taking them to the vet and wondering if they slipped out a door when they weren’t looking…to notice. I just shake my head each time a new weekly 40# bag of cat litter arrives on my son’s porch from Amazon, wondering how the drones are going to manage that. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cats-small-dogs-and-other-small-pets-protect-us-like-a-canary-in-a-mine/778469/15 "2017-01-29T13:18:31Z")
If a cat is lying still, it’s probably asleep. Yeah, if you looked close, you might notice it’s not breathing, but you wouldn’t look close if it was sleeping under the couch, or behind the drapes, or just in another room. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cats-small-dogs-and-other-small-pets-protect-us-like-a-canary-in-a-mine/778469/16 "2017-01-29T13:19:18Z")
> [@crucible](#): > > I just shake my head each time a new \*\*weekly 40# bag of cat litter[/] arrives on my son’s porch from Amazon, wondering how the drones are going to manage that. Wait… Your son goes through 40 lbs. of cat litter _a week_? Does he run a cat shelter, or does he have a tiger or something? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cats-small-dogs-and-other-small-pets-protect-us-like-a-canary-in-a-mine/778469/17 "2017-01-29T15:51:13Z")
> [@robardin](#): > > Wait… Your son goes through 40 lbs. of cat litter _a week_? > > Does he run a cat shelter, or does he have a tiger or something? He likes the cherry chocolate mint. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cats-small-dogs-and-other-small-pets-protect-us-like-a-canary-in-a-mine/778469/18 "2017-01-29T16:10:20Z")
Cats and small dogs in fact are going to succumb to carbon monoxide or other atmospheric toxins before humans do. However, since canaries weigh less than an ounce, even a cat weighs 200 times more. Canaries are going to show effects at much lower concentrations than a cat or small dog. As has also been pointed out, the effects on a canary will be more obvious: it will fall off the perch, whereas a cat or dog will just lie down and appear to be sleeping. Given the lack of information in the story in the OP, there is no reason to suppose that the cats didn’t succumb first but went unnoticed by the human victims. So there’s really no question to be answered here. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cats-small-dogs-and-other-small-pets-protect-us-like-a-canary-in-a-mine/778469/19 "2017-01-29T16:12:38Z")
Our chocolate Lab was very sensitive to smoke and would bark to warn us everytime we lit a fire in the fireplace. “Idiots! You’re burning down the house again!” ---
**Author:** ![coffeecat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coffeecat/32/3405_2.png) [@coffeecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coffeecat)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cats-small-dogs-and-other-small-pets-protect-us-like-a-canary-in-a-mine/778469/20 "2017-01-29T16:25:45Z")
Birds are more sensitive to airborne toxins than us mammals. A pet bird can die from the gas given off by an overheated Teflon pan. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cats-small-dogs-and-other-small-pets-protect-us-like-a-canary-in-a-mine/778469.md?page=2)