December 11, 2024
2 read me
5 cool things we learned about pet cats and dogs in 2024
Why do some Labrador retrievers eat too much? Do cats and dogs dream like humans do? Is your cat really obsessed with you? In 2024 we answered these and other questions about our beloved furry friends
Cats and dogs dream like humans.
chendongshan/Getty Images
Dogs (and some mischievous cats) may be humans’ best friends, but their behavior often confuses us. For example, what causes some dogs to have an insatiable appetite? What does it mean if a cat stiffens or wags its tail? This year science has brought us closer to the answers to these questions, giving us a glimpse into the inner worlds of our furry friends.
Sweet Dreams
Our cats and puppies have rapid eye movement, a stage of sleep that is clearly associated with dreams in humans. What can a dog or cat dream like? A prominent dream researcher theorizes that animal dreams reflect everyday experiences, perhaps catching frisbees in the park or bonding with a friendly human.
About supporting science journalism
If you like this article, please consider supporting our award-winning journalism subscribe. By purchasing a subscription, you’re helping to ensure a future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas that shape our world.
Hailey Seelig/Getty Images
Getting rid of stress
Dogs can detect cortisol, a stress hormone, in our sweat; they can also interpret this information and respond by acting sad. Smelling the sweat of a nervous human stranger produces offspring more pessimistic in uncertain situations and maybe less hungry. “Both humans and dogs are social animals, and there is emotional contamination between us,” said Zoe Parr-Cortes, lead author of a recent study on this topic and then a Ph.D. A student at the University of Bristol in England, in an interview American scientific. “Being able to sense another group member’s stress was probably beneficial because it alerted them to a threat that another group member had already detected.”
No, your cat isn’t clingy, it’s probably just bored
Sorry cat lovers: Even if your cat follows you around the apartment or whines incessantly for attention, it might not be obsessed with you. Instead, vets saycan be understimulated, cold or simply attentive. Cats have evolved to carefully monitor their environment, so closed doors often arouse curiosity or anxiety. And your cat might not jump on your lap for your love, but for a warm surface.
Portly Pooches
Does Fido demand a constant stream of snacks? A quarter of Labrador retrievers (and two-thirds of the less common flat-coated dogs) have them genetic mutation this makes them feel like they are starving, even though they are actually well fed. The internal signals these dogs receive make them hungrier and lazier between meals. The trait is a remnant of an ancestral species that provided fish for Canadian fishermen.
The cat has a genetic mutation that curls its tail over its back in a spitz-like position.
“Meow” vs. “meow“
An unusual genetic mutation some cats curl their tails over their backsgiving it a striking appearance. But the trait can also hinder these cats’ ability to communicate clearly. One way cats show friendship to each other is by holding their tails straight, a gesture that is impossible for cats with curly tails. To compensate for this limitation, such cats may rely on other body language cues such as ear position and scent. And with enough practice, cats that “speak” different dialects can understand each other, new research shows.
