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> why hasn't there been a breeding program to make domestic cats... more domesticated (i.e. friendlier)? Not sure, but here are some thoughts: cats and dogs oc

> why hasn't there been a breeding program to make domestic cats... more domesticated (i.e. friendlier)? Not sure, but here are some thoughts: cats and dogs occupy different niches. Feral cats are mostly not a problem because they don’t prey on animals that humans depend on for food. I guess a cat could take down a chicken? It would probably be dangerous, though. Chickens are big. Feral dogs, on the other hand are a problem because they will eat animals that humans are raising for food. After all, there’s a reason wolves have been exterminated throughout most of Europe. So, that difference, combined with the fact that cats just aren’t very useful (they don’t protect or herd livestock and they’re not useful for hunting large game), means that there was never a historical reason to breed them. Now as to why there hasn’t been a concerted effort to breed them as companion pets. I think the big reason here is that there is already an animal that is the same size as a cat, but extremely domesticated: small dogs! Animals as companions hasn’t been a widespread thing for very long. My guess is that, when that started being a thing, smaller dogs were much closer in evolutionary time than more dog-like cats. And I’m guessing the people who enjoy cats as pets now probably appreciate that they are less emotionally needy than dogs.

dmckeon 9y ago
For cats, consider that anyone who stores grain may be very happy to have a few "barn" cats -- not pets, nearly feral -- to hunt small rodents who would otherwise be eating grain, or spoiling it with excreta. I can recommend "Veterinary Aspects of Feline Behavior" by Bonnie Beaver, DVM, to people who keep cats.
- toasterlovin 9y ago
  Right, but I'm not sure there would be a motivation to breed barn cats. They're already pretty good at what you need them to do. Feral dogs, on the other hand, can't herd or protect livestock, nor are they useful for hunting.

dmckeon 9y ago

For cats, consider that anyone who stores grain may be very happy to have a few "barn" cats -- not pets, nearly feral -- to hunt small rodents who would otherwise be eating grain, or spoiling it with excreta. I can recommend "Veterinary Aspects of Feline Behavior" by Bonnie Beaver, DVM, to people who keep cats.

toasterlovin 9y ago
Right, but I'm not sure there would be a motivation to breed barn cats. They're already pretty good at what you need them to do. Feral dogs, on the other hand, can't herd or protect livestock, nor are they useful for hunting.