Why do dogs bark and cats meow?

If it weren't for the owner, they would behave just like wild animals. They use their language of communication only for us, and naturally for their own purposes. To be fed, played with, petted, and given attention.

Why don't wolves bark and wild cats meow?

It's hard to imagine a tiger meowing. But you should open the refrigerator and your cat will come flying at all speeds toward the kitchen with a thunderous "meow." Wolves don't bark either, but you can't get past a guard dog without being barked at. How is it that pets yell for nothing and their wild ancestors are as dumb as fish?

In fact, both of them also "meow" and "bark" in nature. But wild cats and wolves do it as kittens and puppies. . The little ones' voices to get their mother's attention. . And the kids' voices are quietly so that they to be heard by the parent, but not to be noticed by other predators. For which the little ones are easy prey.

But big cats cannot purr at all. The sound they make when they purr is a muffled growl.

So, the kittens grew up and turned into brutal predators. Some became the king of the jungle, like the tiger, some became the queen of the Siberian taiga, like the lynx. The result is the same: Both will never meow again. . They are now lone killers, whose main weapons are not only fangs and claws, but also stealth . With that in mind… …to make unnecessary noises is to deprive yourself of dinner… . And who is there to talk to, if you live alone all the time. ?

Lions are an exception to the rule. Of course, they don't meow, but they make a lot of different sounds when communicating with relatives inside the pride.

But wolves, on the other hand. team players. . So why do the gray forest rangers stop barking? As it turns out, they don't. . It's just that it's about as easy to see a wolf barking in person as it is to see a crayfish whistling on a mountain. Wolves They speak rarely, only within the den and in time of extreme danger, so there is a myth of their silence. . The reason for their silence is the same as for cats. If you're as quiet as the last dog. any game will hear you from a mile away. .

But the wolf's regular repertoire includes howling. It's how the pack marks its territory and sends messages to neighboring groups.

WHY DO CATS MEOW AND DOGS BARK?

I didn't want to tell you, but you can. Cats never meow when communicating with each other, and wolves, the closest relatives of dogs, do not know how to bark.

Wolf cubs make bark-like sounds, but adult wolves never bark. For a long time, scientists believed that people kept only the most benevolent and playful wolves near them, which, even when they grew up, continued to behave like puppies. Recent studies show that the real picture is somewhat different.

Animals bark differently in different situations: the sounds they make when meeting a stranger were different from those dogs make during a friendly or loving encounter. Moreover, it turned out that people were able to distinguish the barking that dogs make in different situations. In addition, the acoustic structure of dog barking is very similar, unlike the structure of any other sounds they make. Most likely, the unusual acoustic uniformity of barking clearly indicates its adaptive meaning: barking is intended primarily for the human ear, so it must be simple and understandable. And those sounds that dogs have left "for themselves" are much more complex and less understandable to us, the squirrels.

With cats the situation is very similar – they meow in order to be heard by humans, the issues they solve for themselves – they solve themselves in a completely different way.

Do animals understand the "language" of other species? That is, do cats understand dog barks, do dogs understand cat meows, and so on?

In general body language is the same for different animal species, but of course there are differences.

There is such a thing as a "species weapon." It's what the animal uses to defend itself or attack. For a dog it's teeth, for a cat it's teeth and claws, for a bull it's horns, and so on. For example, in terms of body language, a raised front paw is a signal of reconciliation. That is, the dog thus communicates that it does not intend to have a conflict. But if a cat raises its front paw, it can mean both a conciliation signal and a possible claw strike. Dogs often misinterpret the cat's raised paw and end up getting claws in the face )).

Another example. A lowered head for a dog or cat is also a conciliation signal, because when they lower their head they "put away" their weapon, hiding it from their opponent. But the lowered head of a bull is most likely an attack, because The bull has horns on his head and it is with them that he defends himself. Dogs and cats, alas, do not understand this.

Interestingly, dogs also perceive human teeth as weapons, so if we want to demonstrate our peaceful intentions to the dog, we'd better turn our face to the side. But a smile is not interpreted as a grin by dogs, because when we smile, we are relaxed and our facial expressions are quite peaceful. As a rule the eyes are squinted slightly, this is the so-called "soft look", which also refers to the signals of reconciliation.

There is another point, causing a misunderstanding in the communication between the cat and the dog. The fact is that a dog "speaks" with its body language about 1.5 times faster than a human, while a cat is about 3 times slower than a human. Thus, when the dog has already had time to tell the cat that her name is Julia, she is 3 years old, she is very cheerful and kind and wants to play, the cat has only had time to turn her head and almost no reaction at all to the dog. And a cat's freezing may be interpreted by the dog as a warning signal, so that's the reason for the conflict ))

Why do cats meow and dogs bark? Why not the other way around?

Dogs bark to communicate with other dogs and with people
As soon as a dog notices or hears something suspicious, he starts barking loudly. In the village you can often hear many voices from other yards joining the barking of one dog. Such barking can mean one thing: "Get ready for a fight." Another meaning of barking is a desire to attract attention: often a dog barks for a long time in front of a closed door until the owner comes and opens it. Barking is an expression of joy. It differs sharply from the "thick" bark that dogs use to greet a stranger or a stranger's dog. Such is the variety of canine language.

Cats communicate in their own way. They cannot growl or bark, but they are good at meowing, hissing, and purring. All these different sounds express a special state of mind of the animal. The quiet purring that cats make when they are warm and calm or when they are stroked by an affectionate
hand, expresses pleasure. It is in sharp contrast to the snorting sound a cat makes when attacked by an enemy. The pitiful "meow" corresponds to a dog's squeal: it is a cry for help. Very characteristic is the peculiar "purring meow" that the mother cat makes when summoning her cubs, it can be spelled this way: "Urrmiaurr. ". This sound will never be made by a cat or a cat that does not have cubs.
Also, the cat "talks" to us in the language of postures and gestures. It lifts its tail and rubs your feet – it wants to be noticed and petted. Tugged the fur on his back – afraid and wants to run away. Roll onto your back and let her claws out – don't touch her, or she'll fight and bite.

Why do dogs bark and cats meow?

Dogs bark to communicate with other dogs and with people. These animals are descended from wolves, which always live in packs in nature. Both dogs and wolves use smells, sight and what they hear to communicate. A dog has many glands that produce a scent that it uses to communicate. The smell a dog leaves behind (urine, feces, paw prints) can tell other four-legged dogs who sniff it what sex, age the dog is and even what mood the dog is in. The dog also tells its fellow dogs about its mood and intentions by its posture, muzzle expression, and the position of its ears and tail. And in addition, the dog uses its voice to communicate – it whines, growls, howls or barks.
A dog usually whines or squeals when he's unwell: when he's hungry, cold or hurt. She squeals at closed doors when she needs to get out of the apartment. Sometimes with a joyful whine and bark a joyful dog greets his owner. A growl indicates that the dog is angry and ready to fight.
As soon as a dog notices or hears something suspicious, he starts barking loudly. In the village, one often hears many voices from other yards joining in the barking of one dog. Such barking can mean one thing: "Get ready for a fight." Another meaning of barking is the desire to attract attention: often a dog barks for a long time in front of a closed door until the owner comes and opens it. Barking is an expression of joy. It differs sharply from the "thick" bark that dogs use to greet a stranger or a stranger's dog. Such is the variety of canine language.

Cats communicate in their own way. They cannot growl or bark, but they can meow, hiss and purr well. All these different sounds express a special state of mind of the animal. The soft purring sound a cat makes when it is warm and quiet, or when it is caressed by an affectionate
hand, expresses pleasure. It is sharply distinguished from the snorting sound a cat makes when attacked by an adversary. The pitiful "meow" corresponds to the dog's squeal: it is a cry for help. Very characteristic is the peculiar "purring meow" that the mother cat makes when summoning her cubs, it can be spelled this way: "Urrmiaurr. ". This sound will never be made by a cat or a cat that does not have cubs.
Also, the cat "talks" to us in the language of postures and gestures. It lifts its tail and rubs your feet – it wants to be noticed and petted. Tugged the fur on his back – afraid and wants to run away. Rolls over on your back and lets her claws out – don't touch her, or she'll fight and bite.

Why do dogs bark? And cats meow? Although wolves don't bark and wild cats don't meow.

We are quite used to pets making many different sounds day in and day out. Cats meow a lot, especially when you open the refrigerator. Dogs are no better either, if they want to play, then be prepared to hear even though domestic, but dog barking. It is such a peculiar language of communication that humans more or less understand.

But what is the situation with wild animals? Wolves, for example, or wild cats? They are the closest relatives to our pets, but they are very different. What is the reason?

Have you ever seen a wolf bark like a dog? Probably not, because it's as real as if the cancer on the mountain whistles. And wild cats, let's say, lions. Do they even purr and meow? In my opinion, no.

The way of life between domestic and wild animals is very different. The first doesn't have to think about his life at all, because his master feeds him and provides a warm place.

The latter will have to do worse. It's only in their interest to feed not only themselves but also their offspring. It is not easy to find food without becoming prey themselves.

Because of their different lifestyles, the behavior of domestic cats changes. Some instincts change, because they are not relevant. They kind of weaken a little bit.

In fact, wolves can still bark, and even do it sometimes. Young cubs in particular often make the sound of barking. At this moment, they want to attract the attention of their mother, or their brothers and sisters to play.

Adult wolves can also bark, but they do it so rarely that it is believed that they do not know how. In fact, they do not need it, and if you make unnecessary sounds, you can scare off prey or attract another predator. Why just bark?

Book reviews " Why do dogs bark and cats meow? Interesting facts about cats and dogs " Andrew Galchuk

Why do cats sharpen their claws? Why do they always fall on their feet? Why do dogs chew on bones? Why do they have a wet nose? In this book, your child will find answers to all his "why's" about cats and dogs and learn many more secrets of the animal world. The bright pictures and funny tasks will keep your young zoologist occupied for a long time, and at the end of the book there's a surprise waiting for him – a paper craft-dog that you can assemble yourself!

You'll be able to collect books, and we'll alert you when missing items are back in stock!

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  How Cats Learned to Talk to People

  Since kittens attract their mother's attention by meowing in case of fear or danger, when a human became "mother" to a kitten, the kitten began to call it, its new mother, that way…

  If it is true that cats perceive humans as mother cats, then it is only natural that they would yell "Meow!" in case of danger…

  I think cats have learned that people can't hear the quieter sounds that cats use to communicate with each other. And so it is with their loud meows that they get people's attention.

  Animal language. Why do cats meow and dogs bark?

  Have you ever wondered what these sounds mean in animal language? What do these "sweet noses" want to tell us? Maybe they want to thank us? Or, conversely, to complain about something? Let's find out together!

  • Most of the time they just attract attention Trying to show us, "I'm here! Look at me at least one look at me!" or they are just glad to see us and want to hurry up and get hold of us.
  • Another reason for mewing is that they are hungry. . If your cat walks from kitchen to kitchen looking at you furtively and making that long sound, it's time to feed her.
  • Pets meow when it's "hot time. . When spring comes, all the cats of the world begin to sing songs to attract the opposite sex. And it is clear: hormones are turbulent, tensions are rising, how else to get it out? Of course, by shouting under the windows at night, calling the females to mating games.
  • The cat's scared. Yes, animals are scared, too. And meowing in this case is a defensive reaction. Calm the fluffy, tell him that everything will be fine and show him that I am here, next to you, you are safe with me, as a "stone wall"!

  Interesting fact! Cats never meow while communicating with each other. They only use this method to communicate with people.

  • Wants to pee. The potty is dirty. The litter is stale. Newspapers are all scattered on the floor. The cat also wants to go to the toilet in comfort, so that everything around is clean and beautiful and around the smell of the sea breeze.
  • She has something that hurts. How else do you tell your owner you feel sick? Meow, meow. And you stare blankly and don't understand. Cats, unlike humans, can't tell when they're feeling sick. And if you notice strange behavior – aggressive growling or meowing, in response to familiar things – it's worth showing your pet to the vet.
  • Wants you to let her into your room. She's been waiting all day for you to come home from work, and here you are, shutting her out.)
  • She's just in a "proMurrrrrr" mood today and wants to feel like a star on the stage. So what, the cat has to have a weekend too! She won't go to karaoke with her friends, at least she'll have a concert at home.

  Why do dogs say "Woof"?

  • Just your pet is very talkative. That's his temperament. You must have studied the character of this breed before you got it, right? Some dogs are "chatterboxes and gigglers" and some are better off sitting alone in silence.
  • Emotional overstimulation. The dog was very excited about the arrival of long-awaited guests or, conversely, frightened by a stranger. Any strong emotions will awaken the pet's voice.
  • Lack of attention. The dog is tired of sitting alone at home and wants to go for a walk as soon as possible, and you are not in a great hurry. "Woof! Woof, woof, woof!" – which translates to "Master, get up off the couch, great things await us!" in canine.

  Interesting fact. Did you know that dogs don't feel guilt? The guilty look is simply a reaction to the owner's body language.

  • Greetings. It's how a dog expresses its respect for a person or other animals.
  • Protecting your home. The dog shows what a serious "guardian" he is by fending off people or dogs passing by your door.
  • Lack of exercise. If your pet is by nature very active and you don't take the time to walk or train him, prepare for complaints from the neighbors and long howls even when you're home.
  • Shows who's boss in the house. The dog wants to take the lead and show his authority. But you know there should only be one person in the house, right? And it's definitely not a dog.

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