this post was submitted on 29 Sep 2025
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3 college professors (1990) suggested we read Desmond Morris' books. Don't know how the science has stood up, but he believed this. Dogs and cats think humans are weird versions of their own species, that we're basically their parents, and act accordingly. Nothing IRL has dissuaded me from that notion.
One interesting idea I got from him; When we're small we love huge animals, see them as parents. As we get older, we like small animals, see them as our children.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmond_Morris
Again, don't know how it stands up, but The Naked Ape is damned thought provoking.
Cats react differently when seeing an unfamiliar cat than they do when seeing an unfamiliar human.
Also, people should keep in mind, that kittens are born with their eyes still sealed shut for a while. So once they open their eyes and finally get to see the world, they naturally accept the creatures that have been and continue to care for them.
Think Morris touches on that! Been 35-years since I studied him though. Afraid to read it all again in case he turned out to be so very wrong.