The year 2024 brought many incredible scientific advancements that help us understand our four-legged friends better.
+ Hilarious video: Walrus trains hard to get in shape for the summer
Continue reading to check out some amazing discoveries about dogs and cats that were published this year!
Pets dream when they sleep
According to a recent study, pet dogs and cats experience rapid eye movements, a stage of sleep that in humans is associated with dreaming.
But what do they dream about? A dream researcher theorized that animal dreams reflect their daily experiences, meaning they are probably dreaming about a piece of chicken falling on the floor during dinner or a play session with their favorite human.
The ability to smell stress
Dogs appear to be able to detect cortisol, the stress hormone, in our sweat. And not only that: they also seem to be able to interpret this information and respond to it by acting melancholy when they sense their owners are stressed.
Additionally, smelling the sweat of a nervous stranger makes puppies more pessimistic in uncertain situations and possibly less hungry.
“Both humans and dogs are social animals, and there is emotional contagion between us,” said Zoe Parr-Cortes, the lead author of a recent study on this topic and a former PhD student at the University of Bristol in England, in an interview with Scientific American.
Your cat is probably not clingy, it’s just bored
A cat that follows its owner around the house might be seen as a particularly clingy and affectionate feline, but a recent study showed it’s more likely that the cat is simply bored and getting too little mental stimulation.
Veterinarians explained that cats have evolved to carefully monitor their surroundings, so closed doors provoke curiosity or anxiety. Also, your cat may not want to jump in your lap because it’s affectionate, but simply because it was looking for a warm surface to settle on.
Endless Labradors
A recent study found that a quarter of Labradors (and two-thirds of the less common short-haired retrievers) have a genetic mutation that makes them feel like they’re starving, even though they’re actually well-fed.
The internal signal these dogs receive makes them hungrier and lazier between meals. This trait is a remnant from an ancestral species that once helped fishermen in Canada fetch fish. Therefore, Labrador owners should be cautious with treats and constantly monitor their dog’s weight.
The shape of a cat’s tail may affect its ability to communicate
An uncommon genetic mutation causes some cats’ tails to curl over their backs, giving them a distinctive appearance. But this trait can also impair these cats’ ability to communicate clearly.
One way cats signal friendly intentions to each other is by holding their tail upright, a gesture impossible for cats with curled tails.
To compensate for this limitation, these cats may rely on other body language cues, such as ear position and scent. And with enough practice, cats that “speak” in different “dialects” can start to understand each other, according to a new study.
Photo and video: Unsplash. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
