Why Do Dogs Chase Cats?

I have made a research on this question and I was amazed at what I learned about it.  But before doing so, I would just like to take this opportunity to give you an idea about what this question really mean. Simple as it may seem to you, but in reality, it has more weight than it care to show.

When you ask this question, bear in mind that you are actually trying to hit two birds with one stone. The purpose why you ask this question is primarily for you to find out opinion of others on why dogs do really chase cats.   And, it is actually an intellectual and personality assessment of the other person.

To prove a point I made an experiment by asking the same question to several friends of mine.  Listed below are their respective answers and my opinion about their answers.

1.  “Hamm… I will tell you later.”

This is the frequent answer I get.  It indicates that they were taken aback by the question.  For them, it is a stupid question for which they have absolutely no idea what to answer.  They say, “I will tell you later” as an excuse to get away from answering the question

2.”I don’t know”

An answer I receive immediately after I asked the question.  It may indicate two things.

a. That person has no time to dwell on thinking of an answer.  My time is so precious that I have more important things to do, than spend my time answering such silly questions.

b. He just really doesn’t know the answer. This is the answer I got from my husband when I asked him about this.  I dug deeper but to no avail.  He absolutely has no idea as to why dogs do it.

3.  “Is that an innuendo?”

A cerebral person.  A person who reads between the lines.  It indicates a well read person who actually has opinions and loves to shares them.  It may also indicate a person who likes to go into friendly debates.

4.”Its just the way it is”

Indicates a person who refuses to think.  Easily accepts things for what they are.  May also indicate a type of person who doesn’t want to get out of their comfort zone and try out new things.

As you can see, this is no a simple question.  It is a question that can be used as a tool to find out bits and pieces about human personality without the other person knowing what your real intentions are.

So, why do dogs chase cats?

This has been a long proverbial question that to date very people care to take stock of.

My research paved the way for the following answers:

1.  Dogs are just being dominant and aggressive.

This is what we normally call “The Alpha Male behavior”.  Dogs just want to show that they are the boss.  Since they are bigger, they want to show that they are stronger and that small animals should be afraid of them.

2.  Because dogs have been born to chase any moving animals

Actually I would say, dogs would chase anything that moves period.  It is in their nature.  Try flashing a laser beam or a flashlight on your floor; you would see that your dog would come running after it.

3.  Dogs get a high in chasing cats

4.  Dogs are just territorial

Well I would say that this territorial behavior is not exclusively for dogs.  This behavior is found among all animal.  It so happen that other animal are not as domesticated as dogs are, so we don’t get to see this behavior often.

So, why do dogs chase cats?  The answer is just plain and simple.  It is their nature as animals.