Why Humans Are More Lenient Towards Cats
However, why do regulators impose stricter measures on dogs while showing leniency towards cats? To understand this, we must delve into the history of their ancestors.
Dogs, scientifically known as "Canis lupus familiaris," which translates to "domesticated wolf," are a subspecies of gray wolves. Their ancestors were, in fact, true wolves. Over the course of countless years, they have been domesticated to the point where they recognize their human owners as the "alpha wolf." Without this "alpha wolf," their instincts can be triggered, leading to attacks on humans. Over the past three decades, the number of human fatalities caused by dogs has far exceeded those by wolves...
Additionally, stray dogs, having lost their human "alpha wolf," tend to form hunting packs due to their social nature. Imagine encountering a group of a dozen stray dogs on the streets in the dead of night. Australia even built the "Wild Dog Wall" to combat these wild dogs. Therefore, larger breeds are generally banned or strictly regulated, while smaller pet dogs are not an issue since they have lost the ability to engage in combat with humans.
The feline, or "Felis catus," which means "a cunning ball of fur," belongs to the cat family. Like dogs, their ancestors were also cats. Cats have chosen to approach humans and coexist mutually beneficially. Due to their solitary nature, cats are generally not inclined to form groups and seek a "leader." Even if a household has two cats, they are more likely to start a fight than to unite against an external threat.
Because of their independent nature, stray cats in urban areas are often seen scavenging alone. A group of stray cats might only gather together to sing karaoke in the dead of night, but rarely do they actively attack humans. After all, the likelihood of a single kitten losing a fight with a human is quite high, and they are well aware of this. They do not pose a threat to public security, which is why regulations on them are relatively lenient.
For stray dogs, there was a proposal a couple of years ago to use isoniazid for poisoning them. However, this method was deemed inhumane, indiscriminate, and even killed a number of stray cats, so it was quickly abandoned. Nevertheless, we should not be complacent. When walking your dog, always keep them on a leash, wear a muzzle, and practice responsible pet ownership.
