Can different animal species communicate with each other?
Your pets learn to read each other’s different signals, says an animal expert.
The question in the title is probably meant to refer to domestic cats and dogs primarily, as shown in the photo. And initially, it did get me thinking for a short while until I realised that the answer must be a big Yes because humans are a type of animal species, the human animal (some would disagree but they’d be wrong in my view – sorry) and we communicate just fine with our cats and dogs. Therefore it is pretty obvious that cats can communicate with dogs and vice versa. Anyway, millions of pet owners can testify to good communication between cat and dog through simple observation.
Our cats learn to respond to our signals and subtly transmitted messages through body language and vocalisations. Some communication skills are inherited. They are in the cat and dog’s DNA.
“Communication” covers all manner methods. It is the transmission of information. It does not have to be solely verbal. Considering that obvious point it is easier to see how cats and dogs communicate.
I am sure people who are both cat and dog guardians will find it almost incredulous to ask the question whether different animal species can communicate because they would have seen their cat and dog communicating all the time in a subtle and instinctive way.
I suspect a lot of the communication is down to routines. Cats and dogs will instinctively know what the other is doing or wants to do through force of habit and routines. It is a learned process.
Often when cats and dogs form strong relationships it is because they were raised together and are very close emotionally. Good communication between these species under these circumstances is effortless and instinctive.
As for wild animals, they too communicate; communication through behavioural patterns, body language and vocalisations. The communication is relatively limited and perhaps confined to survival issues.
Do you have an opinion on this?
Source: Can different animal species communicate with each other? | Stuff.co.nz