Dogs evolved to reside alongside humans and have the potential to form very robust bonds with us. Even so, they do seem to treat their human housemates as family. “Our cats greet us by elevating their tails and rubbing around our legs – exactly what they do when meeting another cat they know properly or consider a family member,” writes Bradshaw in his guide, The Animals Among Us.

• The cat and dog inhabitants exceeded 112.four million in 2021, rising from 87.5 million in 2017, according to Statista, a German firm specializing in market and client information.
• The common value of