Cats and Dogs in My Collage for LMAC #180

I'm very late this week in posting my collage, but I was tired and wanted to enjoy the process of making it, so I took my time. Since I don't compete, the deadline is not relevant.

This week @shaka offered the community a stunning image. The overwhelming sense I had when viewing the picture was peace, and so I tried to keep that impression in my collage.

@shaka's Template Photo.

Dogs and Cats, Not at War

If you look closely at the banners flying atop the castle and from boat masts in my picture, you will see cats on the boats and dogs at the castle. The dogs and cats in this picture have had their annual reunion, as have their human mates. In the land of peace I imagined, dogs and cats never fight. And the people on the boats are not warriors, but guardians.

Dogs and Cats Are Natural Enemies?
Are they? How many times have you heard the saying, "Fighting like cats and dogs?" Here's a picture that belies the sentiment behind those words:

Eli (Cat) and Kiara (Dog) Napping

_{Credit: agmoore}

Let's ask the American Kennel Club if these two species are natural enemies. According to that organization, "Cats and dogs are by no means natural enemies, but there are a few behavioral differences that can set them at odds." The most significant characteristic that may lead to disharmony between dogs and cats is the prey instinct.

The prey instinct is a carryover from a dog's hunting heritage, which (according to the AKC) is why a dog will chase just about anything. Ever play a game of Frisbee with a dog?

In our home, there were, for years, two dogs and two cats. The cats came in as rescue kittens. They had been abandoned by their mothers in a car engine (different litters, different cars). My daughter brought the kittens home and nursed them to good health. The dog in the picture (above), a shepherd mix, was immediately maternal. One of the cats (not the one in the picture) apparently imprinted on the dog and in time took to grooming the dog and emitting a purr that sounded like a growl.

Rosie, the Cat That Thought She Was a Dog

_agmoore

Our second dog, a beagle, was a bit aggressive around the cats, which is surprising for a beagle. Except that beagles have very strong hunting instincts. We couldn't trust the dog alone with the kittens. Though, in time, both dogs became friends with the cats and they would all nap together.

Dogs and Cats May Socialize for Different Reasons
According to the site Science ABC, dogs are more social than cats. The site suggests, "As a by-product of their domestication process, dogs evolved to gain skills that helped them “read” human emotions."

Cats, on the other hand (according to this site) are more 'autonomous'. Cats form attachment to their human caretakers, though they can also survive on their own, if necessary. However, cats 'prefer' human company and don't just depend on us for food.

While cats and dogs may not get along sometimes, it seems cats are more likely to fight with each other, than with a dog. Our two cats got along fairly well, (mostly because one was submissive I think), but there was fighting and aggression from time to time.

Rosie and Eli Transfixed by Something They See Through the Window

_agmoore

My Collage

As always, I owe a debt to my colleagues who contributed pictures to LIL, the LMAC Image Library. These are the elements and contributors who helped me out this week from the Library.

@muelli

• Boat
  https://www.lmac.gallery/lil-gallery-image/6166
  and
• Dog
  https://www.lmac.gallery/lil-gallery-image/6144

@seckorama

• Castle
  https://www.lmac.gallery/lil-gallery-image/11011

@quantumg

• Warrior1
  https://www.lmac.gallery/lil-gallery-image/6969
  and
• Warrior2
  https://www.lmac.gallery/lil-gallery-image/6967

@yaziris

• Cat #1
  https://www.lmac.gallery/lil-gallery-image/7634
  and
• Cat #2
  https://www.lmac.gallery/lil-gallery-image/7633

@doriangel

• Mountains/sky
  https://www.lmac.gallery/lil-gallery-image/334

I also found two images in the library that I had contributed
@agmoore

• Warrior
  https://www.lmac.gallery/lil-gallery-image/11339
  and
• Black dog
  https://www.lmac.gallery/lil-gallery-image/9272

I also thank the follower contributors from Pixabay

• Warrior
  Hansuan_Fabregas
  https://pixabay.com/es/illustrations/pirata-hombre-barbado-obeso-7948887/

• Flag
  GregMontani
  https://pixabay.com/es/photos/europa-bandera-estrellas-europeo-1395913/

• Volcano
  AlexAntropov86
  https://pixabay.com/es/illustrations/volc%C3%A1n-lava-erupci%C3%B3n-volc%C3%A1nica-7104380/

• Volcano smoke
  natalia_kollegova
  https://pixabay.com/es/photos/el-volc%C3%A1n-%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%87%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9-kamchatka-2787374/

As always, I had a rough start, but then when I drew a sketch of what I was going for, things went more smoothly. Here are a just few steps on the way to the final collage:

LMAC and LIL

Every week is a unique adventure in the LMAC Collage contest, and always the adventure is fun. This week, I got to read a little bit about cats and dogs. That's a nice place for my thoughts to rest.

Please check out the LMAC curation feed to see the amazing works of art that the community artists have created.

After today, the contest is taking a little break, but the community will still be quite vibrant and active. We invite everyone on Hive to make a freestyle collage. Use you imagination and by all means use the LMAC Image Library.

A list of this past week's winners may be found here.

You can see that LIL, the LMAC Image Library, was an essential part of my collage creating process this week. Everyone on Hive can contribute to the library and everyone can borrow from the library. Learn about the procedure here.

I wish all my readers peace and health.

Thank you for reading my blog
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