A tiny Chihuahua tucked into a neat little loaf on the stairs is enough to make any dog person do a double take. That posture, with the front paws curled fully underneath, is usually linked more with cats than dogs, and in Chiwee’s case it opened up a bigger question many multi-pet owners have: can dogs really pick up cat-like habits at home?
Chiwee, a small rescue Chihuahua, caught attention after his adopter shared that unusual loaf posture. His family had also noticed other habits that felt surprisingly feline. His owner said, When we first got him, he was very quiet, and he still is!
She also said, Even when he’s playing, he doesn’t make a sound. He moves so quietly and can jump surprisingly high.
At one point, after she briefly stepped away during bath time, she came back to find him perched in the sink. I still have no idea how he managed to get up there,
she said.
There is one detail that makes the story especially interesting without proving anything by itself: Chiwee’s adopters received an older photo showing him relaxing on a bed beside a cat before his previous owner died. That makes it reasonable to wonder whether living with a cat shaped some of his routines. But it is still only a possibility, not a confirmed explanation.
That cautious middle ground matters. There is limited research on dogs directly copying feline behavior. Still, there is support for the broader idea that dogs learn a lot by watching the living beings around them. The article discussing Chiwee points to early work by animal behaviorist Michael W. Fox on puppies raised in close contact with cats during early socialization. It also cites a later review in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior describing heterospecific social learning,
meaning animals can pick up information from another species.
That does not mean your dog sees a cat loaf once and suddenly becomes cat-like. A more realistic way to look at it is this: dogs can absorb patterns from their household. A peer-reviewed study on dog learning found that dogs can copy actions from familiar people, and that they may even mirror behavior that is not necessary to solve a task. The researchers also found that dogs are able to spontaneously synchronize their behavior with that of their caregiver. That is strong support for social learning in general, even though it was not a cat-to-dog study.
So when owners describe loafing, quiet movement, climbing, perching, or springy little jumps as “cat-like,” a few things may be happening at once. Some dogs may be learning from another pet’s movement patterns or daily routines. Some may simply be repeating behaviors that worked before, especially if the home setup rewards them. A dog that discovers a high perch, a warm stair, or a tucked resting position may keep using it because it is comfortable, not because a cat taught it. And some traits may come down to the individual dog’s size, athleticism, confidence, and temperament.
That last part is worth keeping in mind with Chiwee. Quietness and nimble movement do not automatically point to cat influence. They can also just be part of one dog’s natural style. If your dog lives with a cat, try not to force a tidy story onto every quirky habit. The fun answer is not always the full answer.
When a quirky habit is probably fine, and when to pay closer attention
Most harmless oddball behaviors fall into the category of “interesting, not alarming.” If your dog likes to perch, tuck their paws under, move quietly through the house, or jump onto unusual spots without showing distress, that may simply be part of how they navigate their environment.
What matters is context. VCA’s stress guidance for dogs notes that stress signs are often subtle and are best read alongside the dog’s normal demeanor. A relaxed dog usually has soft eyes, a soft mouth, and balanced posture. By contrast, repeated panting without exercise, pacing, cowering, pinned-back ears, wide eyes, avoidance, hiding, or sudden changes in bathroom habits can point to stress rather than a cute personality quirk.
If your dog’s climbing or jumping starts creating safety problems, or if a new behavior shows up alongside signs of anxiety, pain, or withdrawal, try this: start with your veterinarian. From there, you can bring in a qualified trainer or behavior professional if needed. Groups like Best Friends Animal Society and the ASPCA both emphasize ruling out medical causes first and then matching the problem to the right kind of behavior help.
The nice thing for most homes is that cross-pet influence is usually more charming than troubling. Dogs are observant. They notice routines, pathways, resting spots, and what gets attention. In a house with multiple animals, you can end up with a dog who loafs on the stairs, a cat who waits by the treat jar, and a daily life that looks a little blended in the best way.
That does not mean species lines disappear. It just means your dog is paying attention, learning the household, and expressing those lessons in their own very dog way.
Has this worked for your dog? Drop your story in the comments.
By Michael Reyes — 6 years as a CPDT-KA certified dog trainer and behavior coach; runs a small obedience school for family dogs.
