Cats & dogs - is that all?

[Romeo]

Humans have tamed cats and dogs to become loving, trusting domestic companions. Why have we failed with other animals? You can't imagine an otter cuddling into you or a badger rolling on its back to get its tummy tickled.  Why not? What is it with other species that they have stayed wild and refused to become domestic pets?

[ursula62]

Maybe it's because there is little use for a badger domestically speaking.  I suspec that the ancients who first domesticated animals chose those that had a purpose for their lives, e.g.

Dogs are used as guard dogs, for hunting, for protection.

Cats were used to keep mice from the home.

Goats and cows were used for milking, and maybe eating.

Nowadays we treat our animals more as part of the family than perhaps they did in olden times, and have less requirement for the animal to work for its keep.

[LordyGeordie]

i want a pet badger

[Sequin]

Ferrets and polecats are both from the same family as the badgers and otters, and they make great pets

[eupraxia]

I think it's also a case of we were of use to them to.

Dogs in particular. They learned that if they helped us hunt they would get a meal a lot easier.

Cats may have learned the same lesson in a different way, i.e. Where there are humans there are rodents, kill them and people give you a nice place to sleep... food and shelter.

It esculated from there.

[newtron]

Here's a joke about the difference between they way cats and dog's think of their owners:

Dog:  "He feeds me, takes care of me and gives me shelter.  He must be a god!"

Cat:  "He feeds me , takes care of me and gives me shelter.  I must be a god!"