Can cats and dogs survive without humans? 0 9

Many cats and dogs, especially decorative breeds, are practically unable to find food on their own in the wild. Even stray dogs and cats in cities mainly depend on humans — on targeted feeding and food waste, as well as on rodents and seed-eating birds that are drawn to human settlements.

Moreover, even fully feral dogs generally lag behind wild members of the canine family — wolves, coyotes, and others in the struggle for survival. Coexisting with them in the same territory, without human support, they quickly perish.

However, in the absence of wild competitors, some dogs and cats can adapt to independent living. A striking example is the Australian dingo, a feral descendant of domestic dogs, which today is the largest predator in the Australian fauna. In Australia and in several other regions, there are also stable populations of feral domestic cats.