Why are dogs phenotypically so variable but cats are not?

Question

As far as I know, they were both invented by man.

Of course, I mean domesticated dogs and cats.

Domesticated cats are all roughly the same weight and size.

Domesticated dogs come in all sizes - from smaller than a cat to larger than a person.

Answer 1

Dogs have been carefully bred to bring out one or more traits of their ancester the wolf. Wolves circled prey (like Border Collies circle sheep), and pointed at prey for the pack (like English Pointers) or set there when they found prey (like Irish Setters) or retrieved prey (like Labrador Retrievers) or followed scents (like Bloodhounds). Dogs that exhibited useful traits were kept for breeding and the rest were culled (killed!). Cats were never pack animals like wolves with useful social skills that could be brought out and were kept perhaps only to catch mice (a solo skill).

Answer 2

dogs were aggressively bred because they were useful

this was a powerful driving force for developing different breeds for different tasks

cats are not very useful
they can kill rodent pests but that is pretty natural to all of them and not a learned skill a species specific behavior

the only reason people have bred some differences into cats is for aesthetic amusement

this has been more recent and less agressive

Answer 3

The breeding of dogs have gone on for a much longer period of time and they have been bred for many purposes, hunting, guarding, herding, etc.

Cats have been bred but primarily for a specific look, like different colored eyes, longer fur, etc.

Answer 4

cats are just as phenotypically variable as dogs, its just not seen as often in mainstreem, not only are domestic cats many diferent colors, but your forgeting that big cats, are also considered cats

Answer 5

Because dogs are more useful than cats , there are hunting dogs , police dogs , guard dogs etc... cats are useless.

Answer 6

dogs are owned by people. cats own their people.