I expect we'd be perfectly happy, not realising that we are the pet. Cats and dogs seem to be.
Of course that's my human arrogance, assuming the cats and dogs don't know.
Of course that's my human arrogance, assuming the cats and dogs don't know.
Cats in particular are clearly not in agreement in regards to who is in charge in our relationships with them. They'll tolerate our paternalism on account of our superior size and power, but once you're no longer in the immediate vicinity compelling them they pretty much do whatever they want. They're teachable, but not really trainable.
1 - By selection. I don't really know what to call the "engineering" where the "engineer" doesn't know he is doing it.
Cats and dogs have evolved to be happy as pets.
Let's leave the use of 'engineered' to the creationists :)
They were created by intelligent beings.