Ask John: Why Do Anime Dogs Seem Feline?

Question:
Why are dogs portrayed with feline features in anime? Do the Japanese really think dogs are cats?

Answer:
To be honest, I can’t immediately think of any canine anime characters that seem especially feline. Pero Pero from KareKano, Densuke from Denno Coil, Souichirou from Maison Ikkoku, Papadoll from Banipal Witt, Shiro from Crayon Shin-chan, Beck from the similarly titled show, Junkers from Junkers Come Here, Gin from Ginga Nagareboshi Gin, Ein from Cowboy Bebop, Pakkun from Naruto, Patrash from Dog of Flanders, Belle from Meiken Jolie, Abel from Farm Girl Katri, Baron from Perrine Monogatari, and every other anime dog that springs to mind seem unmistakably canine to me.

As of 2006, Japanese residents owned an estimated 9.6 million pet dogs, making Japan the country with the world’s fourth highest population of domestic dogs. By comparison, as of 2006 Japan owned an estimated 7.3 million pet cats, placing it ninth on the world’s scale of countries owning the most domestic cats. Considering that there appear to be more dogs in Japan than cats, I think it’s safe to say that Japanese residents know a dog when they see one.

The implication of mixing dog and cat, however, does conjure images of a particular Asian imagery – the shisa, guardian lion-dogs. Anime fans will be familiar with shisa from examples including Azumanga Daioh episode 21, Wagaya no Oinarisama episode 2, and Kurenai episode 8. While originally Chinese, shisa guardian lion-dog statues are now more associated with the Japanese island of Okinawa than anywhere else, and according to the Okinawan prefectural government’s official guide to shisa, they are not technically dogs at all, but simply lions. They may have earned their association with canines by serving as small, domestic guardians of the household, like dogs.

Without specific examples of anime dogs that exhibit feline features, I can only make broad generalizations. Influence or inspiration from shisa might be a remote possibility, but I can’t discount it entirely. Lap dog breeds like the Japanese Chin may also be popular among Japanese owners because they’re small and easier to care for in tight living spaces. Small dogs may be more likely to seem similar to cats, especially in anime representations.