The misconception that dogs hate cats (and vice versa) may have been born because the media portrays them this way. But can they really not get along?
Movies depict ongoing battles between the 2 species. Or it may have been generated because some dog people strongly dislike cats and some cat people disdain dogs. However, dogs and cats can live peaceably as long as owners understand the behaviors of each.
Because both cats and dogs are predators, both tend to be aggressive and defensive at different times. For example, cats pounce on literally everything from butterflies, mice, grasshoppers and birds, to still items like twigs. Dogs, however chase anything that moves especially if it squeals. So, if the cat triggers the dog’s prey drive, the dog will chase. If a medium large dog catches the cat, it can easily kill by grabbing and shaking.
Fact is cats and dogs don’t hate each other. Cats are merely afraid and defensive against dogs because of their enthusiasm and aggressiveness. Let’s face it. Dogs are rougher when it comes to play time. Dogs don’t really know how to control their strength; therefore they might hurt a cat when they get too excited upon first meeting. Therefore the cat and the dog must learn to get used to each other first.
Cats are independent creatures. Imagine this, the least independent cat is more independent than the most independent dog. Cats exude an aura of self-confidence, of mastery over their territory and its inhabitants. Most cats do not deign to obey commands and if they do, pleasing a human is probably the last thing on their minds.
Cats are physically and mentally capable by exploring their surroundings in great detail. Dogs are physically clumsy in comparison as their bodies are not as agile and they are mentally tuned to different stations. They concentrate on dominance and submission, play and keeping track of the people in their lives, unlike cats, who concentrate on explorations of surroundings. As pets they would be able to complement each other well, the independence of a cat and the faithfulness of a dog.
Most of the pet owners who owned dogs and cats feel that lots of common sense and caution is required to make this relationship work.
Rules of the game
1. Remember to always supervise your cats and dogs until you know they will get along. Some adult dogs will carry kittens around and young kittens will accept this attention but it’s probably best to gently take the kitten away from the dog to avoid injury (remember, dogs can be quite rough without knowing)
2. If you have more than 1 dog, do not allow them to gang up on the cat. 2 dogs make a small pack, the cat may look like quarry to one and he may entice the other into a hunt (remember, cats get defensive very easily). It’s best to introduce the cat to 1 dog at a time so that each dog understands that the cat is part of the family and not an object of play or prey.
3. Make sure the dog does not have access to the cat’s litter box. Sooner or later, unless you can check the litter box several times a day and clean it immediately, you pooch will eat the cat’s droppings. Some owners handle this problem by placing the litter box in a room accessible by a cat door so the dog can’t get in.
4. Separate cats and dogs at mealtime. As complete carnivores, cats need diets that include the amino acid taurine; if the dog eats the cat food and the entire cat gets is leavings in the dog bowl, the cat might develop a dietary deficiency. In addition, a dog that guards his food could attack the cat or gulp his meals too quickly and develop digestive problems.
5. Don’t leave thawing meat, cooling desserts or any other food or scraps where a cat can get them. Cats can jump onto the table or counter or spill the wastebasket. He might either drop things on the floor for the dog or send the dog into frenzy or frustrated whining and barking. Some dogs will bark whenever a cat leaps or climbs to a surface used for food.
6. If your dog has a high prey drive, make sure to teach the command ‘leave it’ so you can control his chase impulse. It’s best to prevent the pursuit because once the chase sequence starts, the dog likely to be deaf to instructions from you. This might result in your cat getting seriously injured. Similarly, you should make sure the cats get plenty of opportunity to stalk and pounce on things other than the dog’s tail.
7. Pay attention to both pets as often as possible. You can tell pooch to ‘stay down’ while you hold the kitten in your lap and tell him matter-of-factly that this newcomer is now part of the family and you will accept no rough stuff. Often the attitude and attention of the owner is enough to prevent serious rivalries or hostilities from developing.
