Cats Don’t Hate Dogs

Posted by: Cat Diaries on 09 Jun 2009

It has always been the myth that cats and dogs are enemies. Their dislike for each other has been portrayed in cartoons for years. But how true is this myth? Can cats and dogs coexist?

While there is no definitive answer as some cases end in disaster no matter the training, there have been several occasions where they can live in peace. For example, I have a friend with multiple cats and a dog…the cats fight more with each other than they do with the dog.

The reason that this myth holds true is because they are territorial. Your cat marks its territory in numerous ways and dogs do the same. When a new pet comes into their territory, their behaviour tends to become more defensive and aggressive.

Cohabitation with cats and dogs can happen, but before you to put a cat and dog in the same room, there are some factors that you have to keep in mind. Temperament of both cat and dog are important to consider. If your cat tends to be friendly and approachable in general, they will have an easier time dealing with a dog in their phase and the same must stand true for the dog. In both cases, there are breeds that tend to be more friendly and open-minded than others. In the case of my friend, the cat that has the easiest time dealing with the dog was a Somali, but this does not mean other breeds will not get along as easily.

If you were to consider bringing a dog into the home, it is important not to force them to like each other or even be in the same room on the first day. How would you like it if someone forced you to make friends with someone you haven’t even been introduced to?

While you may not be getting a dog any time soon or ever, it is nice to know that a cat and a dog may be able to share the same space without tearing each other apart.

Feature Image By: Yukari*

3 Responses to “Cats Don’t Hate Dogs”

Felines6 says:

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I have two dogs and six cats ( I use to have 10), the dogs are a foxy x silky mix and a british staffy ( who grew up with my cats) and they get along beautifully with my cats, however we did have a rottweiler before and he ate at least two of my kitties so from my point of view I believe that smaller dogs are better to have if you want them to co-exist in the same home. Maybe bigger breeds who were usually used for hunting in days gone by see the cats as prey?

Cookie says:

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I have a medium-sized Kelpie (dog) and domestic cat which get along very well. I brought them home together from the same shelter and they are the best of friends. They hunt together and drink out of each other’s bowls, they even groom each other!

Dee says:

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I think personality has something to do with it too. We had a beautiful Rottweiler who was carefully introduced to our new tabby kitten. Under our careful watch – Zoe tolerated having her ears chewed, being pounced on and generally treated as Meg’s personal climbing frame – her gentle tolerance just amazed me as I stood by ready to “rescue” the kitten – instead, I often had to rescue the dog, to give her some peace. Zoe was a wonderful dog and Meg (the kitten) grew to be the fiesty matriarch of our feline family of waifs and strays (4 in total). While not completely cosy as some cat/dog couples become (sleeping together or grooming each other) – they had respect for each other and as they grew older they often shared their naps in the garden’s best sunny spots – Zoe on the ground level – with Meg nearby in some elevated spot – keeping an eye on things.

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