The truth about cats and dogs
August 20th 2008 10:25
There have been a number of interesting dog stories lately but I'm a cat person and thus was amused to read that cats and dogs can successfully live together - but it's more likely to be happen if the cat was there first and was fairly young when the canine interloper appeared.
I've not lived in a household with a dog and cat, but I have lived with three felines who were old when they came together (It was messy) and they're clearly going to be dominant over a dog given a chance. They will not bend unless they absolutely have to so it comes as no surprise to me that a dog will more readily read dominance and other relationships in a household and fit in accordingly.
For example, the arrival of a cat after the dog will evoke the same uppity canine reaction as when a baby joins the family, but if the humans and cat (= baby) are already settled, then as a pack animal the pup knows where it sits and just settles in.
Successful relationships between cats and dogs can be characterised by those that have learnt each others' body language - the story documents a dog that instead of sniffing the cat's butt for information instead sniffed its nose, as other cats do. I doubt you'd see a cat sniffing a dog's butt... so it's the dog bending to the cat's will once again.
I've not lived in a household with a dog and cat, but I have lived with three felines who were old when they came together (It was messy) and they're clearly going to be dominant over a dog given a chance. They will not bend unless they absolutely have to so it comes as no surprise to me that a dog will more readily read dominance and other relationships in a household and fit in accordingly.
For example, the arrival of a cat after the dog will evoke the same uppity canine reaction as when a baby joins the family, but if the humans and cat (= baby) are already settled, then as a pack animal the pup knows where it sits and just settles in.
Successful relationships between cats and dogs can be characterised by those that have learnt each others' body language - the story documents a dog that instead of sniffing the cat's butt for information instead sniffed its nose, as other cats do. I doubt you'd see a cat sniffing a dog's butt... so it's the dog bending to the cat's will once again.
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