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Dog Talk Newsletter
(October 2006, Edition 5)
"Dogs and Cats In Harmony" How These Two Species Can Coexist |
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Nearly half the homes in America that have pets include dogs and cats, so despite expressions like "Raining cats and dogs," we know that these two species can actually coexist quite well. A dog and cat share the same home and the same humans. One of the things they definitely share is that we basically provide for their every need, since people have transformed these two species by domesticating them into a dependent co-habitation with humans that is almost a parent-child relationship. Despite enormous differences in the natural behavior of dogs and cats, and in their wild ancestors, the two species can live together harmoniously and even form bonds as strong as those they each have with their human caretakers.
Differences in how dogs and cats relate: Cats and dogs are not natural enemies, but they aren't natural friends, either. Dogs and cats rarely compete for the same thing because they usually don't want what is important to the other, which is a large part of what makes peaceful cohabitation possible. When living under the same roof, they both need food and water, territory and the affection of the people but as long as they are separate but equal, the potential for "sibling rivalry" and the resentment that comes with it, can be avoided. If these two animals from different species live together over several years, they come to an understanding of each other and learn to respect the different issues that are important to each of them.
A cat takes much longer to warm up: If your cat has not had a dog in the house before, expect the cat to have a meltdown when the dog arrives, and don't be surprised if it lasts a fairly long time. Most cats take months to adjust to having a dog in the house -- and there's not really anything you can do to speed the process along. As long as the cat has high places to jump up onto, way from the dog, there's no danger of serious harm coming to her. Normal defensive behaviors for a cat are hissing, swatting and arching her back, so don't worry if your cat does that with a dog either in the beginning or really at any time that she is trying to get her point across.
Dogs and Cats: Living Together Successfully
On some level your cat will probably never fully forgive you for polluting her world with a canine. There are some cats who actually like dogs, but more frequently the best they can do is come to accept a dog they live with -- but usually just one. A cat can go past tolerance to actual friendship with a dog, but that is unusual. Anyone who has had a mixed dog/cat household can tell you that cats are discerning about their interspecies friendships and may come to really be close to one dog -- while rejecting all others.
Start Young: The most successful relationships between dogs and cats are those that begin when both animals are young, introduced as puppies and kittens, which allows them grow up together and figure each other out. If you do not have two youngsters from both species, then it is better to have a kitten, who can adapt more easily to a grown dog than a puppy would be able to win over a grown cat.
Territoriality: Dogs can be territorial about specific locations and objects, especially dominant males of terrier breeds and working breeds. Some dogs can get vicious about things like food and water bowls, special areas of a room, their beds and people of whom they're especially fond. Things that matter most to a cat: Cats can also prize locations and objects, but they'll rarely fight over them and even then only with another cat, not a dog. What does make a cat fiercely assertive are: pathways leading to those favorite locations, attention from favorite people, play objects (especially catnip) and special food treats.
Differences in the social order of the two species: While dog and cat behavior is quite different, both species do have a pecking order -- but the difference is that with cats, the ranking of who is on top is constantly fluctuating. Cats do not have a social order that is easily understood. In the wild, most cats are solitary creatures who come together and stay together to mate and raise their young. Otherwise the males and females live separately within their own territories (the only cat this is not true of is a lion, who lives in a pride, which is a kind of pack). The lifestyle of cats in the wild gives clues about the independence of domestic cats, who give the impression they are indifferent to human attention. But domestic cats have been pampered by humans who cater to their every need. Cats have learned to crave the affection, grooming, scheduled fancy meals and affection lavished on them by their people. You could say this is something they have developed in common with dogs: a shared dependence on humans. So while we enjoy having both these animals share our lives, it is up to us to bring them together in a way that enhances the quality of their lives, too. These tips are excerpted from Tracie Hotchner's
"The Dog Bible: Everything Your Dog Wants You to Know."
to read more tips about "all things dog".
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Tracie Hotchner is author
of The Dog Bible: Everything Your Dog Wants You to Know |
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