Surely every person has heard the phrase “like a cat and a dog” more than once. This expression can usually describe people who cannot get along together and constantly fight and argue. But it’s not for nothing that these words sound exactly like that, because nature is tripled in such a way that cats and dogs cannot live peacefully together, cats will always run away, and dogs will rush at these felines.
Why does this eternal enmity not stop, and why do dogs dislike cats so much? Veterinarians, biologists and other specialists who study the behavior and character of animals have conducted many studies, but have not been able to come to a common opinion. However, there are some interesting theories that should definitely be considered.
Genetics
One explanation for the thousand-year enmity may be genetic predestination. Dogs belong to the canine family and are predators. Predators regard animals that are smaller than them as game. Representatives of fighting breeds are especially dangerous for cats; aggression in their behavior is fixed at the genetic level.
There is also a reverse version: when the Earth was inhabited by the prototypes of modern dogs and saber-toothed tigers, representatives of the cat family hunted canines. The latter developed a feeling of hostility, which could be fixed at the genetic level.
Possible reasons for hostility
When an animal lover brings home a cat, his dog, who has already settled in the territory, often begins to chase the baby, and sometimes openly quarrel with him. The owner wonders why this is happening and wants to reconcile the pets.
Among the explainable reasons for this behavior are differences in the character of animals, their natural instinct, sad life experiences, as well as competition that arises between pets.
Differences in Personality
One of the main reasons why cats and dogs often quarrel when living in the same house is the difference in the character of these animals, which is genetically embedded in them. A dog and a cat, like creatures from different planets, are opposites in many ways. If dogs are active and inquisitive, and also very sociable, then cats are independent, detached and calm.
The dog loves to poke his nose everywhere, explore every corner of the room, and reaches out to the person. The representative of the cat family prefers silence, regularity, and does not tolerate intrusion into his personal space. The dog may run after him around the room, but this is simple curiosity, and negativity most often has nothing to do with it.
Those who study animal behavior and seek to understand why cats are afraid of dogs and why dogs don't like cats note the important role of verbal cues. One of them is tail wagging, which in the case of dogs means friendliness, and in cats it is a signal of irritability.
A dog raising its paw is trying to play, but a cat makes it clear that it is belligerent. When the second arches his back, he is preparing to attack. The dog does not understand this verbal signal and, after sniffing the animal, often gets hit in the face with its claws. If a furry pet purrs, it is content and peaceful, while a dog's grumbling is a warning of a possible attack.
Instinct
In an effort to wean pets from conflict and teach them to love each other at least a little, the owner should not forget about natural instincts. The hunting instinct plays an important role, prompting dogs to chase cats and other animals. But the purrs needlessly begin to fear the dog chasing them. Most often, he is interested in the process of the chase itself, the desire to catch up with the victim, and he does not harm the captured neighbor in the territory.
There is a theory that tells about the past (“predatory”) heritage of cats, whose ancestors were larger than their wild relatives of dogs and often attacked them. Hence the hostility towards cats, which is preserved at the genetic level and encourages the dog to take revenge on the “crushed tiger.”
Bitter experience
Sometimes a puppy brought into the house refuses to coexist normally with the furry pet already living there. The reason for this behavior may be a negative association: for example, a dog was once offended by a feline who hit him in the face with her claws. And now, remembering this, he will avoid the animal, since the pain has long subsided, but the insult remains. In this case, making friends with pets will not be easy, but it is possible.
Competition
It can be difficult to reconcile animals that find themselves in the same house due to the fact that competition between their wild ancestors for territory and prey existed many years ago. Animals that differ in behavior have in common only the instinct of a predator.
Each of the pets strives to mark the boundaries of their territory in the house and protect them. This clearly explains why dogs and cats may not get along. Since in the wild, dogs are outcompeted by larger members of the feline family, with the exception of cats, they have to cede territory and share prey. Because of this, domestic conflicts may arise.
Cats are not social
The second version is that cats are the ones who don’t like dogs. While dogs often gather in packs, cats, on the contrary, prefer to lead a solitary lifestyle. This is due to the fact that representatives of the cat family, for the most part, do not like to contact other individuals. If a cat is hostile towards its relatives, what can we say about relationships with representatives of another species. Often, a dog attacking a cat is simple curiosity or a response to a provocation.
Misunderstanding
Dogs and cats express emotions and react to the emotions of other creatures differently. Discord between animals can occur if there is a misunderstanding between them on an emotional level. For a dog, for example, a wagging tail means friendliness and good mood, but for a cat this sign characterizes irritation.
The dog, in turn, can also misinterpret the cat’s behavior, which becomes the reason for hunting or chasing one pet after another.
It's about enzymes
The fourth version is associated with the different structure of organisms. There is a theory that representatives of the cat family produce a certain special enzyme that negatively affects the subconscious of dogs, making them aggressive and agitated. This theory could explain everything, but it falls apart due to the fact that many cats and dogs are friends and even spend most of their time together without experiencing discomfort.
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ILLUSTRATION: PIRO4D / PIXABAY / FAKTRUM
How to make friends between a cat and a dog?
- When meeting for the first time, it is very important to be patient. If possible, you should keep your pets in different places in the apartment so that they gradually get used to each other’s smell.
- It is worth working on the dog’s behavior in advance: praising it for appropriate behavior, treating it with a treat.
- After some time, it’s time to arrange a “confrontation.” A large room is suitable for this; each pet should have its own personal space. You cannot push them towards each other, force them to make contact. Let the acquaintance be as natural as possible.
- After the first meeting, it will be necessary to promote communication and rapprochement between the animals. This can be done through walking and eating together. For cats, a walk is always an unusual stressful situation. During walks, the dog will be a familiar partner in an unfamiliar environment, and the cat will perceive the dog as a protector.
- Feeding animals together will bring them together. To begin with, you should place the bowls at the maximum distance from each other so that the animals do not start competing for food. Then the bowls need to be gradually brought closer together so that the pets eventually eat together.
- Playing games together will help you make friends. If during the game one animal bites another, the game must be stopped immediately, firmly saying “no”. There is no need to shout and scold the offender: this will only intensify the hostility.
- Friendship is always a matter of habit and personal preference. Cats and dogs speak different languages, so making friends with them is not always possible. You need to be patient and not harm your pets in an attempt to bring them together. Perhaps over time, pets will get used to each other, and their relationship will improve.
Goats “mark” with an accent
Scientists have learned that goats, like people living in different countries, have their own language. That is, depending on where they live, goats “mark” and “beck” with an accent.
Goat Photo: Sergio Barrios / Depositphotos
Previous selection of interesting facts
Old grudge
Like people, many animals remember old grievances all their lives.
Same with dogs. If she had an experience of meeting a cat that ended badly for the dog, then, most likely, when meeting another cat again, he will remember the previous fight and try to achieve retribution. We also recommend reading:
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The cause could be a scratch caused by a cat's paw or a blow to the nose.
Division of territory
Both types of pets mark their territory and defend it throughout their lives.
It is generally accepted that cats always run away from attacking dogs. But that's not true. If a furry individual is in its territory, then it will not run away, at least not immediately. If a dog appears, even if it is passing by, the cat will rear up, hiss and begin to slowly advance in order to scare away the unexpected guest. And the dog, feeling that it is stepping into forbidden territory, will most likely run away. This law applies to domestic animals that live on private plots.
Accumulated aggression
Stress breeds aggression (over-arousal) within the animal. So if a dog has experienced severe emotional stress or physical torture, it will take out an avalanche of feelings on a weaker creature. In such a situation, not only the cat, but also the person can get it.
Happy together
Pets living together under the same roof are usually friends. Partnerships are always formed in different ways:
- creating partnerships immediately (conflict-free animals);
- by patronizing one pet (previously acquired or older, or more responsible) over another;
- with the help of human education and conciliatory procedures (when the characters are complex and the furry ones themselves fail to establish peace).
The enmity between the two predators has no clear explanation. Dogs do not eat cats, but they can inflict fatal wounds on them. Most often, the reason can be found out by assessing the temperament of specific animals and examining all the circumstances of the conflict.
