” Oz “ asked:
for people who have both…are there any funny stories….who is the dominant animal?…..the cat , or the dog?…..my dog goes bezerk around cats…..(they don’t like him much either)……LOL……..I used to have a “poker bluffing” duck…..but cats have that personality that’s aloof…..are there animal politics?……
…..great answers……keep’em coming….it does raise the question of cat personality connected to their coloration…..like dog breeds differing in their personalities……I too , had parakeets (one wild one that learned to talk)….and thankfully…I never lost one to the dogs……I think about all those “Sylvester & Tweety” cartoons…..LOL……
…..is “exercise ” a euphenism for “date”?……..or “romance” ?…..not the noun form either……
Hazel
for people who have both…are there any funny stories….who is the dominant animal?…..the cat , or the dog?…..my dog goes bezerk around cats…..(they don’t like him much either)……LOL……..I used to have a “poker bluffing” duck…..but cats have that personality that’s aloof…..are there animal politics?……
…..great answers……keep’em coming….it does raise the question of cat personality connected to their coloration…..like dog breeds differing in their personalities……I too , had parakeets (one wild one that learned to talk)….and thankfully…I never lost one to the dogs……I think about all those “Sylvester & Tweety” cartoons…..LOL……
…..is “exercise ” a euphenism for “date”?……..or “romance” ?…..not the noun form either……
Hazel
I have two rescue pets. I’ve had the dog longer. When I adopted the cat, he had no claws. Amazingly, he can still put the dog in her place. They’re best friends. They often sleep together, and they often make trouble together. The cat knocks things off the counter. The dog tears open the packages and the two of them eat the food! It’s quite a combination.
One of my dogs loves my cat. The other loves to play chase with her. The cat tries to act like she doesn’t like the dogs, but we think it is an act she puts on when we are around. We sometimes have pet ‘tv’ where we just watch them interact, or create a situation for them to interact(ie…”get the kitty”). It is usually more fun than reality shows.
I have two small dogs and two large cats. One cat, the calico, tries to avoid the dogs entirely and they love to chase her and trap her along the fence. The gray tabby, who is the biggest, doesn’t seem to mind the dogs at all and they treat him differently. The dogs run around and play with the tabby who seems to tolerate them with great patience and will occasionally play with them. I’ve had the cats longer than the dogs and the calico the longest which is probably why she doesn’t like any of the animals.
Ever since my dogs caught the calico cat in the basement they now tear down the stairs barking in anticipation of catching the calico who always gives them a run for their money. When she isn’t in there the dogs then double back racing about wildly and looking up at her escape route.
Of all the animals I’ve had, the cats have always been dominant. Even when I had a big giant dog who rules the neighborhood. The dogs have always given in to the cats. Of course, the cats are wicked and will wait up in trees and drop down on the dogs then run back up the trees again.
Both my dogs and cats get along. (well most of them) Casadee and Rudy don’t but i never expected them to casadee is my oldest dog and rudy is my youngest cat. any way as for the rest of them they share toys!! lol
A year and a half ago, I had five cats; and I picked up a 6 month old pure GSD. Smoky, the kitten (around 8 weeks old) took one look at her, hissed and arched his back, fur stuck out so he looked like a puffer fish with claws, and took off for parts unknown; a half hour later he was up in her face, all lovey-dovey, sticking his head in her ear…..LOL The old girls, Abby and Tasha (both RIP last November), would have none of Dakota (the dog); but as long as she minded her own business, they left her alone. Kasidy was almost 8 at the time and to this day (18 months later), will not go anywhere near the dog; if the dog tries to sniff at her when she’s under a table or whatever, she will spit and lunge at the dog until the dog goes away. Kira is pretty mellow, she’s about 6 now; she’s finally at the point where Dakota can walk up and even sniff and lick her; but when she’s had enough, she swats her and walks away. Smoky’s almost two now and he will lay there and play with the dog. The new kitten, about 6 months old, B’Elanna; she is the same as Smoky, she will play with Dakota’s ears and tail, gnaw on Dakota’s paws, love up to her…..Now Dakota will be eating her food, and if one of the kittens (I still call Smoky a kitten) sticks their face in her bowl, she will back up and sit, and wait patiently until they’re done or I chase them off. She’s a 70 pound WUSS. LOL
So for me, if introduced when the cat is young, there is a greater chance of them being dear friends; the older the cat, the more hostile they are towards the dog. There are exceptions, I’m sure; this is just my personal experience.
I have a large rottweiler and a mixed cat that I adopted. And the cat didn’t want anything to do with my dog at first. After some time passed my cat came around and now they are the bestest of friends. When I take my dog outside my cat will sit at the door and meow his head off until I come back in with the dog. And then the cat will swat her in the butt as she walks by and rile her up to play. They sleep together very often and u can tell that they are just the greatest little pals.
my cat thinks he’s a dog and the alpha male at that (acts like one too) lol
he sits pretty, rolls over, sick’em and check the dogs( means bring the dogs back) make a cat call and he’ll turn his back whistle for him and he will come by the way he out weights one of the dogs (a small terrier mix)by about 15lbs he is 28 pounds of muscle not fat
I have an 18 lb, 3 y/o cocker spaniel, Maggie, and 3 cats.
One of my cats (Terra, 2) is very timid, but occasionally she will curl up on top of the couch cushions with my dog while she is sleeping.
My 8 month old Maine Coon mix kittens play with my dog like there is no tomorrow. When we introduced dogs and cats, the kittens were only about 5-6 weeks old. She was absolutely terrified of them, and would not be their surrogate “mother” like I wanted her to. (Just something for them to curl up with and keep warm)
Ace, the feistier of the two, lays on his back and bats at my dogs floppy ears.
Blackjack, the more submissive kitten, will let Maggie chase him around and then dominate him by “hunching” him. I thought at first she was trying to mate with him, but she is just trying to establish dominance, since Ace beats her up.
I have noticed that she lays at the top of the stairs waiting for them if they come into my room, even if there are people downstairs for her to get affection from. (We have a baby gate, since she likes to eat their poo and that is definitely not good for her stomach or breath)
I would say all in all that as long as the dog is there first, the cats will be very accepting.
Gosh, I’ve already broken one of the basic “get the Best Answer” rules: be one of the first three answers, but you see, I had to feed one of my 8 animals: my totally outdoor cat. Yes, I am that crazy woman every neighborhood boasts of, the “Animal Hag”.
I am the proud owner of two miniature dachshunds, a long-haired female, and a short-haired red male. I have two mostly indoor cats, one all outdoor cat. I have three parakeets.
You see, when you have children, you tend to collect animals because the kids just HAVE TO have them. Thing is, the kids grow up and leave home and the animals don’t go off with them, mostly because they aren’t allowed in dorms.
Well, you asked a lot of questions and because I call my menagerie “The Peaceful Kingdom” I will do my best to answer your questions.
I think it helps to get the cats first. At least throughout my adult life of owning pets that’s what I have done. (I only ever had two parakeets at consecutive intervals as a child, no dogs, no cats–but that is another story.) This timing has worked well because puppies are so rambunctious that the adult cat is both brought out of its shell BUT is also able to curb the little one’s enthusiasm and teach it proper respect for its elders.
Both the indoor cats are female. One of them is a tortoiseshell and she is very skittish and shy and I swear still doesn’t realize there are any other animals in the house. The second is a tabby and she took it upon herself to mother each puppy as she and then he arrived teaching them important grooming habits. Both dogs still lick their front paws and clean their faces after eating. I just noticed the other day, though that the male doxie is a little confused: he will lick his right paw then rub the left one over his face. Strange little guy.
The outdoor cat was a legacy from my step-son who came and went but his cat stayed. I am a very conscientious pet owner. All my animals are fed right, bathed, and get their shots, etc. We have no fleas, or worms or illnesses to speak of in my house, no sirree.
The parakeets came the same way, one at a time. None are original, however. The originals died and we got replacements so the left behind one wouldn’t be lonely. The third one I just took from my pet sitter b/c he was a lonely only at her house. He is quite happy with his two new buddies and has a lovely voice.
Now as to how they get along. My female dog HATED the male puppy for the first month and snapped and snarled at him the whole time. Good thing, too, because he is now twice her size but still thinks she is boss. Actually, they both think she is his mom. She will let him eat from her food bowl now and when he whimpers goes over to lick and comfort him. They play a game I call “the muzzle game” where they open their mouths as wide as they can and clack their teeth against each other with no harm to either one but they growl and grunt furiously.
In all other respects, the male dog thinks all the other animals are members of his pack and it is his duty to herd them around and protect them. This puzzles the oldest cat who as I said thinks the dog is invisible.
The male dog goes out regularly to “exercise” the outdoor cat who is also a male. I should add that everyone of the four-legged beasties is spayed or neutered. Nevertheless, this “exercising” looks a mite peculiar, at times. I will say no more on that subject. As all mothers should I love him no matter what his persuasion is.
I hope this has answered your question at least as to one household with all kinds of traditional enemies living in harmony. Oh, yes, no one tries to kill the birds, either. They think they are on the TV.
P.S. I was just reading Susan’s answer and her experience with her cats is so similar to mine that now I am wondering if cat personality is somehow connected to their coloring. Calico is very much like the tortoiseshell, for one thing both colorations are sex-linked–they are always females. Hers is shy and runs from the dogs and they think of her as a big doggie toy, same with my tortie. Her gray tabby is better with the dogs, and my tabby is also gray and does much better with the dogs. I have also heard that tabbies in general are friendly cats. Just more random thoughts.
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