Whenever you take the words CAT & DOG in the same sentence, there’s usually some chaos associated with it. Yes, I know this is very stereotype thinking. But there are some trends and facts that have been existing and believed since a long time. It is like ‘God is omniscient.’ You can hardly try to question that sentence. Even when people say there are demons that are evil and always fight with the god.
These beliefs even stop a lot of pet lovers to keep a dog and a cat together in the same house. They either opt for a dog or a cat. Both together seem to be like an impossible combination. People believe that either one of them can be the cause of the others miseries. And it’s usually the cat on the suffering side. But at times even a cat can be dominant once in the so-called rivalry. For instance, if you have a puppy & an older cat. This can even disrupt the peace in the house.
But c’mon, think of a bigger picture. Things can be either way around for a change! Gods and Demons can be buddies. Not best friends for that matter. But not enemies’ either. You never know. In the same way, cats and dogs can live together in the same house. If properly socialised and given care & understanding.
Dogs, in the first place are a little more active, playful and energetic animals. So they are always excited and jumping whenever they see some new one around. We as humans take it in a positive way. Think of it as welcoming gesture. But some creatures that are small in size can get scared & be terrorized by this act. Their reflexes can result in running in fear, etc. When a dog sees his supremacy over the animal, he tries to emphasize it. And, thus, chases after the cat.
Cats on the other hand are not afraid or scared animals. They instead can be very dominant at times. They are demanding creatures are difficult to woo. However when an animal double your size is chasing you, you have no other option but run.
Apart from this, a dog even has a predator instinct. He has received it from his ancestors. A dog anciently was being used for hunting purposes. So there are some natural behavioural patterns that automatically come to him. It is similar to the cat and mice chase. But that resembles more to the predator-prey chase. It tells us about a cat that runs behind her food. The same theory does not apply to the dog-cat chase. It is more like the territorial dominance. More of ‘now who is your daddy?’ type emotion. No one can forget the famous show ‘tom & jerry’. It is a good example of such kind of relationship. But do not mistake this buzz to be emerged out of this show. It is the show that is made on such viewpoint and some reality.
A dog and a cat are basically two different animals. They have diverse physical & psychological makings. This can even be a reason for their so-called ‘rival behaviour’. Dogs, when happy wag their tails & when sad their tail lays low. On the other hand, when a cat is very furious she wags her tail at faster pace. This behavioural contrast between these animals creates misunderstanding between them. This clearly shows the communication gap between them. They are incapable to correspond with each other. This ultimately causes a lot of problems.
Not only does a dog & cat differ in their attitudes, even cat lovers are different in personality than dog lovers. A dog fanatic can be responsible, dependable, loyal & friendly. While a cat lover can be more independent, ungrateful & less giving. So beware before choosing your pet. After all, your pet can say a lot about you.
Instead of all these facts, there are numerous incidents where you can see around when a dog & cat resides happily together in a family. Though this is a rare occasion but not an wiped out one. A properly socialised dog can share a home with a cat without any concern. They have the ability to control their temperament. But again, it’s not a cake walk. Training a dog and a cat to live together can be a real task. You can’t just throw them in front of each other; expect them to best friends forever. Such things should be handled with care, slowly & efficiently. Let the animals take their own time to get familiar with each other’s existence in the house. Till that time be patient. Keep them as far as possible from each other. Once they get used to their fellow companion, you don’t have to worry anymore. They will handle each other very well.
So sorry to disappoint you, but a dog and a cat are not at all rivals. Get over it.