Dogs are From Mars, Cats are From Venus

August 18, 2008

This week at Discovery News you can read about what it takes to get dogs and cats to make nice under the same roof. Without proper introductions and guidance, any number of miserable happenings is possible. Depending on the size of the animal, the dog could consider the cat a tasty snack, or the cat could bite and scratch the dog to smithereens.

Scottish Wildcat

(Credit: Ewan Macdonald via Science AAAS)

Thankfully that needn't be the case, according to Neta-Li Feuerstein and Joseph Terkel of Tel Aviv University. If you'd like to include both a dog and a cat (or more) in your family, here's what they say you should do:

1. Adopt the cat before you adopt the dog.
This is more for the dog's sake than that of the cat. Because dogs are pack animals, they may respect the status quo but, if a stranger is introduced into the house (like a new baby or cat), they could challenge this pack "intruder."

2. Introduce the cat to dogs while it's still a kitten.
Cats aged 6 months old or younger that have had positive encounters with dogs do better around the other species throughout the rest of their lives.

3. Introduce the dog to cats when it's a year old or younger.
Dogs can actually learn the body language of cats, and vice versa, when the animals are introduced at young ages.

I don't necessarily agree with the below (curious as to your opinions) but here is a list of body language that is supposed to hold opposite meanings for dogs and cats. When dogs and cats get to know each other early, however, they can read such "language" correctly in the other species.

Body Language                                                 Meaning
                                                                          Dog                                               Cat
                                                      
Stretching out the forefeet                               Amicable, submission                     Aggression

Lying on the back                                             Submission                                    Aggression

Moving the head away                                       Submission                                   Aggression

Tail wagging (horizontal position)                     Amicable, submission                    Fear, Aggression                                       

The researchers then go on to describe what they call an "ethogram" (the Born Animal word of the day), which is all natural behavior characterizing a species of animal. In this case, it relates to how cats can behave when around dogs and vice versa.

Cat

Dominance behavior patterns:
Direct stare
Pricked ears
Jumping to a high place

Aggression:
Growl
Hiss or spit
Piloerection (hair stands on end)
Extracted claws
Thrashing tail
Arching of the back and tail
Raised foreleg
Attack
Flattened ears
Lying on the back
Averted gaze

Fear/Submission:
Ears turned backwards
Excessive salivation
Backing away
Crouched walk
Sideways movement
Tail flattened to the body
Retreating
Hiding
Grooming
Head shake

Play:
Chirping
Purring
Kneading
Moving the tip of the tail
Rolling on the ground
Allogrooming (grooming others)

Proximity behavior patterns:
Tail up
Blinking
Standing/sitting/lying down
Sniffing
Rubbing
Coming closer to the dog

Dog

Dominance:
Tail is raised above the level of the back
Direct stare
Standing tail or stifled walking
Pricked ears
Lips are pooled forward
Barking
Moving over the cat

Aggression behavior patterns:
Wrinkled nose
Bared teeth
Piloerection
Growling
Attacking

Fear/Submission:
Averted gaze, sometimes accompanied by a raised forepaw
Lowered tail
Crouching walk or posture
Lying on the back
Flattened ears
Lips retracted
High pitched whine
High pitched bark
Backing away
Yawn
Licking Lips
Blinking
Retreating

Play Behavior Patterns:
Play bow
Play growl
Chasing
Lying on the back
Biting
Licking the air or the cat
Play face

Proximity Behavior Patterns:
Standing/sitting/lying down
Tail wagging
Raised foreleg
Sniffing
Coming closer to the cat
Relaxed ears
Relaxed or backwards-pulled lips

If you have the time, here is an entire half hour program on other tips for successfully introducing dogs to cats. It's divided into three 10 minute or so sections.

Comments

[Heidi L]

I loved this article. I have 2 dogs, one cat and soon to get another kitten. I had the dogs first. They were inhospitable to the cat in the beginning (after the tiny kitten hissed!) It took about 6 months before he really became part of their dog pack. Now, they guard the home together, admire eachother's hunting skills, share water bowls and sometimes sleep together. The cat is actually the kindest one of the bunch. When the terrier (who was the least accepting) had more than half of her teeth removed due to gum disease...she was dopey and in discomfort. I found her under the diningroom table, with the Ginger cat "telling him" all about her woes. He sat there and listened and kissed her on the cheeks. They usually just play and joust together. I felt like I was dreaming! I wonder how the balance will be upset when I add a new little girl kitten to the mix. I'm sure it will take a while. I had to bring my last kitten to work with me for a few months until he was bigger and could hide and defend himself. I might do that again.

[Jen Viegas]

What a great anecdote, Heidi, about your terrier and cat sharing health woes. And you went above and beyond being a good caretaker by bringing Ginger, as a kitten, to work with you. Back to the health stuff, I've noticed similar bonding too among closely connected animals. Without even saying a "word" they seem to sense the other's misery and discomfort. Sometimes cats will shun each other after vet visits, due to certain odors, but then they often make up for the brush off later.