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There is an unspoken line that seems to divide dogs and cats — and sometimes even “dog people” and “cat people.” The idea that dogs dislike cats, or vice versa, is so pervasive that it’s almost a cliché. But is there any truth behind it, or is it just another dog myth?
Be patient and give your dog and cat supervised time together — they may end up becoming BFFs! https://www.akc.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php Get Your Free AKC eBook
Despite these differences, many cats and dogs learn to live in harmony and even develop friendly relationships — leading them to play and nap together. Early socialization between kittens and puppies helps them overcome suspicions, and introducing young animals to tolerant, older animals encourages respectful habits.
In situations where a cat or dog was not socialized with the other species early on, training can help. Teaching your dog basic commands like “sit” and “stay” will go a long way toward making cats feel more comfortable, but keep in mind that large dog breeds with strong prey drives may injure cats, so keep your dog on a leash and consider crating or separating him from the cat in your absence to prevent accidents.
Cat vs. Dog: Behavioral Differences
There’s a very basic difference between cats and dogs that easily make it seem like they dislike each other. Dogs, being descended from wolves, have the instinct to hunt and survive in packs. Cats also have strong prey drive in their DNA, but unlike dogs, they are solitary creatures like their ancestors. Both can socialize with humans, but cats would generally take more time to trust people than dogs.
Dogs and Cats Communicate Differently
Why do cats not like dogs? On surface level, it would certainly seem so. But for the most part, it’s them using and reading body languages differently that’s causing the conflict. For example, dogs love to run and chase small animals in a playful way. When a cat sees a dog approaching really fast, its natural instinct to flee would naturally kick in. You can imagine how this only gets the dog more excited and the cat, if it feels cornered, would most likely try to defend itself by using its claws.
Another example of how cats’ and dogs’ body languages differ is that when a dog wags its tail, it usually means that he’s comfortable and feeling friendly. A cat, on the other hand, only “whips” its tail when it feels threatened or is being aggressive. A dog may misread it as a sign that the cat wants to play and then proceeds to run around or chase the agitated feline. Taking this into consideration, you can only imagine why do cats dislike dogs.
This Is Why Cats Hate Dogs
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