They like to snuggle up close to one another and fall asleep
Touching is a sign that animals not only get along well but also that they trust one another, said Nelson.
“If they are sleeping with each other and snuggled up together — really truly making contact with each other — then thats an obvious sign that theres true affection between the animals,” Nelson explained. “They arent going to trust another animal to fall asleep with them if they dont truly get along and have that established bond.”
Should I Be Worried If My Dog Is Fixated On My Cat?
There’s no problem with having your dog and cat share a close bond, after all, isn’t that something we would hope and strive for?
But not every bond is healthy or rooted in mutual agreement. If your dog is obsessed with your cat, then most likely they are expressing it in ways that your cat doesn’t like.
Cats are more independent, and they need some alone time, that’s why they need their special hiding places.
If your dog doesn’t give your cat that needed space, then tensions may arise.
Your dog’s fixation could also turn into aggression and even if your dog doesn’t want to hurt your cat, they might do it accidentally because they are usually stronger.
To understand whether your dog’s intentions are good and whether your cat is ok with that you need to study their body language and see if they are actually friends or a bad situation waiting to happen.
Reason 6: Your Dog Is Bored
It’s important to understand that boredom can lead your dog to many unpleasant and distracting behaviors, and that includes obsessing over your cat.
According to PDSA “regular exercise is essential for all dogs – it helps keep them in shape and is really important for their mental health.”
Perhaps you have a lot of things going on right now and you haven’t had the time to play sufficiently with your dog, or you’ve taken them for shorter walks to catch up with work.
And while all that is understandable you can also understand why your dog would take out his frustration on your cat by trying to play with her or chasing her around.
For him, your cat could be compensating for the lack of attention, and by annoying the cat your pooch also gets your attention, even if it’s in the form of scolding.
How to Introduce Dogs & Cats SAFELY What to AVOID
By Sherry Woodard, Best Friends Animal Society animal behavior consultant Republished with permission of Best Friend Animal Society
Some dogs do fine living with cats; others simply cannot live safely with felines. Sometimes, a dog can live with certain cats (depending on their age, temperament and activity level), but not others. Even if your dog has successfully lived with cats in the past, it is important to remember that each dog and each cat is an individual and therefore each introduction is different.
When introducing your dog to a cat, pay attention to the body language of both animals. If the cat’s ears are pinned back or his tail is swishing back and forth, this is a good indicator that he is displeased. You particularly want to be aware of dog body language that could be potential warning signs. If your dog has a strong prey drive (the inclination to seek out, chase and potentially capture animals seen as prey — usually smaller animals such as cats or rabbits), she might become very focused on the cat. She’ll stiffen, stare, and may start barking or whining. If you see these signs, do not let her near the cat. Ideally, her body language will be loose and relaxed around the cat. It’s OK if she pays attention to the cat, but you don’t want to see her fixated on him.
In addition, a dog’s interaction with a cat can change depending on the environment. Just because your dog is OK with the cat inside the house doesn’t mean she’ll exhibit that same behavior outdoors. She might fixate on the cat and start stalking him when they are outside together. So, be aware of her body language around the cat in each new situation, until you know how she is going to respond toward him.
There are many different ways to introduce a dog to a cat. If the first method of introduction you try doesn’t work or you don’t feel comfortable with it, try a different option. Even if the dog has had experience with cats and the cat has lived with a dog before, proceed cautiously during the introduction. It’s best to have two people present — one to intervene with each animal, if necessary. If you have more than one dog, introduce each dog separately to the cat.