Why dogs don't like cats

– It is believed that for dogs it is a peculiar chase for prey. But you've probably noticed that the dog stops as soon as the car brakes. That is, the main motive is the chase. The same instincts are triggered when a dog tries to chase a cat.

Why dogs don't like cats

Cats are predators by nature, albeit small, so cats are wary of animals larger than themselves. Cats are also very individual animals. This is reflected in the fact that cats are very reverent about their personal space and always travel alone. They are very observant and do not like to make contact with unfamiliar things and animals.

Dogs, on the other hand, are herd animals descended from predators. They are very curious and like to play. That is why when a dog sees a cat, it may run up to it out of pure curiosity to find out what the cat is all about. However, because the cat values personal space so much, it can either run away, thereby provoking the dog to chase, or respond by pawing a curious nose. Because of this, both animals may develop an aversion to each other.

Difficulties also arise with the expression of emotions. When the dog is happy, he starts wagging his tail, which in the language of cats means an expression of anxiety and aggression. When the dog is in a submissive posture – ducking and flattening its ears, the cat sees this as preparation for an attack – which is what it does itself.

But if both animals live together with humans, they become real friends with the help of the owner. It's important to give both animals space so they can get used to each other.

What dogs feel while the owner is not at home, and why they "do not like" cats: a zoopsychologist explained the behavior of pets

Many people perceive dogs not as pets, but as family members, and misinterpret their habits. Broke a vase, pressed his ears and wagged his tail – he feels guilty, and throwing at everyone and barking – he's angry. Yulia Tikhonova, a zoopsychologist, told why such misconceptions are dangerous, how to understand a four-legged friend and how to correctly educate a dog.

Not all dogs behave approximately when the owners leave: they bark loudly, "wreck" the house, chew shoes. But, as Julia Tikhonova explains, they do it not out of harm or boredom, but from stress. Experts have even coined a term for this phenomenon – separation anxiety.

– The dog is an animal with a high level of socialization, it has a great need for social contact. If the dog is not trained from an early age to stay home alone temporarily, it will be under a great deal of stress. This causes the dog to do things that make him uncomfortable. The owner may consider this to be a fault," said the animal psychologist.

You'll have to train an adult dog to be left alone in peace and quiet gradually, with a bit of exercise. For example, you can leave the room and leave the dog there with the door closed. Only when the animal calms down, you can open the door, praise and give him a treat. True, the dog should not stay outside the door for too long – let the exercise be short, but frequent.

Small Pekingese and Chihuahuas often scare the passers-by even more than big dogs. They burst into loud barking, barking at others, and even throwing themselves at people. The reason for this behavior – excessive tutelage of the owner.

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Why dogs don't like cats

Despite the obviousness of the fact, no one has yet managed to explain why dogs do not like cats. There are several scientifically proven theories. It is worth citing the most popular ones.

All members of the canine (wolf family) have a typical psychological portrait: active, inquisitive, friendly, open creatures that cannot normally exist in nature without a pack. They continuously sniff the environment, explore their territory, running around most of the day.

Representatives of the feline family have a diametrically opposite psychology: outwardly indifferent, somewhat withdrawn animals who do not run around their territory unnecessarily. When fed, they prefer seclusion and a comfortable rest in solitude.

It is the radically different psychology that causes dogs to hate cats and vice versa.

Simplified, but accurate worldview of these animal antagonists is stated in the expression, the authorship of which is not established:

"A cat considers itself God and only arrogantly deigns its master to take care of itself. The dog regards his master as God and is ready to serve him to the end.

Every owner of these two cute, but so different tailed family members knows it for a fact. Meowing fluffy is always somewhat lazy, he is self-absorbed, "on his own mind" and looks at you through the eyes of the owner. What's in his head no one knows. He shows with his whole appearance that he is the center of the universe.

A barking human friend is always awake, on the move and looking at you with loyal eyes, which, without words, indicate their readiness to fulfill any of your desires.

Our affectionate and cuddly pets are the offspring of predators. By human standards: ruthless predators. Any animal is perceived as potential game. That's why dogs don't just dislike cats, they perceive them as the object of their prey. Equal to any other animal: a squirrel, a raccoon or a big rat.

There are exceptions: some cats like water and dogs hate swimming.

Most dogs love to swim, they like to catch a ball in bodies of water, jump in pools, and sometimes even dive in. What cannot be said about cats. However, zoologists point out that this is not true for all animals. "Not all cats hate water and not all dogs love it, but in general, domestic cats don't like to swim at all. There are several reasons for this," says Kelly Bollen, director of behavioral programs at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

One of the reasons contributing to this is the fact that their hair takes a very long time to dry, so cats are uncomfortable and "unprofitable" with being soaking wet. In addition, cats are very clean creatures. According to the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), since these animals spend a lot of time licking their coats, it is simply unacceptable for them to "mess up their hair". You have probably noticed that once you wash your cat, he will still lick himself for a couple of hours, until he is sure that every hair is just right.

Cats come from arid deserts

Another reason for this behavior lies in the evolutionary history of domestic cats. It is believed that the cat evolved in the arid desert climate. Throughout their early history, these animals did not encounter lakes, rivers or rain, so water was something new and unfamiliar to them.

The situation is different with dogs. First, some breeds were specially bred to "work" on water (Portuguese Wasserhund port, New Scottish Retriever). Second, swimming is a great way for dogs to cool off and move around. Dogs are more agile than cats, so a dip in the water is a good workout for them. Unlike cats, they also enjoy exploring new smells more. While a cat might be frightened away by a pungent scent, a dog might only be spurred on to come closer.

"You've probably noticed that once you wash your cat, he'll still lick himself for a couple of hours." Did the author even study Russian at school? "Driving up to this station and looking out the window at nature, my hat flew off."

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How you can make friends with a dog and a cat

1. Do not pressure the animal, scold, raise your voice, or resort to physical abuse in any way. It is important to be patient while the bonding process lasts.
2. At first, keep the dog and the cat in separate rooms. When the first emotions subside, the pets will begin to show mutual interest in each other.
3. Feed separately. Zoopsychologists recommend giving food first to the older animal and then to the newcomer. This way the "old-timer" will not feel left out.
4. Pay more attention to the animal and be sure to praise him for good behavior. The older pet should not be made to feel superfluous. When a new pet comes into the home, it is very important that it understands that the owner will not love it any less.

Like a cat with a dog. Why dogs don't like cats

The Attic editorial board received a question in the mail from a reader, "Why don't dogs like cats?" The short answer is that cats are calm, methodical and individual animals, while dogs are energetic, inquisitive and more social.

According to Chinese sage legend, a dog once rescued a drowning girl who was the daughter of a local ruler. He rewarded the dog by attaching a decree to its tail stating that from now on every stray dog was to be fed and warmed. The dog gave a big feast to all the other dogs and gave the decree to the cat for the time being. In the morning, the decree disappeared, and the cat blamed it on the mice, who had stolen the decree out of jealousy, but the dog did not believe it. Since then the dogs don't like cats, and the cats hunt mice.

In fact, fairy tales have nothing to do with it – their dislike of each other has a logical explanation.

Cats are predators by nature, albeit small, so they are wary of animals larger than themselves. Cats are also very individual animals. This is reflected in the fact that cats are very reverent about their personal space and always travel alone. They are very observant and do not like to make contact with unfamiliar things and animals.

Dogs, on the other hand, are more social animals. This is why, upon seeing a cat, a dog may run up to it out of pure curiosity to see what the cat is all about. However, because the cat values personal space so much, it can either run away, thereby provoking the dog to chase it, or it can respond by pawing the curious nose. Because of this, both animals may develop an aversion to each other.

Expressing emotions is also difficult. When a dog is happy, it starts wagging its tail, which in the language of cats means anxiety and aggression. When the dog is in a submissive posture – ducking and pressing its ears down, the cat sees this as preparation for an attack – which is exactly what it does itself.

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15 comments

I have a cat and a dog. When the dog came along, the cat was already elderly. I think it's about completely different behaviors. The dog is not aggressive toward the cat, just behaves the same way he would with any other member of the pack-family: jumping, barking, biting, pawing. For a cat, this behavior is a sign of aggression, so there is a response. My cats are now completely used to each other and live in parallel. Sometimes the dog tries to chase the cat, the same may accept the game for the time being, or may immediately let it know that he is not in the mood. The dog lags behind, and if it doesn't – it gets a slap on the face and then it gets really offended and drives the cat somewhere higher. After that, it immediately loses interest. The cat, by the way, too, does not feel much stress. Other cats (in the country house, for example) are another matter. But then again, the dog reacts violently, but without aggression. She wants to play.

Bitter enemies or best friends: why we think that cats and dogs don't get along well with each other

For centuries there has been a common stereotype that cats and dogs are enemies. Everywhere from children's cartoons to proverbs, these tailed ones almost never get along. How does science explain the complicated relationship between cats and dogs, why exceptions to this rule are not uncommon, and is it possible to cement the interspecies friendship of these animals?

To begin with, cats and dogs have very different social behaviors. In 2010, scientists at Oxford University conducted a large-scale study, studying about half a million species of mammals, and came to the conclusion that the domestic dog is the most social animal. It actively interacts with members of the pack, trying to recognize their intentions, moods and actions. At the same time, scientists previously believed that dogs have a linear hierarchy, and both males and females.

With the emergence of new studies, many experts categorically reject such social models in dog packs, leaning toward cooperative relationships between dogs. Moreover, there are a number of studies that suggest the dangers of dominance techniques while correcting a dog's behavior. Some zoopsychologists believe that the animal's psyche can be damaged in this way.

Cats are the exact opposite in this regard. Yes, just like dogs they are social animals, capable of active interaction with other individuals of their species, but they avoid any unnecessary contact if possible, preferring to observe what is happening from aside and preferably from afar. Unlike dogs, cats do not accept any other predators on their territory and actively defend it. The exceptions are dogs and other companion animals (including those that in the nature are their victims), friendship with which was established "from babies": if you bring a mouse to a kitten at the age of several weeks, they can keep friendly relations for a long time. And establishing friendships with dogs at an advanced age, though the exception, is common.

Can a dog and cat become friends?

"Living like a cat and a dog" is often said of a relationship based on irreconcilable enmity. But is this saying true of our pets? Can a dog and a cat be friends?

Cats and dogs have both similarities and differences. What are they and how do they affect the relationship?

Both cats and dogs are predatorsand have a hunting instinct (the severity of this instinct varies both between breeds and within each breed). But cats and dogs hunt differently: while dogs chase their prey in a pack, cats make an ambush leap.

Both dogs and cats are domesticated animals that have been around for thousands of years (dogs, however, were domesticated much earlier). In the process of domestication, the animals most tolerant of both humans and other animals remained close to humans. As a result, domesticated cats and dogs acquired infantile traits (that is, adult cats and dogs behave somewhat like cubs, which makes them manageable and comfortable to live with).

Dogs, unlike cats, are essentially animals of socialCats, on the other hand, are by nature a pack and its relationships. Cats, on the other hand, are by nature solitaryHowever, they are ready to tolerate their congeners if there is no strong competition for resources and there is a centralized source of food (for example, a human gives it to them).

Both the dog and the cat have an important security basewhich the animal resorts to when it feels insecure and which helps to meet important needs. If there is a safety base, animals can explore new territory and feel more confident in unfamiliar situations. However, the safety base for dogs and cats is different. For a dog, the safety base is a beloved owner; for a cat, it is a territory it considers its own. Therefore, a cat does not have as pronounced affection as a dog.