Cat–dog relationship

Cats and dogs have a range of interactions.[1] The natural instincts of each species lead towards antagonistic interactions, though individual animals can have non-aggressive relationships with each other, particularly under conditions where humans have socialized non-aggressive behaviors.

A dog and a cat face off. The cat is displaying defensive posture typical of interactions between a cat and dog that have not been socialized.
A kitten and a dog that have been socializing and interact with each other without aggression.
Four cats and a dog sit together.

The generally aggressive interactions between the species have been noted in cultural expressions. In domestic homes where dog and cat are reared and trained properly, they tend to relate well with each other, especially when their owner is taking good care of them. [2]

Range of relationships
A kitten rests on the back of a street dog.

The signals and behaviors that cats and dogs use to communicate are different and can lead to signals of aggression, fear, dominance, friendship or territoriality being misinterpreted by the other species.[3] Dogs have a natural instinct to chase smaller animals that flee, an instinct common among cats.[4] Most cats flee from a dog, while others take actions such as hissing, arching their backs and swiping at the dog.[4] After being scratched by a cat, most dogs will become fearful of cats.[5]

If appropriately socialized, cats and dogs may have relationships that are not antagonistic,[5] and dogs raised with cats may prefer the presence of cats to other dogs.[6] Even cats and dogs in the same household that have historically had positive interactions may revert to aggressive reactions due to external stimuli, illness, or play that escalates and could eventually be harmful.[7]

Cultural impact

The phrase "fight like cats and dogs" reflects a natural tendency for the relationship between the two species to be antagonistic.[8][9][10] Other phrases and proverbs include "The cat is mighty dignified until the dog comes by" and "The cat and dog may kiss, but are none the better friends."[11]

Eugene Field's children's poem, "The Duel," projects and amplifies the real-life antipathy between cats and dogs onto a stuffed gingham dog and a stuffed calico cat who had an all-night fight during which they "ate each other up."[12][13]

In Fam Ekman's children's book Kattens Skrekk (The Cat's Terror), a cat visits a museum to find that all of the artworks, like Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo, have been replaced by parodies featuring dogs. The only piece not converted is The Scream which "symbolizes the cat's terror in the face of so many dogs."[14] The American animated television series CatDog features the adventures of the protagonist, CatDog, a genetically altered creature with the head of a dog on one side of its body and the head of a cat on the other. The episodes frequently play on "cats and dogs being what they are" to incorporate "a lot of running and chasing."[15]

The comedy films Cats & Dogs, released in 2001, and its sequel Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, released in 2010, both project and amplify the above-mentioned antipathy between dogs and cats into an all-out war between the two species wherein cats are shown as being out-and-out enemies of humans, whereas dogs are shown as being more sympathetic to humans.[16]

Adlai Stevenson invoked the dog-cat conflict in his explanation of a veto he delivered as Governor of Illinois: "If we attempt to resolve [this conflict] by legislation, who knows but what we may be called upon to take sides as well in the age-old problems of dog versus cat, bird versus bird, even bird versus worm."

The popular Tom and Jerry cartoons contain multiple instances of conflict between the titular character Tom the cat and Spike the bulldog. The series exploits this negative dog-cat relationship by having Jerry create scenarios for Tom to clash with Spike as means for Jerry's escape.

See also

References
  1. Mikkel Becker (6 May 2012). "Cats and dogs can live together — with some help". Today. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  2. Aquino, Patrick (7 June 2022). "Will My Cat and Dog Get Along?". Hartz. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  3. Coren, Stanley (2 December 2008). "17 Are Dogs and Cats Incompetable (sic)". The Modern Dog: A Joyful Exploration of How We Live with Dogs Today. Simon and Schuster. pp. 139–. ISBN 9781416593683. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  4. Hotchner, Tracie (3 November 2005). The Dog Bible: Everything Your Dog Wants You to Know. Penguin Group US. pp. 792–. ISBN 9781440623080. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  5. Johnson-Bennett, Pam (27 November 2007). Starting from Scratch: How to Correct Behavior Problems in Your Adult Cat. Penguin. pp. 294–. ISBN 9781101201817. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  6. Houpt, Katherine A. (25 January 2011). Domestic Animal Behavior for Veterinarians and Animal Scientists. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 227–. ISBN 9780470958438. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  7. Society, Best Friends Animal (19 October 2010). Dog Tips From DogTown: A Relationship Manual for You and Your Dog. National Geographic Society. pp. 67–. ISBN 9781426206696. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  8. Lang, J. Stephen (8 November 2004). 1,001 Things You Always Wanted To Know About Cats. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 322–. ISBN 9780764573248. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  9. Berger, Melvin; Berger, Gilda (1999). Can it rain cats and dogs?: questions and answers about weather. Scholastic Reference. ISBN 9780439146425. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  10. Lee, Kaiman (1 January 2003). Cartoon-illustrated Metaphors: Idioms, Proverbs, Cliches, and Slang. Environmental Design & Research Ctr. pp. 92–. ISBN 9780915250486. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  11. Rogers, Katharine M. (1 March 2001). The Cat and the Human Imagination: Feline Images from Bast to Garfield. University of Michigan Press. pp. 143–. ISBN 9780472087501. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  12. Bauer, Susan Wise (1 August 2008). Writing with Ease. Peace Hill Press. pp. 160–. ISBN 9781933339290. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  13. Bauei, Ussan Wise (1 July 2008). Why Does My Cat Lick the Wall?. Kittenwiki. pp. 16–.
  14. Keyser, Elizabeth Lennox; Pfeiffer, Julie (2001). Children's Literature. Yale University Press. pp. 186–. ISBN 9780300088915. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  15. Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (24 June 2009). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Random House Publishing Group. pp. 225–. ISBN 9780307483201. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  16. Peyton, Brad (30 July 2010). "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore". CD2 Films, Mad Chance, Polymorphic Pictures. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
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