The love-hate relationship between dogs and cats is legendary, especially when you look specifically at cats and dogs living together.
In fact, the topic of cat-dog relationships has been gaining popularity among animal scientists lately. And now a new study by researchers in Italy adds to the literature by examining how cats and dogs living under one roof get along.
The authors of the study, which appears in the journal PLoS ONE , gave questionnaires to 1,270 Italian residents who own both a cat and a dog (or more of one or both).
The study confirms many stereotypes about pet personalities, but also shows that these two species do not share much conflicts can coexist.
Neurotic cats and extraverted dogs
The results are broadly consistent with previous research. In general, pet owners think of dogs as friendly and cats as neurotic.
The study found that 85% of dogs have a friendly relationship with their owner, compared to just 49% for cats. And cats are more likely to ignore dogs than vice versa.
Yet 64% of the dogs and cats “surveyed” play together at least sometimes.
Owners said their dogs were friendlier than cats to people They knew: 96% of dogs versus only 79% of cats were friendly to familiar people. Owners also described that cats tend to be either disinterested in or afraid of strangers. Dogs were also friendlier to strangers than cats (51% vs. 29%).
When it came to peers, 84% of dogs were friendly to familiar dogs and 36% were friendly to unfamiliar dogs. This is in contrast to cats, of which 49% were friendly to known cats and 10% were friendly to unfamiliar cats.
Pets under one roof means eating together, sometimes
heartwarming , after she had finished eating, about a quarter of the cats and dogs surveyed waited nearby until their roommate had also finished eating.
Respondents also indicated that their dogs tended to do so preferred to eat from a bowl on the floor, whereas cat bowls were generally located on a surface such as a countertop or tabletop.
About 58% of cats and dogs slept next to each other at least some of the time. In 11% of cases, they always slept side by side, their owners said.
Cat and dog relationship: fighting, playing and sometimes ignoring each other
At the same time, 42% of cats ignored the dog, while only 28% ignored the other way. Almost 18% of cats and dogs living under one roof ignored each other. And 10% of cats hissed at the dog versus just 2% of dogs who growled at the cat. About a third of cats and dogs greeted nose to nose.
Cats were more likely to attack dogs than vice versa. Participants reported that 24% of the dogs surveyed had been attacked by a cat at least once, while only 22% of the cats had been attacked by a dog.
Just over 64% of the cats and dogs also lived together played; 58% chased each other and 41% fought. Almost two-thirds of pets sometimes playfully “ambush” the other. And almost 44% of cats sometimes played with the dog’s tail.
Stereotypes about dogs and cats: do they stand up?
This study confirms the widely held belief that dogs, in Generally more extroverted and cats are more aloof. Perhaps that’s because dogs have been domesticated much longer than cats. And that might explain why multi-cat households often report abnormal cat behavior; They are still not “used” to living in a house with people and other cats. Or at least not as used to the idea as dogs.
Research also suggests that dog play is more social in nature, with its main purpose being to form social bonds. Cat play, on the other hand, is more akin to hunting behavior, with a clear distinction between prey and predator. Likewise, cats were more likely to have a negative reaction when the dog approached when the cat was petted by a human.
Regarding potential limitations of this study, the authors note that humans interact with cats and dogs who live peacefully together may be more likely or willing to fill out a questionnaire about their pets’ behavior.
And in terms of timeliness, this study is timely. The number of cats and dogs sharing the same home is increasing, which means the more pet owners who know how to handle these odd couples, the better.
If you’re planning a new one Add a pet, see This helpful guide to introducing a new cat or dog into your household.
Introducing cats and dogs
Owning a pet and living together can be a be absolute joy. As long as you make the right decisions and take precautions.
For many people, the excitement of having a pet can be overwhelming.A dog or cat with their individual quirks and personalities just waiting to be introduced to a new owner. But it’s not an easy decision and they must be made with care and understanding.
The pet population is growing rapidly. Today, more dogs and cats live with their owners than ever before, and these pets bring joy to their owners, too. Research shows that owners believe their pets bring them closer to their families, which can help alleviate the stresses of modern life. Keeping pets also has a positive effect on mental and physical well-being.
What are some tips for dog and cat coexistence?
“Dog and cat coexistence! Mass hysteria!” after a much-quoted line from the 1984 classic Ghostbusters.
But it doesn’t have to be. With so many dogs and cats sharing a home, it can be a little difficult for pets to stay happy to live together.
Here are a few tips to help your pet and new puppy or kitten live together in harmony.
DO:
- Tidy up areas where your pets are comfortable and frequented for a long time.
- Put your cat’s food bowls in a separate area in the kitchen from the rest of the food
- Ask your veterinarian for suggestions on how to introduce your pets.
- Just sit back and take it all in. A calm and confident demeanor will become yours Convince your dog in no time.
NOT:
- Make your cat feel unwelcome n to be.
- Allow your dog to use your cat’s bed/cat toy/bedding.
- Ignore your dog. This will be difficult at first, but will ultimately work in your favor.
Study: “Cats and dogs: best friends or mortal enemies? What owners of cats and dogs living in the same household think about their relationship with humans and other pets”Authors: Laura Menchetti, Silvia Calipari, Chiara Mariti, Angelo Gazzano and Silvana Diverio Edited in: PLoS ONEPublishing Date: August 26, 2020DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0237822Photo : by joy617 from Pixabay
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