Sure, we’ve got Coke versus Pepsi, Yankees versus Red Sox, and Apple versus Android. But do any of these really hold a candle to the age-old rivalry between cats and dogs? If their depiction in pop culture is any indication, they’ve been squaring off since the dawn of time.
I’m always a bit envious when clients pull out their phones and show me pictures of their cats and dogs cuddled together in interspecies bliss. Did I raise my animals wrong? In my home, it’s more of a cautious tolerance, broken any time she gets sick of his dopey exuberance and issues a swift swat to the snout (claws tucked in, mercifully).
So maybe they won’t all be best friends. But it’s usually not that hard to get cats and dogs living in relative harmony. And maybe this doesn’t come as a surprise, but the trick mostly revolves around letting the cat set the pace.
Even the most gregarious cats need their downtime, and they need space to get away when canine chaos has become too much to bear. Especially during the initial introductions, it’s important to make sure that cats have an easy path to solitude when they need it. Strategically placed baby gates can grant your cat access to private rooms while stopping the dog, and tall structures like carpeted towers can let cats survey their kingdoms while escaping the drooling rabble below (just make sure they don’t feel trapped up there). I’ve even seen people install indoor cat doors to keep the peace. These private areas are the best places to keep things like food and litter boxes, and probably some selection of toys and bedding.
Those early interactions should always be under direct supervision, especially in the first few weeks. This tends to be easier if the dog is still a puppy (what better time to ingrain the notion that cats are not indoor squirrels?), but even adult dogs are usually able to learn that the family cat is special among tiny mammals. These introductions should be slow, and dogs should be safely on-leash until they are trustworthy. For many dogs, the instinct to chase is not easily suppressed, and no cat should be made to feel like prey in her own home. Getting dogs tired before each session can also help reduce the odds of a dust-up. And at any point in the process, if the cat feels it’s time to go somewhere else, don’t interfere. Cats need to be able to escape when they want, and forcing things will only build more fear and confusion. This can take a long time for many animals—sometimes months.
Are there instances where dogs and cats just won’t sort out their differences? Of course, but they are happily few and far between. In those rare cases, it may be best to find a new home for someone—it’s sad, but not as sad as coming home to a preventable tragedy. Luckily, for most cats and dogs, sharing a home turns out not to be so difficult after all.
Dr. Mike Fietz is a small animal veterinarian at Georgetown Veterinary Hospital. He received his veterinary degree from Cornell University in 2003 and has lived in Charlottesville since.