I hate my husband's dog. Or why are cats better than dogs?

Historical reasons

A dispute between two dogs is often resolved without actual fighting because dogs have inherited a complex set of signals from the wolf, their ancestor. These signals stop the animal when it sees a more dangerous opponent. Cats, unlike dogs, originate from solitary predators. They lack such abilities because they do not have such a frequent need for contact. It follows that cats are more cautious, especially in deciding whether to get into a fight or not.

Dogs were domesticated by early hunter-gatherers approximately 15,000 years ago, if not earlier. One can only speculate whether they were then “man’s best friends” or not. By the time cats appeared, dogs had already played a significant role in human life: they hunted next to him, guarded houses, herded and drove livestock, and even kept him warm on cold nights.

Cats first showed an interest in human homes about 10,000 years ago . Although this can be called a kind of opportunism. In those days, the human habit of storing food led to the emergence of house mice as a serious pest. Only since the time of the ancient Egyptians has the first evidence of cohabitation between cats and humans been visible. Dogs have had the advantage for thousands of years of being well cared for by their owners, while very few cats have been able to do the same.

How to make friends with animals: effective ways

It’s easier for pets to make friends if they are the same age when they arrive at their owner’s house.
There are certain breeds of dogs, for example, pit bulls or staff terriers, whose hunting and fighting instincts are initially more pronounced, and it is not always possible to suppress them even with the help of education. For this reason, it is not recommended for them to cohabit with cats at the same time. To reconcile warring families, the owner will need a lot of time and effort to achieve friendship between the dog and the feline. It is recommended to get pets at approximately the same age. When they grow up together, they rarely perceive each other as opponents.

If there is already an adult cat in the house, then it is better to give preference to a puppy rather than an adult dog. At the same time, it is important to gradually introduce pets. It is not recommended to force an adult to communicate and stay in the company of a puppy. It will be better for both animals when the cat itself shows a desire to meet and sniff the new family member. When the situation is the opposite, and the owners bring a kitten into the house where an adult dog lives, then at first the dog should wear a muzzle. The owners constantly explain that the baby cannot be offended. An equally important point when introducing pets is that they should eat in different places and each should have their own bowls for water and food. It is worth carefully monitoring the behavior of cats and dogs, and as soon as the owner notices a manifestation of aggression on the part of one of them, it is necessary to immediately stop this.

Foraging

Competition for food and edible waste was most often one-sided. Dogs occupied a more advantageous position when they were close to people. Cats had to rely on their natural agility to avoid various troubles.

Guardian correspondent John Bradshaw once studied the behavior of wild cats in a Turkish village. One year, cats were everywhere and obtained food by begging for it from local residents and tourists. The following year, packs of dogs were already roaming the streets, and the journalist got the impression that the cats had disappeared. He thought so until he looked at the village from above and saw that the cats had simply moved onto the flat roofs. Most likely, they went down in search of food at night when the dogs were sleeping.

Risk for kittens too

Dogs can pose a risk to cat babies. Mother cats are forced to leave their habitats while hunting. A hungry dog ​​doesn't care much about who or what becomes its prey. Because of this, cats would do everything possible to not only hide their kittens as securely as possible, but also to instill as much fear in the neighborhood dogs as possible.

Level of socialization

Dogs and cats alike learn the difference between friend and foe. This is most likely a side effect of the way animal domestication has altered the development of their nervous systems. Both the puppy and the kitten go through what is called a “socialization period . During this period of time, they learn not only who their mothers are and how to behave towards other members of their species, but also that people should not be afraid.

Lack of favorable contact with people in the first couple of months of their life causes feral cats (and dogs) to develop a distrust of people throughout their lives. In this case, if a wild cat begins to show aggression towards a person, then the domestic dog will, without hesitation, enter into a fight. This also applies to wild dogs if a person has a cat as a pet.

When a dog sees a cat on the street, it begins to show interest. The dog comes closer and closer, then sniffs and tries to touch or lick the cat. The cat, in turn, tries to either scare away the curious dog or start running away as far as possible. However, this makes the puppy even more enthusiastic. Eventually a chase ensues.

Important! The dog will begin to chase any animal running away from it. If a cat comes into the field of view of a pack of dogs, it immediately begins to prepare for pursuit. In a pack, dogs have the most obvious hunter instinct.

Difference between dogs and cats

The dog is a pack animal, sociable and active. Even Mark Twain once remarked that if a dog starts talking, it will torment a person with endless chatter. Any friend will suit her, as long as there is a reason to get to know each other, play, run and frolic. This is her essence.

The cat is a self-sufficient observer by nature, avoiding annoying talkers. And even more so for loud bullies. Her beloved self is enough for her happiness. The shameless approach of a dog is regarded as an invasion and encroachment on personal space. The best way to avoid conflict is to retreat further away or higher.

“Man’s friend” is used to hunting to feed himself. This is what his ancestors did. And the owner actively develops this ancient instinct, training him on various objects. Anyone who runs away automatically becomes game to be chased down. A cat rushing towards a fence cannot be an exception. In addition, on the street, instincts intensify significantly.

Interesting: Why do cats eat grass? Reasons, photos and videos

Raised paw

Showing peaceful intentions, the dog wags its tail, leans forward, and can raise its paw. Similar gestures in a cat mean completely different feelings. A tail moving from side to side is a state of nervous tension. Pressing the front of the body to the ground - readiness to throw yourself. The raised paw will surely come down with lightning speed and with its claws extended.

However, the dog does not have access to the translation of cat speech. He interprets his opponent’s behavior by analogy with his own. This often becomes the cause of misunderstandings following the actions of the little tiger. Annoyance makes you even more indignant and drive the malicious offender to the point of exhaustion.

Lack of fear in cats towards dogs

Cats are practically not afraid of dogs. This is one of the reasons why cats are more likely than dogs to initiate fights. Instead of running away from an approaching dog as quickly as possible, the cat remains alert and thinks about the current situation.

Cats tend to tease canine representatives. They often slowly walk past dogs, wagging their tail, provoking them into conflict. In a critical situation, the cat quickly climbs a tree or hill without any sense of fear or danger.

Host mistakes

Cats and dogs need time to get used to each other, and forced introductions only increase the spirit of hostility. Since cats and dogs have different comfort levels, the introduction process should not be forced.

Some dog breeders and cat owners are supporters of quickly introducing animals, forgetting about the thousand-year-old enmity of these two species. Many kittens prefer elevated resting places (trees), where they can have a great rest from overly annoying dogs.

Difference of worldviews

Our pets are radically different in their way of life, borrowed from their wild ancestors. A cat is a solitary and independent creature, independently obtaining its own food and not needing anyone’s protection or help. A dog is always a member of the pack and cannot imagine his life without communicating with his own kind.

But between the lifestyles of cats and dogs there is a common point of contact, which is also a stumbling block. Both fiercely defend their territory, not allowing outsiders to violate its borders. In this struggle for hunting grounds, cats traditionally suffer defeat, since a single individual is unable to resist a pack. That is why dogs, which outnumber cats in number and size, always find themselves in the role of hunter, giving free rein to instinct.

But the strange thing is that the cat, constantly being “in the skin” of the victim, has absolutely no fear of its pursuer.

When watching a chase, you often get the feeling that the purr is running away simply because it is meant to be so by nature. The same can be said about a dog, which, sometimes unexpectedly catching up with an enemy, often gets lost and does not know what to do next.

Difficulty understanding verbal cues

The same movement in dogs and cats is understood in the opposite way.

• For dogs, wagging their tail means they are in a friendly mood. In cats, such a gesture is an indicator of anxiety and irritation. The cat begins to stretch out in an arc, preparing to attack. The dog does not understand this behavior and reaches out to sniff the cat, for which he may get hit in the face with his claws.
• Raising a dog's paw is a demonstration of a desire to play. In the cat's perception, this is a threatening gesture.
• When a cat purrs, it means satisfaction.
• With its grumbling, the dog warns of an impending attack.

How to get your dog to be friends with cats

The best solution would be to get a cat and dog together. When they grow up together, they become the best friends for life. Make sure that animals come into the house at the same time every day . This is necessary so that none of the pets feels superior to the other.

• Bring both animals into the room at the same time and keep the dog on a leash next to you.
• If your dog tries to jump forward, walk him back a few steps until he calms down.
• Gradually retreat back towards the cat and give the dog treats for each calm forward movement.
• At the same time, the cat learns that it can live in the same room as the dog without being attacked.

After the initial introduction, you should separate the dog and cat with a small gate. This is one of the easiest ways to put distance between them while they are in the dating process. Never introduce pets face to face. Not only can this develop into a dangerous situation, but it can also be a step back in establishing peaceful relations.

Dear readers, we are waiting for your opinions and thoughts on this topic in the comments.

Why do dogs attack and not tolerate cats?

Behavior and character

These pets have been fighting with each other for quite some time, and there are many reasons for this. Enmity has a close connection with differences in behavior and character. The dog is more friendly and open to new acquaintances, loves activity. The complete opposite are cats, who prefer a calm and measured existence. To a greater extent, cats are reserved and do not want to contact anyone without a special reason. Some felines are afraid of dogs, but most simply do not like persistent communication and interference in their territory. For this reason, the kitten and adult constantly have a desire to hide from dogs, and they chase them.

Instincts

There is also a big difference between cats and dogs on an instinctive level. The second along the genetic line has a pack instinct, as a result of which they are constantly associated with their relatives. The cat is a predatory animal and prefers a solitary lifestyle. At the same time, veterinarians note that cats and dogs have one thing in common - protecting the boundaries of their hunting territory, as a result of which pets quarrel most often.

Differences in understanding verbal cues

When a dog wags its tail and is friendly, its opponent may think that it wants to attack it and reacts accordingly.
Cats and dogs do not like each other due to differences in verbal signs. The same signals are understood differently by pets, which is why an aggressive attitude arises. If a dog or kitten somehow lies or sits down incorrectly, then another animal may incorrectly decipher such a sign, show aggression and attack. The table shows the features of verbal speech in animals of different groups:

Other sources: What else influences the feud?

Often, mustachioed dogs themselves turn dogs against themselves, offending them in early childhood.
Dogs do not get along and sometimes kill cats due to many other factors. Representatives of canines gnaw, tear the cat or do not want to be friends with him for the following reasons:

• Bad memories. If in early childhood a puppy or an adult dog was once scratched by a cat, then the pet remembers such an unpleasant experience and in the future can react aggressively even to a peace-loving feline.
• Lack of fear in kittens of dogs. It’s not for nothing that they say that there is no beast worse than a cat. When any dog ​​approaches, most cats do not run away, but prepare to attack, not even paying attention to the fact that the pets are in different weight categories.

Experts note that some dogs hate cats because the latter secrete a special enzyme. A similar theory has been proven by British scientists. Representatives of the cat family produce a certain organic substance that has an aggressive and stimulating effect on canines. But some veterinarians dispute this fact, citing as evidence the possibility of peaceful coexistence of both pets with each other with proper acquaintance and the creation of the necessary living conditions for pets in the same home.

Owners should understand that not all dogs bark at cats. If you want to have a puppy and a kitten at the same time, then it is better to choose a Maltese, pug, German boxer, golden retriever and some other canines, which are especially fond of felines.