Cats and dogs
By ElicBxn
@ElicBxn (63235)
United States
January 31, 2010 5:34pm CST
So, you know I have a lot of cats and a few dogs.
Some of our cats are friendlier than others, and most of them have never known not having the dogs around.
Still, some of our cats like the dogs better than others.
The roomie and I were standing in the kitchen, waiting for the water to warm up for hot tea and Rygel was walking around making worried noises.
Don't know why he was making worried noises, he just does sometimes, maybe it was too cold for him.
So, he'd rub my legs, rub the roomie's legs and then rub on Cujo, my little brown dog.
Cujo backed up.
Rygel would come back do the roomie, then mine and then back to the roomie and then Cujo again.
Poor Cujo, he's not impressed with the cats. Considering that he's just a little bigger than our biggest cat, Booboo, it could be considered understandable...
We finally got Rygel to jump up and leave Cujo alone.
Now, Zoe is the biggest dog and she will try to mount some of the cats, and they will tolerate it or not depending on the cat.
Taj is Zoe's kitten, she gave him his first bath after he joined the household. Taj likes Zoe.
Rygel likes Zoe too, not as much, but he's okay with her.
Booboo likes the dogs and since Zoe likes the cats best she will play with him but he's also the one she tries to mount the most, generally speaking she ends up with a cat wrestling with her.
Now, like I said, most of these cats have had the dogs around, Zoe anyway, most of their lives, but some still don't like them. Oliver, who came to us at a week old, will take swings at them if they get too friendly. Ping will do so from the safety of a chair - mostly safe for the dog because he can barely reach them to box them.
We have never had a problem with the dogs we have now, they like the cats well enough and know that the cats run the household. Even when we have an escape, they leave them alone.
So, do you also have cats and dogs and do they get along as well as mine do?
7 people like this
23 responses
@BarBaraPrz (45487)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
1 Feb 10
Sounds like it's just one big happy family there... occasional squabbles happen but mostly everything's sympatico.
2 people like this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
1 Feb 10
I have two female dogs and one female cat. Dogs are 11 and 9.5 years old, cat is only 3 years old.
My dogs just love the cat. my cat can do whatever she wants and when she wants. They let her to try their food first (!!yes)...I am not big fun of my cat eating dogs food, so I am only one who take her away from doggie bowls.
My cat likes to eat when dogs are eating, she can wait if she has her food first.
They sleep touching each other and my cat is at the door when I am coming home alone with my dogs.
No, she is not barking....
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
1 Feb 10
my happy gang is taking over my bed...
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
1 Feb 10
I have an online friend who had never had cats until the dogs found 4 kittens under their shed.
She re-homed one but kept the others and is not totally devoted to them. So are her dogs, they took good care of the babies when they were babies and still look out for them now, thinking they are their puppies...
Its funny to see someone who once was coming onto the cat boards going "my dogs have found some kittens? what do I do?" to being so devoted to them.
2 people like this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
1 Feb 10
hi elicbxn when we had our own house, we had a dog and a cat and they grew up to
gether so it was not unusual for the two of them to go to sleep with the cat Midnight curled up against Swap our dog's side. .they made quite a pair and got along so well, we had a lot of good pictures of them but now they are stuffed in some box in storage, waiting till my son gets that great job and accumulates enough to get us back into an apartment. hopes are still much alive . lol.
gether so it was not unusual for the two of them to go to sleep with the cat Midnight curled up against Swap our dog's side. .they made quite a pair and got along so well, we had a lot of good pictures of them but now they are stuffed in some box in storage, waiting till my son gets that great job and accumulates enough to get us back into an apartment. hopes are still much alive . lol.2 people like this
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
1 Feb 10
Yeah, we never had a cat and dog that got along when I was growing up.
Yes, Cujo was named for the Stephen King dog, but he's the smallest dog we've got and the best behaved! His mom was a Chihuahua/
Dachshund and his dad was a Basenji mix - Cujo looks more like his dad.
@jerzgirl (9233)
• United States
1 Feb 10
My Shady seemed to sense which dogs were pets and which were strangers. When we lived in AZ, she'd chase off every dog that made the mistake of stepping foot on our property. We'd see a dog ZOOM by the kitchen door, soon to be followed by this little gray ball of fur, then by a black and white cat (Johnny) and then by another black and white cat (Johnny Five - our neighbor's cat) until the dog was off the property. Then they'd all come back, fur erect, tails poofed, but walking tall and proud that they had properly protected everyone from these dogs.
But, when we moved to NJ, my parents had a dog, a Cairn terrier, named Mozart (Mo). Mo wasn't too thrilled about there being a cat around, but Shady knew this dog belonged to family, so she didn't try to chase it or hiss or anything. She'd walk up to Mo and do a "lift and rub" up against him while Mo would lift his head in the air and turn his face away like "eeeewwwwww - Cat Cooties!!!" My dad would say to him, "I have GOT to teach you what a cat is!"
Then, before we left Mom's house after she passed, the neighbor came over to tell me that Shady used to come into her yard all the time to "visit" her dogs. She knew that Sandra was a neighbor so her dogs were "friends", too. She'd go through the picket fence and wander around the dogs and rub on them if they let her. Then she'd come back home again. She just "knew" if a dog was a friend or a foe. I don't know how, but she did.
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
1 Feb 10
That's funny! The Doctor and Mekon both chased dogs out of the yard, but they did it more slowly. They'd come at the dog with their head down and if the dog looked like he was going to turn and see what the cat was doing, then they'd arch and puff.
Funniest time was when Mekon went all the way to the edge of the yard and I said, "okay, Mekon, you've done it, come back now," and he did, but making sure the dog wasn't coming back either!
1 person likes this
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
1 Feb 10
Hey Elic! I think that is so amazing how you can keep track of
who likes who, be it cat or dog with all those animals in one
house! I have enough trouble with my Star and Luna and they are
brothers! Luna loves to mount Star and I have no idea why this
is happening since they were both fixed at the appropriate age!
Star doesn't seem to mind, but my bf does and keeps telling me
everytime he sees Luna doing it and tries to get Luna off of
Star which then makes Luna really angry and he starts to growl
like a dog! So, if I had to deal with more than two cats and
the bf, who doesn't like animals at all I don't know what I
would do!
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
1 Feb 10
its a dominance thing, the mounting, apparently Luna is the alpha cat and Star the beta
Scamp, the mega coward will get to doing kneading things on me then try to mount another cat, needless to say, the other cat isn't impressed... Probably the only reason Scamp hasn't been knocked across the room is that he does it in my bed and the cats soon learn that fighting in my bed gets them all evicted!
They all have pretty distinctive personalities and most look different - even the 5 black cats look pretty different - only Elmer and Emily are so much alike we'd like to collar one, like we have Tuti (a black cat) and Ping (one of the buff ones.) Instead, we notched Elmer's ear differently than the girls so we can more easily tell them apart.
@blondeladyinred (106)
• Jordan
1 Feb 10
My family used to have many cats at home,i had an accident with akitty that made me suffering of a cato-fobia ,my young brother once threw a kitty right on my face ,the kitty was angrey it was getting crazy i remeber it's voce it was horrible it did't hurt me but her voice was very horrifing
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
1 Feb 10
I loved your discussion on your dogs and cats, as I have both too. I have two cats and one dog, but I actually had two dogs until recently.
Oner of cats doesnt like any other cat, never has. She is a dark tortie. When we got our black & white cat, she so wanted to be friends with the tortie, but it was never allowed. Now they are enemies & I get fights on my bed in the middle of the night sometimes.
Both of my cats are fine with small dogs. Our remaining dog is a mini fox terrier.
She kind of annoys the cats at times, gets a bit jealous of them I think.
The previous dog was a dalmation and both cats were scared of him because of his size and because he thought he could chase the cats.
I have cockatiels too, and both cats and the dog are fascinated by them.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
9 Feb 10
Hi Elic...my cat Banjo likes dogs but Lucy has always been uncomfortable around him with his friendly ways, Banjo would love to wrestle with Lucy but Lucy gets nervous and avoids him....she is used to my previous cat who was quite austere with Lucy...Lucy would chase Cassandra every chance she got and Cassandra would take a swipe at Lucy every chance. Deep down, they were cool with each other. Beau the dog I rescued in 2008 and Banjo get along like a house on fire. Beau went to live with his new family (my daughter) but visits a few times a year for about a week at a time. The dog and cat wrestle and have wonderful times together although, I think Banjo does not want to wrestle any more...
Now I have another rescue puppy who adores Banjo and gets so excited when Banj comes into the room. Roxy would lick Banj into submission if she could. Banjo stays rather aloof but does have a game of chase every now and then. They both sleep together on my bed ...so cute.
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
9 Feb 10
I really like your Rygel and would love to meet him. As for Banjo, he's 3 now and probably a bit over rough-housing with puppies...he does break out every few days though dashing from one end of the house to the other, over and under furniture, scattering rugs and the puppy as he goes then settling to sleep and happy for the pup to join him.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
9 Feb 10
well, the dog isn't as familiar as he used to be, probably why Banj isn't so sure of him
Puppies can be like that, wanting to be in the middle of everything, but the cat isn't as young, so the puppy may be a bit rough for everyday playing
I was watching Rygel walking around trying to rub on everyone and gets to poor Cujo, who rears away and leaves...
1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
1 Feb 10
Who me? I get along with everybody!! LMBO! Well most everybody anyways unless they get on my nerves then I might hiss or growl.... 
Ok, I'll be real. 
We have 11 cats and 5 dogs. I couldn't begin to tell you who gets along with who but to say that some get along with the dogs and some don't which is normal. Some respect each others space by making a wide girth around the other in order to save the conflicts however, sometimes they have words which we break up so no one gets hurt. But for the most part, they all get along.
Anyway, thanks for the laugh! It couldn't be avoided obviously...... 
Ok, I'll be real. We have 11 cats and 5 dogs. I couldn't begin to tell you who gets along with who but to say that some get along with the dogs and some don't which is normal. Some respect each others space by making a wide girth around the other in order to save the conflicts however, sometimes they have words which we break up so no one gets hurt. But for the most part, they all get along.
Anyway, thanks for the laugh! It couldn't be avoided obviously...... 1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
1 Feb 10
Well, when I saw the title, I got a much needed laugh and I thank YOU for that!!
1 person likes this
@cerebellum (3863)
• United States
1 Feb 10
I have never had a dog. Lots of cats though. When I was growing up my brother had dogs and of course I had a cat. They got along okay. They tolerated each other. We had many dogs (he had bad luck with them) and only one cat till she had kittens. She wasn't very smart and some of the dogs were kind of mean to her, but she didn't seem to know any better. One dog in particular would back her into a corner and then sit on her head! He wasn't very smart either it didn't seem. He was the same one that would eat out of her litter box!!!
1 person likes this
@cerebellum (3863)
• United States
1 Feb 10
I didn't change her box as often as I should have. I doubt that it EVER smelled like food though. Then they say a dogs mouth is cleaner than some humans! YUK!
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (57647)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
1 Feb 10
I used to have cats and dogs in the same house. However, the dogs and cats for the most part would ignore each other. They didn't fight, though we did have to put the food on the table for the cats otherwise the dogs would eat it. Otherwise we've had no problems. They aren't best friends, but they aren't fighting right and left eaither.
2 people like this
@arlene51621 (211)
• Philippines
1 Feb 10
hello ElicBxn,
i may say i your pets really loves you because you are so pet lover...
i do have dogs also but unfortunately we don't even have a cats right now after when "michu" gone... i don't think i can handle another cat again at this moment bacause i am still hurt when she is gone... and addition to that i have a baby that have an asthma so i can't have it right though every time i saw cats outside of our house i love to give them a food...
@danish2407 (168)
• India
1 Feb 10
they are nice pet animals which can be used for various purposes or house security
2 people like this
@Hoshi_Reed (257)
• Brazil
26 Jul 10
My Big boy has past on but when he was alive he had his own cat. The cat was first brought into the house to be my daughter's but the dog was the one who would get us if his food or water bowl was empty and play with him more than my daughter.
My current dog is another story.
1 person likes this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
3 Feb 10
Yes my previous Dog Max loved the 4 Cats we had then and they loved him, they missed Max terribly when he left us to go over the Rainbow Bridge
Then I brought Gissi home and they showed him who ruled the House, he took it in his stride
Then my Son got Cookie who was the Size of a Lab and she also got put in her Place, the Cats loved both the Dogs and I am sure they where happy to have Doggy Friends around again
Gissi gets on great with Cats and where he will stand his ground with a Doberman, he will back of from Cats if they decide to box him lol
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
1 Feb 10
The sweetest picture I have is of Rocky, one of our Rottweilers. He is laying down with his back full of kittens. He was such a wonderful peace loving dog...and he and his sister "Kitty" (the name seems appropriate now!!! I named her Kitty to aggravate the neighbor, which is another story!! LOL!!!) would both take care of the litters of kittens that I took in as a foster home. It was such a sight as the dogs would lay with their backs, between their legs and under their chins with kittens sleeping. Both Rocky and Kitty would bathe the kittens and if they felt the kittens were going to get into trouble they would gently pick up the kittens by their tails and deposit them with their mother or on my lap. It was soooo funny to see a kitten dangling from the dog's mouth, by their tail, and they were squalling the whole way to where ever the dogs felt they should go. Of course when the kittens got deposited where the dogs felt they should belong, the dogs would apologize and give them a bath.
The kittens that I fostered would always be adopted with in a few days because they were dog acclimated. And always very well fed and shiny plus they were great about being bathed, either by dogs, humans or themselves. I'm sure they much preferred to bathe themselves as they would come out less wet that way!!! LOL!
I miss being a foster carer for the kittens, and I am seriously considering doing the fostering again. It was so much fun and I miss having a house full of young kittens... like I really need to have 10 or more cats in the house... I'd live up to the thing about little old ladies and their house full of cats! LOL!!!!
1 person likes this
@quinnkl (1667)
• United States
2 Feb 10
We had lots of cats and dogs growing up. Some got along really well and some didn't. Depends on the animal I think. I have 5 rescued cats at the moment (I REALLY wish I could find a pug puppy or two). The two oldest are best buds, the two youngest are best bugs, the middle one is a persian, and he is a loner... likes us people, but not so much the other cats, can take them or leave them. But (luckily) they all get along fine... no hissy fights or anything. Can't imagine what it will be like if we finally get our puppies!!
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
3 Feb 10
I have two cats and a dog and Cassie the dog handles the cats quite well. One of them, Rosie who came to us as an adult cat has really taken to Cassie and they became best of friends from day one which was remarkable because Rosie was abused before we got her and she is afraid of almost everything except our great big dog. We learned they were friends when we saw them sleeping in the kennel together and always hanging out. My other cat is still a kitten and I think Cassie finds him a tad annoying at this stage but she tolerates him!
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
3 Feb 10
it may be that where Rosie came from the only one not abusing her was a dog, or maybe she just sensed that Cassie would be friendly
Some dogs are really amazing like that - my roomie's family used to have a dog who made friends with a feral cat, nobody else could get close to the cat, but you'd see the cat sleeping on the dog or sometimes even riding on his back - the dog was a St. Bernard.
1 person likes this
@xanniepoox (71)
• United States
1 Feb 10
I used to have a cat and 2 dogs (dachshund and springer spaniel). The spaniel and my cat got along but my doxie was a different story, she wasn't very fond of cats lol
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
1 Feb 10
I think doxies are kind of odd about animals bigger than they are anyway - we had one that would chase a larger dog, but was afraid of smaller ones - well, she was half doxie - but I met others that did the same thing - and she wasn't too sure about the cats, they were about the same size and the cat my brother brought home from college used to torment her!
