Cat's and Dogs!

[Guest Anonymous]

Hey! I thought I'd extened this from the "My Murdously Aggressive Pit Bull" thread! :D

I know I preach about this book a lot, but it seriously is an AWSOME book, and one of the best I've read on K9 behavior :wink:

There's one chapter in "how To Speak Dog" by Stanely Coren devoted to the whole Cats Vs. Dogs thing. Here's a story at the begining of it, and while I'm not Christian, found it really cool!!

This tale begins shortly after Adam and Eve had been thrown out of the Garden of Eden. It was a magic time, when animals still knew how to talk. They had been given the gift of speech by God, so that eacho one could whisper their names to Adam, and those names would become a part of human language. In time, however, animals would forget how to talk.
Adam was having a great difficulty since the world outside the Garden was hostile and dangerous. He spent all of his days hunting and farming for sustenance. Even at night, there was no rest. Beasts would come from teh forest to try and steal his meager supply of food, or to take his livestock, and even to threaten Adam and his family. He was getting no sleep, and his health and spirits were failing.
Dog had been living in the forest as a wild thing, hunting and scavengering for a living. When Dog saw what was happening to Adam, he thought that here was an opportunity for both of them. He went to the man and offered a bargain:
"I will gaurd your house at night, so that you can sleep. I will help you hunt and tend your livestock, so that you can be prosperous. In return, I only ask that you let me rest in your home by the fire, that you give me food, and care for me even when I grow too old to work a full day."
Adam looked at the dog, who was agging his tail. He knew that when a dog wagged it's tail, it was telling the truth and was sincere, so he accepted the arrangement and it became their contract.
It was a fair exchange. Adam could sleep at night and Dog would sound the alarm if the beasts came near, then together they would drive them off. Adam's hunting took less time, since Dog could track and pursue game, and the amount of time needed to tend the flocks was greatly reduced, since Dog did much of the work. As agreed, Adam fed and cared for the dog and gave him a place by the fire.
At the time, Cat was living in teh forest as well. Cat was unhappy because he was basiclly a lazy creature who preferred to sleep the day away but was forced to hunt for mice in the dense underbrush, or lie in ambush for hours to catch birds. He had seen the home of Adam and it looked good to him. Mice were attracted to the food that Adam stored, and one needed oonly stay nearby, perhaps even in Adam's nice warm house, to catch them. Even better was the fact that Eve threw grain on the ground to attract the songbirds she loved to listen to. Here was an opportunity to have the birds come to him, without long waiting in the cold wet grass. So Cat went to Adam to offer him his contract.
"Man," said Cat, "I will hunt the mice that eat so much of your food and spoil the rest. In treturn, I ask only that you give me the warmth of your fire, shelter, and some cream or milk now and then."
Adam did not trust the cat, in part because his eyes would close to a slit in the sunlight, and the slitted eyes reminded him of teh serpent whose evil dealings had resulted in his family being thrown out of Eden.
"What about Eve's songbirds?" he asked. "I have seen you hunt birds in teh forest to kill and eat them."
Cat lied ot the man, saying, "I only wish to hunt for the mice and I will leave the birds alone," and then, the clever and evious cat wagged his tail as he had seen the dog do so many times. He could not imitate the dog's tail-wagging perfectly, so when he swung his tail it rippled like a snake, but he knew that tail-wagging was the dog's sign that what he was saying was true and that his intentions were sincere. Adam was fooled by this and accepted the arrangement.
Cat had lied. He did hunt for the mice, but when Adam and Eve were not in sight, he would lurk near where she fed the songbirds, and he would catch and kill them. Eve did not notice because he took the irds to the forest to eat them.
One warm day, Eve was at home and Dog was sleeping in teh yard while Adam sheared the sheep in a pen nearby. Cat noticed a songbird near the little pile of grain and killed it. Just as he was about to run and hide with his prey, he heard Eve comming. He dropped the still warm body near the sleeping dog and dashed a few feet away to pretend to be sleeping himself.
When Eve saw the bloody body, she was very angry. "Cat, did you do this?"
The Cat said, "No, it was Dog." Then he wagged his tail in that snakey cat way, and Eve was decived into thinking that Cat was sincere and telling the truth.
Eve grabbed her broom and began to beat Dog and call him names. She told him that he would have no supper that night and would be tied outside in the cold as a punishment.
Adam heard all of this noise and came running to see what the prolem was. When Eve told him what happend, he turned to Dog and asked if it were true.
"I was sleeping and was awakend when Eve hit me. I did not kill the bird, but I have often see Cat lurking near where the birds are fed." Dog wagged his tail. It was a low hesitant waging, but Adam believe that the dog was telling the truth. However, when he questioned the cat, the cat repeated it's lies and wagged it's tail.
"Both of you seem to be sincere, at least from what I can see in your tails, but one of you must be lying."
"The cat's lies are even in its tail," said the dog. "Look at the wagging of a dog. Our tails are kept striaght, like the road between truth and HEaven. Our tails wave like the grasses or reeds blown about by God's wind. Yet when Cat wags it's tail, it bends and weaves in teh image of the serpent who taught the cat to lie."
Adam looked and understood.
"I have misunderstood what I have seen. When a dog wags it's tail, it means that he is true and sincere, but when a cat wags it's tail, it means he is planning evil and wishes to decive you. Dog, whenever you see a cat wagging it's tail, you know that he is planning something wicked, so you have my permission to punish him."
Cat protested with a lie, saying, "I spoke the truth!" but by now the wagging of his tail when he lied had become a habit. When his tail wagged, the dog immediatly ran at the cat and chased it up a tree. That is why dogs have been chasing cats ever since. They watch for the wag of the tail and then kow that a cat isup to know good.

:P

The funny thing is, that this story actually tells some truth. According to Coren, the reason most dogs and cats fight is because of their language differences! Just like in that story, one body language to a cat can mean the opposite to a dog. When dogs wag their tail they are happy, when a cat "flicks" their tail they are angry. There are many different signals too, including how when dogs lean up against someone or another dog, they are showing dominance, while when cats do it they are showing a sign of friendliness and trust.

Here are some pictures of Coal and Daiquiri together... Sorry they're a bit blury, for some reason I'm really shaky today, I've been really sick. But here they are! Daiquiri was raised since she was about 6 weeks old with dogs, and her best friend was my dog Hazel. Daiquiri actualy wouldn't "talk" to ANYONE, not even me after Hazel passed on. It took her a LONG time to tollerate Coal, and now they curl up together and wash eachother! It's so cute! If I catch them doing it next time I will try and get some pictures of that! :D The reason Dak gets along with dogs is because she spent so much time with Hazel, she has picked up a bit of Doggy Language :) :wink:

First here's a cute one of The Mole, just because :lol: (sorry they're dark too, I don't have propper lighting in my room, I have ONE normal light bulb, the rest are funky colours :lol: )


Coal eating... keeping an eye on Dakaroo who is looking at him like 'Psht, you think I really want that food anyway? GROSS" (even though I caught her eating it this morning :lol: :lol: )


"Mommy! Put that thing away so I can SLEEP PLEASE!"


They both have funny looks on their faces because Coal wanted to chew on the kitty but I told him to lay still, so he's kind of on the edge while Dakaroo is looking at him like he's nuts :lol:



Get that darn thing outa my face!



So who out there has a house with cats and dogs, and do they get along? :D

[courtnek]

I have two dogs and a cat, that has been raised with dogs since kittenhood. PushyCat rules the roost though. Although the dogs outweigh him 100 times, he will punish them for disobeying "his" rules. Like when he wants to lay on the comfy rug, they get up and move or they get snapped at. He can also maneuver around corners in the house better than they can so he can punish and run. They are now used to it. Outside, however, after watching Laurel run, I think she could take him. And Pushy seems to know it. He does NOT run outside when Laurel is out there. As long as he doenst run, she seems to have no inkling to chase him.

:D

[imported_Kat]

... then you have exceptions to the cat and dog rule like Zoe and Abby will now demonstrate below. Abby was 3 weeks old when she came home with me and the wee devil scaled up the fireguard that I had caged her in with and scampered into Zoes bed. I was terrified that Zoe would crush her but these two were inseparable and still are today. If Abby is soaked from rain she will come trotting up to Zoe crying and purring and rub against Zoe to get dry but if cheeky Bin Laden tries it she won't tolerate him. The same rules apply with her dinner and Abby is allowed to take first share even over Zoe but Bin Laden gets snapped at if he even sniffs near :P

P.s ignore the white stuff on the photos; they are a bit old and had sticky stuff on them!

[Horsefeathers!]

There are 5 cats and 10 dogs currently residing here on H*ll's Acre. For the most part, they get along really well. There are the occasional dog/cat squabbles, but no more so than dog/dog or cat/cat squabbles. Rocco is a cat chaser, but he doesn't appear to be a cat hurter. He has never done anything when he "catches" them.

I have a few dog/cat pairs in this house that are very bonded. Our Snowball cat and Devin are inseparable. It's long been believed that Snowball was sent here as a guardian angel and this little black cat is actually our good luck charm. When we had Goober (some of you remember him... the little ooooooooold dilapidated Yorkie that finally passed), Snowball was born into a litter of kittens belonging to a friend. Whenever I'd visit, little Snowball would always shuffle his way to Goober before his eyes were ever even open. Goober never acknowledged his presence, but Snowball was bound and determined to be near Goober. It's why we took Snowball home. Goober died a few months later, but Snowball was ALWAYS by his side as if he were looking out for him.
Here's Snowball in the beginning. For comparison, Goober only weighed about 4 lbs. Snowball was maybe 2-3 weeks old in this photo.




Before Goober died, this was usually the scene. Most kittens would be into everything and playing. Not this kid. He was faithfully near Goober at all times (he's making up for the devilment and mischievousness now, though :-? ).



We got Perry shortly after Goober died and almost immediately he needed major abdominal surgery. Snowball was by his side through his whole recovery.


I really do believe he was sent to us as a guardian angel of sorts. Now he's Devin's best friend. The two of them are inseparable.

All in all, our cats and dogs get along well and coexist peacefully despite the occasional squabble.

[leahluvsherpups]

Niki with Buzz when he was a kitten



Buzz all grown up with his new puppy Cody. They play like this all of the time.

[Guest Anonymous]

great pictures everyone!! :)

[pLaurent]

Fantastic pics! I just wish my dog could enjoy HER kitten as much as your dogs seem to enjoy theirs. Poor Chloe is intimidated by the little terrorist. :(

[courtnek]

mine are too, but for good reason. The cat knows the dogs can take him, he put himself in the "authority" role to avoid it. I dont understand it, cats are not "pack animals", but he seems to understand the rules and works with it. They treat him as more alpha to them....


:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :drinking:

[SixstarDanes]

Here's a recent pix of our 3yr old Harlequin Great dane boy, Eagle, with kitty buddy Dante'

[SixstarDanes]

Also our other cat, Pryde, loves when we have puppies.
He'll get into the whelping box with the pups and when they are being weaned he loves to eat with them.

Here he is with newborn Eagle


I'll find more pixs later.

[SixstarDanes]

Here are a few pixs of Pryde with some of our puppies...

[imported_Kat]

awwwww don't we all have such cute furbabes :D

[SixstarDanes]

Here are a few more pixs of Pryde with last year's (That's My Baby) puppies.

[courtnek]

... then you have exceptions to the cat and dog rule like Zoe and Abby will now demonstrate below. Abby was 3 weeks old when she came home with me and the wee devil scaled up the fireguard that I had caged her in with and scampered into Zoes bed. I was terrified that Zoe would crush her but these two were inseparable and still are today. If Abby is soaked from rain she will come trotting up to Zoe crying and purring and rub against Zoe to get dry but if cheeky Bin Laden tries it she won't tolerate him. The same rules apply with her dinner and Abby is allowed to take first share even over Zoe but Bin Laden gets snapped at if he even sniffs near

P.s ignore the white stuff on the photos; they are a bit old and had sticky stuff on them

y'know, after all these years of both cat AND dog ownership, I really dont think there IS a cat/dog issue. They are not natural enemies, contrary to popular belief. Natural enemies are predator and prey. In the wild, they are both predators. I believe once the cat realizes that he shouldnt run, it becomes a non-issue. Dogs will chase anything that runs, that's hardwired into their history. Cats run, when scared or threatened. if the cat doesnt run, usually (and of course, not in all cases) the dog wont chase. Mine dont run. But all of my cats have been introduced to dogs very young in their lives.

I feel this is the "Piece de Resistance"...my foxhound is NOT guaranteed to
not chase small animals. Her prey drive is high, she hunted fox. Field trialed. My cat, accustomed to Free and her antics, gave her the old "one-two" as soon as I brought her home. Laid down the rules, and they are still in place. Laurel does not bother the cat, in fact, avoids him (yes, she got her nose bitten for being too pushy in his domain). Yet this dog hunted fox for 6 years....but she leaves the cat alone...she'll take Free on first...

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Shannon_C]

OMG SixstarDanes.
Your pups are so adorable and i love the pic of the cat and pup kissing :D
My 3 dogs (including a Bullmastiff, Charlie) have been bought up well with my cats.
Merlin loves to rub against Charlie boy :D

[Guest Anonymous]

OMG SixStars those pictures are just ADOIRBLE!! :D

Everyone's pictures are awsome!!

Court, I agree that they aren't such enimies. I just believe it's the mix up, like run and the dog will chase :wink: Dak has learned not to run, instead she flops over or will start licking Coal's nose :lol: Taz is starting to figure it out, int he least she will move much slower to get away, but Pokey still high tails it :-?