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My pet cat grew up with two dogs so here are five myths you don’t need to worry about
Have you been thinking about raising a kitty with your pet pooch? I wouldn’t be surprised if people who think cats and dogs don’t get along dismissed your thoughts at once. But, as a proud mom of an extremely cute cat, Misty, and two naughty dogs – Oni and Carl – I can assure you there’s nothing abnormal about bringing them up together. And much to your surprise, it’s easier too.
Tom and Jerry was my favorite show as a kid; it still is. The “Killer” dogs Tyke and Spike convinced me that cats and dogs could never spend their lives under the same roof. Hell would break loose if they found themselves locked in a room, let alone doing all the other pet things. But, the adorable kittens I rescued growing up changed my perception of the two species possibly co-existing. The kitties always accepted my pet dogs as their own and the unconditional love they had for one another was tear-jerking.
There’s more to the relationship cats and dogs share, but most myths that paint them as enemies are rubbish. So let me clarify the five most outrageous assumptions about them for you.
My dogs never chase my cat, unless they are playing
Dogs, the goofy creatures, love to chase anything that runs or even remotely moves. But that’s the doggo’s pure instinct, which isn’t only triggered by cats.
A lot of people think dogs only chase cats, but it all depends on your pet’s behavior, and their reactions to most things would be similar. To take my example, Oni tends to jump and bark funnily every single time she spots Misty anywhere in the house.
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Carl loves to chase Misty because he knows she hides and he would have to go looking for her. That’s how they play together. So every dog reacts differently to a cat.
My cat doesn’t hate all dogs
I can only assume you haven’t watched the cutest videos of cats snuggling dogs if you believe they are born to hate their furry friends.
Yes, Misty isn’t as friendly with all dogs as she is with Oni and Carl – the ones she has been seeing since she was a month old. She’s almost four now. But that doesn’t necessarily mean she hates all dogs.
I’ve introduced her to other friendly dogs and all she does is hiss when she senses an unfamiliar smell or sound while keeping her guard up. But a couple of minutes in their presence is all she needs to ease up and rest in a corner as she judges them with a side-eye.
Size doesn’t matter, really
Misty loves her siblings. Yet she is still a bully, like most cats. Harmless, but hilarious. But to strangers, it comes across as a shocker owing to their respective sizes.
My cat is tiny. She’s a little over a foot. Imagine her slapping Carl – the 99-pound Rottie- with her cute little paws. Still, she has an upper hand in whatever game they play.
So yes, size doesn’t matter. I have seen dogs bigger than my Rottweiler play with cats smaller than Misty and they don’t hurt one another intentionally.
My pets aren’t aggressive around each other’s food
Whether it’s a dog or a cat, it’s an instinct to protect their food. However, if your pets are trained to behave when they are fed, you shouldn’t worry about them being aggressive.
Misty loves to steal Oni’s kibble, although she has her cat food. Oni whines and makes the puppy face; her way of telling on her sly sibling’s daily practice of stealing her food.
But the slightest aggression, should your pets display any, can be eliminated by making sure they are fed enough and by training them to only go for their food.
Cats and dogs can share the same room
All my pets enjoy sleeping next to me or on me, so we share the same bed. Even in my absence, they snuggle with one another.
Not only do cats and dogs happily live in the same room or house, but they also love keeping each other company in the absence of their human.
The warmth shared between them creates a sense of trust and emotional support, which helps them relax when they are home alone.
On a side note, Misty thinks she is a dog and I think so too. She pants like her siblings, growls like one on seeing strangers, and fetch is her favorite game.
