Russian Blue Cat

　　Cats and dogs are not born enemies

　　Chasing cats is almost one of the joys in the lives of all dogs. Although the chances of success are small, they still pursue it tirelessly. The vast majority of dogs have no malice; when they occasionally catch a cat, they only happily bark a few times. However, cats may become endangered from fright, and the two little runaways might knock over furniture, break cups, or even injure a person's knees. Dogs’ ancestors were valuable assistants in human hunting, and today they still retain their hunting instincts. Dogs are naturally colorblind, but their eyes have thousands more motion-sensing cells than humans. For certain dog breeds once used for racing, chasing is an innate instinct.

　　Cats are solitary animals, proud and independent, while dogs are pack animals, outgoing and sociable. Their ways of expression are also quite different—cats express happiness by purring sweetly, while dogs interpret purring as a warning signal; dogs wag their tails usually to show friendliness, while cats wag their tails to indicate dissatisfaction—misunderstandings are inevitable. However, in many families, cats and dogs not only get along well but also become inseparable good friends.

　　If you want to enjoy the pleasure of having both cats and dogs as companions, you need to guide them appropriately according to their personalities and ages.

　　Puppies like cats, adult dogs love kittens

　　Whether cats and dogs can become good neighbors depends on the cat’s personality. Relatively speaking, cats are sensitive and timid, not as fond of gatherings as dogs. They may be frightened (mostly scaring themselves) or issue challenges by making threatening sounds, even swatting a dog’s head with their paws. Kittens are more accepting of dogs and may even fall in love with this goofy big buddy. Puppies always enjoy making friends with any possible playmate. The ideal situation is introducing a puppy and a kitten at the same time. Adult cats who have previously lived with dogs can also become good friends with adult dogs. Adult dogs can usually face a kitten quite relaxingly, but adult cats are not so easily accepting of a puppy. Owners shouldn’t expect an adult cat to take the initiative to play with a dog—they must teach their dog to relax in such situations.

　　Impossible partners

　　Adult dogs with strong hunting instincts may pose threats, so it is especially cautious to let some breeds of dogs and cats live together. Large dogs once used for racing or hunting usually regard small animals as prey. A greyhound trained to chase rabbits from a young age will hardly live peacefully with cats. Those flat-faced breeds with protruding eyeballs, such as Pekingese or Pugs, are not suitable to live with aggressive cats due to their eyes being very vulnerable.

　　Control the dog’s behavior

　　Dogs have a strong sense of territory; if a dog comes into a home with cats, it will consider itself an intruder in the cat’s territory and therefore show respect to the cat. When introducing unfamiliar cats and dogs, control the dog with a leash. If the cat is willing, let it smell the dog’s scent, but don’t let the dog’s strength overwhelm the cat, nor force the cat to approach the dog. Whenever the dog gets too close to the cat, immediately tighten the leash. If the dog understands to keep distance, reward it promptly. Make the dog understand that keeping distance from cats is one of the house rules to follow.

　　Arrange an escape route for the cat

　　Usually, when the cat is stationary, the dog also watches motionlessly; when the cat starts to flee, the dog excitedly chases. Attentive owners should arrange an escape route for the cat, such as the top of a cabinet or a small door only cats can pass through, and place the cat’s food bowl and litter box in high places or areas isolated from the dog. Smart cats feel safe knowing they have an escape route and are more calm and tolerant when interacting with dogs. Never let them chase outdoors, as car accidents and getting lost will bring irreparable tragedies.

　　Dogs are gentle, cats are agile, and both are lovable spirits. Well-trained cats and dogs living under the same roof will surely bring infinite joy and warmth to your family life. (Source：PetsZone)