Will cats and dogs ever get along at the same house?

[The-Dude-Next-Door]

Does anybody own cats and dogs, and do you not make any attempt to separate them? Do you know somebody who owns cats and dogs and they get along?

Do you keep both of them outside? I will never keep animals inside, because they track too much hair, and I will not tolerate hair on my furniture. But if you keep them outside, will they get along? Will they share food and a sleeping place?

[FrozenDonkeyWheel]

My family has both a cat and a dog, and they get along extremely well, for the most part. Sometimes the dog barks at the cat when she eats her food, but that's only because the dog doesn't understand that the food is the cat's and not her's.

We keep both of them inside, and I don't see why you would even bother having pets if you weren't planning on letting them stay inside. It seems kind of cruel to force them to stay out time at all times, particularly with cats. Cats and dogs ARE NOT supposed to share food, and they'll only share a sleeping place occasionally.

[The-Dude-Next-Door]

I live in the country right now, and everybody has a dog and they stay outside. All the dogs around my place are farm dogs. It is not cruel to keep farm dogs outside. Farm dogs like to be dirty everyday. If you take the farm dog away from the farm and wide open spaces, then that is cruel.

[FrozenDonkeyWheel]

Oh, okay, I'm sorry. I just assumed you live in a suburban environment, which was stupid of me. It's completely understandable to let both cats and dogs live outside in an rural environment. My grandmother lives on a farm, and has both a cat and a dog, and they rarely interact with each other. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen them together.

[Binary_Illusion]

I have 3 cats, and a pitbull. They are all in house, but they get along. From time to time the dog chases them, but he's just bored.

As for outside animals. They tend to be more feral, and not as social. But I have seen dogs, and cats sleep together yes. Hell, I've seen a mouse,and a cat sleep together.

So yes they will get along, but watch for signs of the dog taking control,and chasing the cat(S).

[hawthorn21]

I have a cat and a dog. My cat rubs all over my poor, old dog and nuzzles her-she lets him. They are allowed indoors and outdoors. If my cat is out too long, my dog worries and goes out to find him. She's even saved him from the neighbor dogs a few times. My dog is seventeen now, though. When she was much younger she used to chase cats. I think she only tolerated him in the beginning because she is old and she knows he is family. They are friends now though and will ocassionaly drink out of the same dish and sleep next to each other.

[twilightfan123]

My friend's cat and dog get along very well. They do intimidate each other on occasion, but nothing physical happens. Don't expect them to interact all the time if you are thinking about getting a cat and a dog. They like to keep a steady distance away from each other. But keep in mind that the beginning will be a little rough for the reason they have yet to know each other and are complete strangers at start.

I'm not an expert with animals but I hope this all makes sense and helps you even a little. :-)

[ivarei]

my grandparents have always had a cat and a dog. they're not best friends, but they do co-exist in the same house.

the issue isn't that the dog wants to eat the cat, it's that the dog is curious about the cat and wants to play and that cat wants none of it. but if you get a dog and a cat when they're both young, they usually grow to respect and even like each other. the problems come when you have a cat and you get a dog or visa versa.

[lettersfromtheheart]

I agree with this. I think it also depends on how smart the animals are, my dog is incredibly stupid so he still tries to play with my cat, even though she swipes at him everytime.

[ivarei]

And it's not just cats and dogs, I have 2 cats and when they get bored, they have it out with each other. if you want to get a cat and a dog, get em both at the same time and make sure one of them, if not both are young. that way they can grow up together, or if one is older, that one can exert dominance early on. but if you've already had a cat or dog for a while, do your pet a favor and don't get another one because the cat is just going hide under your bed for a LONG LONG time.

[ivarei]

I mean, it's bad enough when you get a second cat then you already have one. my older cat beat the crap out of the kitten, but now they're ok, it took a couple weeks though.

[Alena]

I have two cats and a dog. The male cat and the dog will play and get along most of the time. The female cat doesn't get along with the dog. The dog attacks the cats and he bites them. He always has a mouth full of hair and it's so gross. We keep them all inside. The rest of my family will try to separate them, but I quit trying. They just start fighting again.

[daisyELECTRIC]

I used to have a friend that had five cats and three dogs. They got along fine. They never chased each other and they shared the space pretty equally. The cats would sometimes sleep cuddled up next to the dogs. She kept them outside most of the time

[Reeses-pieces777]

i used to have a dog and a cat, I kept them outside and they were fine. they don't fight each other or anything.

[gonaners16]

i have cats inside and outside and 2 stupid dogs. they are fine together, but the dogs will eat the cats food if they can.