Elsevier

Journal of Veterinary Behavior

Volume 27, September–October 2018, Pages 35-40
Journal of Veterinary Behavior

Mixed Species Research
Evaluation of the relationship between cats and dogs living in the same home

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2018.06.043Get rights and content

Abstract

The number of cats and dogs kept together in many parts of the industrialized world is increasing, but we know little about the typical interactions that occur between these 2 species when they live within the same home. Despite social differences, when conditions are correct, both species are capable of expressing amicability to one another. Although the age at which the 2 species are introduced to each other is thought to be important, there is little understanding of the range of factors that influence the success of cat-dog relationships. Using an online survey of mixed-species homes (n = 748), we assessed owners' perceptions of their cat-dog relationship. Most owners believed that their cat and dog were comfortable in each other's presence and showed amicability in their relationship. Typically, the cat appeared to be the main controller in determining amicability in the cat-dog relationship. Regression analysis revealed that owners' perceptions of amicability were more influenced by “cat factors” than “dog factors,” with variables such as the age at which the cat was introduced to the dog (younger age predicted greater perceived amicability), the cat sharing food with the dog and picking up a toy to show the dog (although the latter was observed by few owners) were included in the final model. In addition, comfortability of the cat was a stronger predictor of amicability than comfortability of the dog; frequency of the cat appearing uncomfortable with the dog was a better predictor for reduced amicability than the dog appearing uncomfortable in the presence of the cat. These results highlight the need to attend to the cat's behavior in particular, along with age of introduction, to promote positive cat-dog relationships.

Introduction

It is estimated that approximately 30.4% of households in the United States own cats (∼36 million) and 36.5% own dogs (∼43 million) (AVMA, 2012). In the United Kingdom, the comparable figures are 17% (7.4 million) and 24% (8.5 million), respectively, for cats and dogs (PFMA, 2016). A survey of 3,155 households taken in the United Kingdom suggested that 7% of households surveyed had both species (Murray et al., 2015), but there is a lack of data concerning the typical interactions that occur in this situation. The current stereotypical image is that cats and dogs do not get on, as often portrayed in popular media. This may, in part, reflect their very different social styles (for reviews, see: Bradshaw and Nott, 1995, Bradshaw, 2016), but both species are capable of expressing amicability to each other (Bonanni et al., 2011, Cafazzo and Natoli, 2009, Mariti et al., 2014, Natoli et al., 2001). An amicable relationship can be defined as one with a friendly, mutual bond, which is recognizable through the use of affiliative behaviors, maintaining proximity and effective, nonaggressive communication between individuals (Feuerstein and Terkel, 2008, Ottenheimer Carrier et al., 2013, Natoli et al., 2001). Although there is little research exploring the cat-dog relationship, developing an understanding in this area is important for safeguarding the quality of life for a growing number of pets living in households with both species, and for preventing relinquishment due to dissatisfaction with the relationship between the 2 species.

Previously, Fox (1969) has explored the effect of rearing dogs and cats together on their development. He observed that dogs, even when not reared with cats, would try to engage cats in play, whereas only cats experienced with dogs would interact positively with these dogs. Dogs raised with cats were reported to amicably approach the cats wagging their tails, whereas dogs raised without cats engaged in rough nibbling and chewing after initially investigating them. Cats raised with dogs were described as responding passively to the initial approaches of the dogs, but once play was initiated, they responded playfully by pawing the pups and jumping over them. Cats raised without experience of dogs were described as being more passive and fearful when chased by the dogs. This reflects an important point that should be considered when addressing the issue of cat and dog amicability, which is that cats are subject to predation by larger animals, including dogs. At a young age, their fight-flight response protects them from what may be an unsafe situation. If cats have not had experience with (friendly) dogs, their instinctive reactions may be interpreted as hostility in a social context, when they actually reflect a flight response directed toward survival. Dogs raised with cats, but without exposure to other dogs between 3.5 and 16 weeks, showed marked intraspecific socialization deficits initially when introduced to other dogs, but this could be rectified later. Reactions between dog-raised cats and cat-raised cats (cat controls) were not described.

More recently, Feuerstein and Terkel (2008) used a combined observation-questionnaire approach to determine the significance of a wider range of factors on relationships between cats and dogs residing in the same household. Three potential relationship types were considered: amicable, aggressive, and indifferent. Early age at exposure to the other species was found to be important for the successful integration of the dog and cat living in the same home. In addition, an owner's perception was that obtaining the cat before the dog was important for developing an amicable relationship. “Sex” did not appear to be significant, although there might be an interaction with neuter status, with neutered female cats observed to show significantly more “submissive” and frightened responses toward the dogs compared to intact females, but these results were not supported by the results of the questionnaire. Given that relationships are often perceived as matters of degree rather than absolute types (Wish et al., 1976), it could be argued that a quantitative assessment of the relationship (i.e., degree of amicability) might be more appropriate for assessing the effect of these sort of factors, than a simple binary classification of the relationship (amicable or not). In addition, to date, there appears to have been no consideration of how cat-dog interactions may determine the success of the relationship.

The aims of the present study were first to fill a gap in our knowledge concerning the frequency of different types of interactions that occur between cats and dogs in the same home and second to undertake a multivariate analysis of factors (demographic and cat-dog interactions) that might relate to the quality of the relationship formed between cats and dogs living together.

Section snippets

Method

The research process was approved by the delegated authority of the University of Lincoln's, College of Science Ethics Committee. Fully informed consent was obtained from all participants at the start of the survey, and all data were stored in compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998.

An online questionnaire (SurveyMonkey) that captured an owner's perspective on potential factors influencing the development of an amicable relationship between the domestic dog and cat was developed and

Results

We first report descriptive characteristics of the sample and the different types of interactions that occur between cats and dogs in the same home.

Discussion

With the aim of identifying the frequency of cat-dog interactions within the home and assessing which interactions are best predictors of perceived amicability in the relationship, we collected online survey data from owners of cats and dogs. Most owners believed that their cat and dog were comfortable in each other's presence and showed amicability in their relationship. A range of demographic factors and cat-dog interactions predicted perceived amicability in the relationship; these appeared

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