We all know the old saying, “Fighting like cats and dogs.” The idea dates all the way back to literature found in the late 16th century. Because these early dogs were bred and domesticated to help with hunting, and because cats were domesticated as mousers and will naturally become defensive when cornered, the idea really has roots in the fact that neither side will back down. While that may be true, cats and dogs don’t need to fight and most often don’t, living in perfect harmony in households all across America.

One of my friends recently introduced an 8-year-old dog, Meeko, who had never lived with cats in his life, to two 5-year-old cats, who had never seen a dog before. My daughter just introduced two 2-year-old cats to a 9-month-old dog. Both stories seem like they could become recipes for disaster, where the animals would be fighting constantly and someone was sure to get hurt!

However, the introduction between Meeko and the cats went relatively well. The cats were given their own “dog-free” area where food and litter was kept, and the cats adjusted to Meeko's presence quickly. It often goes opposite to what you may expect. Instead of a dog hurting a cat, a cat doesn’t back down, and is often quick to put a dog in his place. Meeko got a few swipes across the nose from the cats, and quickly learned that their business was not his. There was never a single fight, and they learned to live in harmony, although they weren’t best friends by any means. When a third cat, a 6-month-Persian named Nessa, was introduced to the household as well, Nessa and Meeko became fast friends, following each other everywhere and spending much of their time snuggled together. Gradually, even the other cats came to like and spend time with him. The only real obstacle to overcome was food-theft! Meeko liked to snatch the cat’s canned food—a problem that was easily remedied by feeding the cats on elevated surfaces that Meeko couldn’t reach.

The introductions of my daughter’s cats to their new canine friend went even more smoothly, probably because the pup is still quite young. The cats are often found hanging out in the dog’s kennel, sleeping on the bed next to the dog, and running around teasing the dog by hiding in places she can’t reach! The friendly felines, Blue and Simba, took readily to the dog, seeing her as just another playmate. The biggest obstacles were the cats eating the dog’s food (a problem solved by feeding the dog behind closed doors,) and the dog getting into the litter box and stealing the cat’s… well, excrements! That behavior won’t hurt the pup, but it’s pretty disgusting, and was easily remedied with a litter box cover!

So, you see, cats and dogs don’t have to fight. In fact, you might be surprised by how well they actually can get along, sometimes even better than they do with members of their own species! Take introductions slowly, try to prevent food theft, train your dog to leave your cats alone, and give your kitties a safe place to go that’s dog-free. If you do, you’ll find peace and harmony between our furry friends, and the next time you hear someone using the old expression "fighting like cats and dogs", you can tell them times have changed!