How Cats and Dogs Talk To Each Other

By Briseis Schreibman

I’m sure we’ve all heard the phrase “communication is key” hundreds upon hundreds of times, and for a good reason too.  Whether navigating the workplace, or just your everyday interactions with friends, the value of respectful communication can not be emphasized enough. But what does this look like for our pets? Here at CUP, we focus a lot on human relationships with animals. However, the dynamics between our different pets (especially those of different species) are just as important!
  
When my family first introduced dogs into our cat-centric home, we experienced first hand the complexities of their friendships. These days, it’s no surprise to see our cats and dogs snuggled up in a pile or even engaging in gentle play. But it took a few months to a year for their friendship to truly blossom. 
    
Though often painted as opposites, cats and dogs are more than capable of living in harmony.
While living together, cats and dogs learn through observation and experimentation. Body language and scent marking also play key roles. When given time to explore, both animals can learn how to respond to each other even if they don’t “speak the same language.” For instance, in cat language, a tail swishing from side to side might signal agitation, but to a dog, this may seem like happy wagging. With time, animals learn to decode these symbols to better understand their new friend.

Sound familiar?
It is!
​
Just the same as humans and animals must be patient while getting to know each other; animals must be patient with each other too. If you have any personal stories of cat-dog relationships or other unlikely animal friendships tag us on Instagram, we’d love to hear your experiences!