Why do cats and dogs fight?

Question

I just wonder why they fight.

Answer 1

Cats and dogs do not have any special aggression towards each other.  This is a myth.  Cats and dogs will both be territorial to any strange animal they see as a competitor, including their own species.  Also, dogs can be deadly dangerous to any animal smaller than themselves if they are not socialized in a way that teaches them better behavior.  Dogs don't specifically go after cats.  they go after anything: cats, other dogs, bunnies, squirrels, small children.  They have to be trained how to behave properly.  If introducing a dog to a home with a cat, the cat usually just needs time to get accustomed to the stranger and will, if not accept the new animal, at least tolerate it it.

Answer 2

It's a matter of miscommunication, mostly. Their body language is almost the same, but expresses totally opposite states. For example, when a dog wags his/her tail it means "I am happy", but for a cat it means "I am nervous". When a dog has his/her ears down, it means submission. For a cat, it means "I am SO going to attack you if you just try to come closer". And so on.

Add to this the immense territoriality of both, and you don't get a very nice picture.

The only exception to this is if they grow up together. In that case, they usually get along pretty well - although they can still misinterpret some actions.

Answer 3

So many questions today to be answered by pointing people to little stories other people wrote. I love it.

Rudyard Kipling wrote a little story that explains it wonderfully if you don't want to leave it all to body language...

http://www.petrescue.com/library/cat-wal...

Answer 4

They generally don't.  I've seen more scraps involving dogs and dogs than dogs and cats.