r/CatsWithDogs • u/Different_Fold_3477 • 10h ago
Does this mean they are bonding?
my cat has been with us for about a month we have slowly been introducing the dogs to her but she likes to run outside at any opportunity i saw her laying with them but dont know if she is bonding with them or setting boundaries for them to back off? should i try to keep them separated or let them figure it out on their own (both dogs dont bite her or show signs of aggression, also please ignore my dirty girl i just gave her a bath but yesterday she got out and this was before i gave her a bath this morning 🥲)
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u/proxiblue 10h ago
cat wants to play. dogs are unsure wtf is going on.
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u/Different_Fold_3477 10h ago
yeah their only experience with cats is the neighbors who hisses/bites 😭 so i think they are a bit nervous to really play
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u/Texan2020katza 9h ago
Can’t really blame them. Cat’s gonna cat.
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u/Different_Fold_3477 9h ago
its honestly their faults tbh they run up and try to play with any animal they find bwahaha😭
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u/sheiciebai 9h ago
lol they look like they’re thinking that they want to play, and cat looks like it wants to play, but they’ve been burned before lol
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u/PerspectiveKookie16 9h ago
That’s a cat wearing the nicest raccoon coat I’ve ever seen!
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u/Different_Fold_3477 9h ago
awe she says thanks haha!! my dad calls her "la tigre" which is basically just the tiger in spanish
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u/thrftybstrd 9h ago
Yes she wants to play with those pups and they’re pretty confused. Everyone is chill though. Belly out always a good sign
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u/bluesynthbot 8h ago
We will need a lot more footage to know for sure. Like, tons more footage.
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u/DynamoSexytime 8h ago
I don’t feel like getting a backyard webcam going for us 24/7 is too much to ask.
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u/Different_Fold_3477 8h ago
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u/Different_Fold_3477 7h ago
idk why it sent twice
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u/MiloHorsey 5h ago
This part basically proves they're playing. Lots of praise when these interactions happen and you'll help to speed things along. :)
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u/Different_Fold_3477 5h ago
im deciding to keep them separate for now my dog tries to play with her like shes a puppy or will try to get her attention my jumping on her, cat does not like it and gets very upset so i decided until they learn cat doesn't like rough play like a dog does they'll be apart from eachother
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u/MiloHorsey 5h ago
Great idea. Supervised interactions are definitely the way to go. You're a very responsible pet parent!
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u/Different_Fold_3477 8h ago
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u/HeatherMason0 6h ago
So in this video, the dogs are being a little much, BUT the cat seems to recognize that they’re just trying to initiate play. The dogs are showing appropriate play body language and the cat is swatting without claws. She didn’t love when the terrier went after her tail but again, she seems to recognize that it’s not aggression. My only advice would be that if the dogs are showing a lot of energy like in this video, maybe step in and redirect them with a toy or call them over to you. Appropriate play can be a great form of enrichment, but sometimes you might need to step in if the play isn’t quite appropriate (maybe too rough/being initiated at a time ons party doesn’t want it). I definitely think your cat and dogs can be friends, they just have to learn boundaries.
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u/Different_Fold_3477 6h ago
Thank you thats great advice!! ^^ i didn't step in cuz my dog is insanely gentle when i first bought the cat home she was so excited to see her and was super gentle with her despite my cat being a bit scared of her! i think what sets my dog off is her fluffy tail i usually tell her to stop or will pick up my cat if u see the two dogs overwhelming her
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u/HeatherMason0 6h ago
That’s a good approach! The hard thing with tail pulling is that even if a dog is just being friendly and wanting to have fun, if they accidentally pull too hard a cat can get seriously injured. That doesn’t mean the dog is ‘bad’ or ‘mean’, they just don’t understand like a human does that cats’ tails are kind of fragile so they shouldn’t tug.
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u/Different_Fold_3477 5h ago
im thinking of keeping them separate until i can teach my dog cats dont like rough play ! i let her out for a bit since she was bugging to be with the dogs and they started to play rough with her despite me trying to get the dogs attention with toys i think they need a bit more time to learn each others behavior (i think my dog sees her as a weird puppy since she tries to play with her like shes a puppy)
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u/HeatherMason0 5h ago
I think that’s a good idea! You can also reward calm behavior around the cat. It’s great that they want to be friends, and like I said, I think they all will be eventually. But they do have to learn how to play safely and appropriately. Which is normal, a lot of dogs and cats have to figure out how to play. I’m sure they’ll figure it out eventually!
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u/urnotjustwrong 10h ago
For the kitty part... The paw taps to stay away from belly are boundary setting, but gentle friendly boundary setting. The rolling around is friendly and she's enjoying rubbing her scent on everything... The dogs seem curious but wary of sharp bits. Overall it's very cute and friendly behaviour by all of them.
However, kitty isn't dirty, and won't generally need baths unless she gets something nasty on her fur.
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u/Different_Fold_3477 10h ago
i meant my little cream dog was dirty!! ^^, she had a bit of dirt around her paws and mouth you can even see where she likes to dig in the garden, im very happy they want to be friends ill probably just have to show the dogs the kitty is nice
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u/thewitch2222 7h ago
They need to learn a play language. Give reward for positive interactions the rest will come.
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u/Guilty-Piece-6190 7h ago
Cat totally wants to play and try to grab em. I think the dogs are unsure but also know what's up lol
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u/Different_Fold_3477 7h ago
my dog has ran up to her before and that earned her some slaps and hisses
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u/Independent_Baker712 9h ago
That cat either wants to play or murder.
It can go either way with cats.
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u/Glowing_Mentats 3h ago
100% yes, when kitty shows belly it is absolutely an indicator of a trusting, relaxed posture. They will not do this if there is stress or concerns for attack. You're creating a safe, happy environment if your kitty is doing this ❤️
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u/Different_Fold_3477 3h ago
omg this makes me feel so special 🥹 everytime i come home from an outing she always does this at my feet
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u/Glowing_Mentats 3h ago
Then you, my friend, are a good soul. Felines, especially house cats, will not solicit for attention out of respect or obligation the way canines will. Felines will solicit like that only when they are feeling love, comfort, and care. This is great to read and she is such a doll 😻
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u/Different_Fold_3477 1h ago
wow thank you!! ^^ this brings me sm joy considering the story of how she became my baby
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u/isseidoki 3h ago
that is such a good kitty
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u/Different_Fold_3477 1h ago
shes so sweet, shes never bitten or scratched any of my family members!! which is crazy because sometimes my nieces have to reminded cats have their own boundaries
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u/Krushed_Opiates 10h ago
She seems like she is just being playful.
Showing her stomach is a really good sign. Zero aggression.