Why Does My Dog Act Like a Cat (or Vice-Versa)?!

Do you have a dog that sometimes you wonder whether they are a cat?  Or a cat that acts like a dog?

Often the actions and behaviors of our animal companions can take on the personalities of whatever or whomever they were raised with or by. So, if your dog as a puppy was raised around an older sibling that is a cat, he or she will often use behaviors that they learned from those felines. Meaning if your cat always sits on the back of a sofa your puppy or dog will think they are the same and will lay on the back of a sofa. If the cat loves its cat condo, your puppy may attempt this feat too!

If your older cat sibling was more on the insecure side, your puppy may exhibit the habits of the cat that hides from unknown noises, knocks at the door, or people.  Likewise, if you have a dog who suddenly is crawling under beds to hide, trying to make themselves smaller to disappear behind furniture or even go into the darkest corner when they've been raised by cats this can be a natural instinct for them.

If your cat was raised with an older canine sibling, they're learning through observing what the canine did as a greeting to you. So, you may in fact have a cat that now comes up to you when you walk in the door and starts licking your hand because that is what the elder sibling did. They may or may not purr depending on how young they arrived in your home. Or a cat that eats from the dog bowl. The cat may also lick your face. Or play with the dogs stuffed toys.

They can take on other behaviors as well given they do not see themselves as different for he or she has not seen themselves in a physical mirror beside the furry four-legged one that is walking around. Even a large or taller puppy or dog will not understand why a cat can lay or stand on your lap, but they are being told no.

Do you have a dog or cat that was raised around the other? Take notice what they are doing that catches you off guard. Just know it is the way the dog or cat learned how to be from their closest teacher. For just as when we are born into this world, we do not come with a manual that tells us who and what we are, we learn from those around us.