I have a cat that hates dogs and a cat that rubs against them if the dog is calm. We recently got a new dog, and the cat that hates dogs is more friendly with this dog. This cat runs when he should sit still around dogs, and that gives the dog a reason to chase. This dog doesn't happen to have a strong chase instinct (part golden retriever, and she got the obedient gene, thank the stars).

Whether the dog and cat get along depends a lot on how the dog behaves when it meets the cat. A dog with a strong chase instinct will have a hard time making friends with a scaredy cat. Certain dogs can be trained not to react to the cat (don't get a Jack Russell Terrier!). Some cats hate dogs on sight and will not interact at all. With my cat who falls into that category, it has become a low anxiety thing for him, kind of like how he feels about the vacuum cleaner. As long as it's not on, he can walk right by it. But it's all about how the dog behaves around him.

Karen