Cat in love with dog, odd!

I'll admit I am jealous of my dog Chief. My cat Tubs gives Chief way more affection than I get. Chief has never really had much interest in the three cats. He lived for 13 years with no cats and his only cat experience was chasing ferals (including my kitties feral mama) out of the yard and barking at them. The kits were born in our garage and so they were very used to hearing Chief's incessant barking, but they had no real interaction with him until I brought them inside to become indoor kitties around 3.5 months old. He views the kitties as something he has to tolerate and he is really good about it, but he is no cat-loving dog! He occasionally chases them if they are acting shifty, but that is about it. All three kitties are always rubbing up against him though.

Mr. Tubs is especially obsessed with Chief, nobody gets it. He follows him around, rubs on him, licks him on the forehead and ears, always wants to cuddle with him, etc. He will sit on my lap while we watch tv, but only because the dog is next to me. Tubs will let me pet him, but he stares at Chief the whole time purring and reaching out to knead Chief. I feel so used! Then he wedges himself between Chief and me so he can cuddle up against him.

I often have to save Chief from Tubs affections, because Tubby will try and climb right on top of Chief. One time Tubs jumped off the table onto Chief's back.... you know just for fun! Tubs is 16 lbs, Chief is 23 lbs so it was not pleasant for him. If Chief does play back he is usually pretty rough and I think Tubs will get hurt, but if I pick him up he is purring throughout the man-handling.

Last week on more than one occasion we found Tubby taking mouthfuls of his food, walking over to edge of the counter and dropping them on the floor right in front of Chief and then watching him eat it.:lol3:

I've heard of dogs bugging cats with affection, but not often the other way around. How weird is this?? He seems to like the dog better than any of the humans or even his brother and sister. When I was a kid we had dogs and cats at the same time, but they pretty much ignored each other if I recall.

I love this!! Obviously your cat has formed a bond with your dog. Might be because he sees Chief as his protector.

My own cat grew up around dogs and if my neighbor has her dog in the lobby, my cat will sit at my front door looking amazingly happy. Friendship is magical. Sometimes there's just no explanation for it. Haven't you ever met someone and knew right away you liked this person as a friend?

I think Tubby views them as friends, but I don't think Chief does.:lol3: I keep telling Chief he has to stop being so darned irresistible!

it's not really odd, a lot of animals form friendships and it's rare but still beautiful. Lucky dog, the cat isn't taking over his bed.

I love your photos and especially your photo of the week winner! Congrats. I also have Jack Russell dogs. Surprisingly, the cats rule the roost around here with the dogs. My Wilbur dog loved my cat Perkins and they could be found napping near each other on the bed too. I am looking for old pictures as I am certain I have one, somewhere. :lol3:

Long story short: a friend was fostering "Mystic", a probably feral cat, trying to socialize it. For almost eight months, no progress--still very skittish. Out of desparation, she brought up her two very well behaved Vizsla dogs. Love at first sight--Mystic loved the dogs, she would head butt their legs, nice meow, and finally had a soft expression on her face. In this case, a way to a cat's heart was through dogs.
She showed some progress thereafter, though she ultimately escaped the house and was never seen again.

Ritz said:

Long story short: a friend was fostering "Mystic", a probably feral cat, trying to socialize it. For almost eight months, no progress--still very skittish. Out of desparation, she brought up her two very well behaved Vizsla dogs. Love at first sight--Mystic loved the dogs, she would head butt their legs, nice meow, and finally had a soft expression on her face. In this case, a way to a cat's heart was through dogs.
She showed some progress thereafter, though she ultimately escaped the house and was never seen again.

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I remember this story, Cindy! A testament that dog's do have a special place in the hearts of some kitties, and vise versa. :nod:

Aw, I love it.  They're adorable.  

this is one of my old girls bonnie, she will be 14 in october. never had a cat or kitten and shes never seen one close up ever. rainbow adores her and her daughter chubby whos 10 this year. when they come in the room rainbow wont leave them alone lol. there a bit grumpy at times and will growl a bit when she gets a bit cheeky  x

relationships like this are so cute.

That's so cute! I hope Chief breaks his aloofness towards Tubby one day and loves him right back.

I've been watching a lot of Nat Geo Wild and they have a show called "Unlikely Animal Friends". Even though this relationship is just between a cat and a dog (as opposed to a surfer and his surfing pig or a rock climber and his rock climbing cat!), I feel your story if it was featured would make everyone laugh and melt their hearts.

What a cute picture!  I like how Tubs rests his feet on Chief.  This is very similar to how my cat regards my dog.  Daryl is crazy about Barney, but I can't say that it's mutual.  Barney is never growly or anything, but he's so focused on me and what attention I might be giving Daryl.  (He's a fretter.)  He also doesn't like it when Daryl rubs against him.  He cowers and leaves the room.  When Daryl lays down next to him, he won't leave but I can't say he's really digging it either.  I wish he would accept Daryl as a buddy because Daryl tries so hard.  Maybe someday.   It's good that I have a hand to pet each of them simultaneously!   

I personally don't think it's odd, either lol. My hound Buster (RIP) and Miagi were best friends.

Cat in love with dog doesn't seem odd to me. Cali (avatar pic, sadly deceased )adored my old labrador (Brandy, also sadly deceased ).They used to go to bed together every night to snuggle.

The really weird one is the friendly semi feral we care for at the farm where my exmoor pony is. We used to have a stable inside a barn, and Pushkin got fed on the front wall of the stable. She and Collie were in love! They shared the stable (even sleeping close together), Pushkin used Collie's bed as her litter box, and we would even find Pushkin sitting on the stable door grooming Collie's face! She didn't like the other horses, just Collie. We had to move to a different stable and there wasn't space for Pushkin to come too. I think they both miss each other, even though Pushkin still comes round for a 'chat' with Collie every so often.

I think that's the oddest cat relationship I've come across!