Can cats and dogs communicate?

Despite working with dogs for a living, I'm actually a “cat person” too. I've always shared my home with both species, and for the most part, life together is peaceful. I haven't experienced much of the “fighting like cats and dogs” stereotype. Still, the interaction between species is fascinating to me. read more

The dogs, already familiar with cat speak, fare better at communication than the two new cats, but the cats are quick to learn. It's a matter of motivation. Our physical home is rather small. read more

If a dog can’t read the other feline signals, the dog may mistake aggression for fear or neutrality with aggression. 5 ways cats and dogs understand each other: 1. Shrieks, yelps, and growls – These vocalizations are fairly universal across species. Our cats and dogs should at least recognize these signals of pain, fear, and aggression. read more

But I can’t prove it. It is generally accepted among scientists that animals have limited language capabilities. The majority of their communication is believed be visual (through body language). Vocalization is not thought to play a very major role in animal communication. Also, since cats and dogs don’t attend school, their communication patterns are believed to be hereditary and instinctive. read more