If you have brothers and sisters, you know it's completely natural for arguments to take place from time to time. OK…it's completely natural for arguments to take place all the time! This doesn't mean you don't love each other, though.

It just means you spend a lot of time together and it's only natural to have disagreements. You may even hear parents say their kids “fight like cats and dogs."

“Fighting like cats and dogs" is a common phrase that people use to mean people argue, fight or don't get along. If you like cartoons, you've probably seen many that portray cats and dogs fighting like sworn enemies. There have even been movies made that pit cats against dogs.

Are cats and dogs natural enemies that can never get along? Or is there hope for a truce between the members of the feline and canine species?

If you observe cats and dogs or ask people who own both cats and dogs, you will get lots of opinions on the subject. Cats and dogs will obviously fight from time to time. There is no doubt that some dogs will chase cats and maybe even harm them if given the chance.

However, people who own both dogs and cats will also tell you that they can easily be trained to get along. In fact, many will show you that dogs and cats can play together and even sleep curled up together.

As with many questions in life, there's simply no easy answer to the question of whether dogs and cats can get along. Dogs and cats are different in many ways that can make it difficult for them to get along. However, with patience and the right circumstances, cats and dogs can be best buds.

For example, dogs tend to be social animals that are naturally playful. Cats, on the other hand, tend to be more independent. A dog that wants to play might seem aggressive and intimidating to a cat. This may lead the cat to defend itself against an attack that's really just a desire to play.

Likewise, dogs — especially puppies — like to chase each other. It's a fun game. Chasing cats can be just as fun as chasing other dogs…unless you're the cat, of course. Again, cats may interpret such playful behavior as a threat.

Even something dogs and cats have in common — tails — can make things confusing. When a dog wags its tail, it's sending a friendly message: “I'm happy. Let's play." Cats, however, wag their tails when they're angry. You can see how this might lead cats and dogs to become confused if they're facing each other with wagging tails!

Although dogs and cats aren't really natural mortal enemies, dogs are hunters by nature. This means that they might hunt and chase anything that moves — including a cat. This natural behavior that could cause problems between dogs and cats can be controlled by special training — called socialization — when the animals meet for the first time.

Although there are many natural barriers to interaction between cats and dogs, it is possible for them to get along. It just takes time, patience and a desire for feline/canine harmony. And even if they get along for a while, it doesn't mean that they won't have spats from time to time…just like you and your brothers and sisters!

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