“Animals, in general, engage in affiliative grooming as a way to maintain alliances and relationships,” said the expert, talking about how elderly animals are often groomed by the younglings not only to assist the elders in maintaining coat and skin health but also to help hierarchically lower-ranking individuals gain status for helping others. “Plus, it is often the case that once one animal is groomed, they will turn around and reciprocate.”

However, when it comes to cats and dogs, even with all these heart-melting videos around, it’s not unusual for people to believe that they actually are enemies. So then, where does the idea that these animals hate each other come from? Could it be just pure fiction?

According to the animal behaviorist, this belief does hold a bit of truth, but it’s mostly just a stereotype that has been strongly reinforced by pop culture. “Generally speaking, dogs and cats raised together get along just fine.

The question becomes whether they become friends or remain ‘roommates,’ sharing space but not really engaging one another,” explained Julie, adding that there definitely are instances of dogs and cats terrorizing each other for no good reason.

Both of these animals are predatory, but cats often fear dogs due to their size difference. During unexpected encounters between the two, these feline animals usually choose flight over fight, while canines, driven by the thrill of the chase, tend to run after. On the other hand, “Cats that do freeze and fight back are terrifying to dogs who end up with scratches to their face, nose, and even eyes, hence the phrase ‘fighting like cats and dogs.’”

However, this doesn’t have to define the relationship between these animals. Even if they start off on the wrong foot, dogs and cats can learn to curb their instinctive behavior toward each other.

“It helps to reward both the dogs and the cats in a household for just being together, sharing space, even if they aren’t directly engaging one another. Over time, they may become closer simply because being in proximity got them rewarded in the past.”

Cats and dogs are often depicted as enemies thanks to pop culture, but in reality, there is hardly anything that could actually stop them from becoming friends

Of course, having these four-pawed buddies get along is very much possible. Of course, it may not always happen as effortlessly as it did with Tiger and Akaiba, but we’ve got a few tips that Kirstin Fawcett of Mental Floss shared that can help you in situations like these:

• Think about your pets’ personalities rather than their breeds.
• Train your dog to control impulses and give them enough exercise.
• Give the cat some personal territory first.
• Keep their toys and food separated.
• Let them smell each other’s things before the meeting.
• Plan their face-to-face introduction carefully and take it slow.
• Raise them together, if possible.

All in all, despite the myth created by pop culture, cats and dogs can get along perfectly fine. It’s true that not every encounter will follow the example of Akaiba and Tiger, but at the very least, these two buddies are proof that this kind of friendship is absolutely possible and is absolutely adorable when it occurs.

What did you think about this story? Do you know any other cats and dogs that get along this perfectly? Share it all in the comments below!