This writer first thought about dog and cat coexistence after watching The Adventures of Milo and Otis (1989). Years later, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s decision not to bring his dog, a Bichon Frisé-Poodle, Axel, to 10 Downing Street to avoid stressing Larry the Cat, the resident Chief Mouser, revived the same question. To end this curiosity, we reached out to pet parents and a veterinarian to understand what makes such relationships work.

Choose compatibility

Canine behaviour specialist Mitali Salvi, founder of Mitali’s Board & Train, says the biggest misconception is that dogs and cats must become inseparable. “People often measure success by whether the animals cuddle or play together, but that’s an unrealistic benchmark. The healthiest homes are those where both animals are relaxed enough to ignore each other, move freely through shared spaces and settle without constantly reacting.”