Dear Sinéad and Siouxsie:
I think I must be weird. I'm a gorgeous Abyssinian cat, and I really like dogs. I live with my sister cat (who's not quite as beautiful as I am) and three dogs, and we all get along really well together. There's a gang of delinquent feral cats in my neighborhood that tease me and call me a "dog-lover" and stuff, and that hurts my feelings. But these dogs are my family! How am I not supposed to love them? Besides, they're nice to me, and we have a great relationship. Sometimes the dogs even chase away strange boy cats when I'm not in the mood to talk to them. Is it wrong for cats to like dogs?

Thanks,
Clarissa

Sinéad: Clarissa, it's not wrong for dogs and cats to get along at all. In the ancient days when we were all wild creatures, this probably wouldn't have happened. But it's perfectly normal for "blended families" of cats and dogs to not only tolerate one another, but to actually love each other.

Siouxsie: We know lots of dogs and cats that get along. There's Shaughnessy the cat and her dog Aki, Merlin and his dog Salem, Jack and his dog Bowzer, and the list goes on and on.

Sinéad: It's just a natural response to the environment we live in. It would be very hard for cats and dogs to share a house if they couldn't stand each other, don't you think? When people put us all together in one territory, we have to figure out a way to get along. Cats that don't like their families generally leave, anyway, and if they strike out on their own, they probably won't live very long. The life of a feral cat is short, hard, and dangerous.

Siouxsie: Don't be embarrassed about liking your dog family members. They're great, especially if they're chasing unwanted visitors away for you.

Sinéad: And Shaughnessy tells us that dogs can be especially helpful in keeping cats' toilet boxes clean. She tells us that Aki loves to eat her scats before they can stink up the house. Hee hee hee!

Siouxsie: Yuck! Let that be a lesson to you, people-next time a dog licks your face, remember what's been in his mouth.

Sinéad: Those cats that make fun of you for having a dog family are just jealous. Don't let them get to you, because your relationship with dogs is perfectly normal. Besides, you have a good home and they don't. So there!

Siouxsie: It's perfectly normal for cats and dogs to get along. We hope that answers your question, Clarissa. Don't be ashamed of your blended family; rejoice in your high standards and the high standards of the people who adopted such great four-legged servants and friends for you.

Got a question? Need some advice? E-mail Sinéad and Siouxsie at advice@paws-and-effect.com. None of the advice in this column is meant to be a substitute for regular veterinary care.