Cat behaviour around dogs !

[Leo's Mummy !]

Hi Guys new here..

Everything went so well On Xmas day with Leo (Maine Coon) & Alfie my sisters dog. They genrally do tolerate eachother allot more (well Leo tolerate Alfie.. Alfie just wants to be best buddies!)

We all had Xmas at a friends house & they got on famously.. The only strange thing Leo was doing was creeping up behind Alfie jumping infront of his face.. reaching his front paw out really slowly & patting Alfies face really softly ! (No claws) Would you say Leo was playing ? Also running up behind Alfie & jumping up & swiping his bum (no claws again !)

We were all laughing hysterically !!!

I would love to know cat body language inside & out !

[CathyW]

my 2 adore my dog, they rule the roost of course, LOL

[Leo's Mummy !]

BUMPING to the top for more replies please

[alexgirl73]

tbh I haven't got a clue lol. It sounds to me like he wanted to lay, but as I haven't got a dog I couldn't say. Hopefully someone else with canine companions will be able to help you out.

[Emm]

Definately sounds like playing

heres a couple of links on cat body language - I haven't read any of them though so not sure how good they are -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_communication

http://animal.discovery.com/guides/cats/behavior/bodylanguageintro.html

http://cats.about.com/od/behaviortraining/ss/bodylanguage.htm

http://www.geocities.com/heartland/Pointe/9352/behavior.html

[babycakes]

I wonder if they do it to test the water first with the claws in so yes I would say playing and encouring interaction back, if they were threatened, frightened or defensive the claws would be fully drawn and battle would commence (ha ha)

[Grete]

I think it's definately playing or as BC said, testing the waters. Sounds so cute ;)

[Megsy]

Sounds like playing to me. My moggie does this to my airedale. He waits till he walks past him then swipes at his back legs(no claws out). My dog turns around quickly to see what has happened and then my moggie rubs up against him purring like mad.LOL.

[Leo's Mummy !]

Got a picture.. this to me looke way to submissive to be an attack ?

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f215/Plums77/Picture012-1.jpg

[Leo's Mummy !]

oh.. thanks allot for the replies btw

[dinahsmum]

They're playing! :)

Have a look at the video of Chester lording it over Dinah in this post
http://www.catsey.com/showthread.php?t=23124

[Leo's Mummy !]

Must be blocked at work as I cant see anything but will defo lok when im home !

[Erin]

yep defo playing,here a video of lil and milo -

http://www.catsey.com/showthread.php?t=24355

[Grete]

Hahah not submissive, that is the classic 'I'm fooling you into thinking I'm being submissive but just bring that face/hand/foot closer and I'll go to town on it' ;)

Bubbles does that all the time and we call her the Venus Fly Cat... she lures you in with a fluffy tummy then wraps all 4 paws round your hand and play bites ;)