Dogs and Cats

[c&c]

Why is my dog scared of the cats he lives with?

[andy-hughes]

Because dogs and cats are pack animals, so in a pack situation, which this is, one animal will make itself dominant. The leader of the pack in your family is one of the cats, and the other cat(s) will be next in line, so the dog comes last. He may not be 'scared' of them as such, just aware of his position in the order or things.

[wolf63]

is he terrified of the cats, or do they just know their place in the family unit?

Dogs are pack animals, our family unit is their family. Cats work by a different set of rules - they suit themselves.

In most 'families' the cat is 'top dog' and the mutts just put up with it.

[wolf63]

to be honest in most families the cat also bosses the humans around.