It should come as no surprise that the Clinton's cat, Socks, took an instant dislike to the first family's new dog, Buddy, according to a UC Davis veterinary researcher. "Unless raised with a dog, it's highly unlikely that a cat will form a close relationship with a dog that is later introduced to the family," says Dr. Benjamin Hart, a noted animal behaviorist and professor in the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Hart is the author and co-author of two books "Canine and Feline Behavior Therapy" and "The Perfect Puppy: How to Choose Your Dog by Its Behavior." The Clintons should not force the animals to associate, but instead should provide Socks with her own space, including elevated perches for escape, suggests Hart. They might gently habituate Socks to Buddy's presence by giving her food treats when she is around the chocolate Labrador retriever, he adds. "Socks will scratch Buddy a couple of times, and the dog will learn to leave the cat alone," predicts Hart, who says neither will become the dominant pet in the family. "Dogs develop a dominance-submission hierarchy, but cats won't play that game," he says. "Cats and dogs are animals with two different social systems." As in global politics, the best the President may be able to hope for in this situation is peaceful co-existence, suggests Hart. .