Like Cats & Dogs

The film begins with Laura Haley, an accountant working for her parents, arriving in South Haven for a two-week vacation with her dog, Frank. Simultaneously, Spencer Hodkins, a PhD student focused on psychobiology, arrives with his cat, Mozart. After a brief, tense encounter at the train station where Frank chases Mozart, both discover they have rented the same house. The owner, Ellen Davis, claims a computer glitch is responsible and, since no other pet-friendly housing is available, suggests they share the space. Spencer, who is under pressure to finish a dissertation for a grant provided by his girlfriend Susan's father, is initially hostile to the arrangement. He creates a 'Treaty for living under the same roof,' which includes strict decibel limits for music and a rotation schedule for the pets. Laura, meanwhile, reconnects with her college friend Rose and begins to explore her passion for photography under Ellen's mentorship at a local gallery. Despite their friction, the two begin to bond over s'mores and late-night conversations. Spencer's clinical belief that love is just a series of chemical reactions begins to waver as he spends time with Laura. However, tensions peak when Laura hosts a baby shower for Rose at the house; the chaos results in Mozart destroying Spencer's research notes and Spencer's dog ruining Laura's favorite vintage record. Laura briefly leaves but returns, and Spencer buys her a new record player to apologize. The romance is derailed when Spencer's girlfriend, Susan, arrives unannounced and discovers the cohabitation. Feeling like a secret, Laura leaves for good. Back at school, Spencer fails his thesis defense because he can no longer argue that love is purely biological. He breaks up with Susan and returns to South Haven. In a final twist, Ellen reveals she intentionally double-booked the pair because their personality questionnaires were a perfect match. Laura decides to stay in South Haven to work at the gallery, and she and Spencer reunite at the rental house to start a real relationship.