For a cat and a dog to live in perfect harmony
From childhood, we are used to believing that cats and dogs are cursed natural enemies. Remember the phrase “Do they live like a cat and a dog?”. But this stereotype is ruthlessly destroyed when you look at cats and dogs that get along well with each other, and even share one couch. In our article, we will share recommendations on how to help such a friendship happen!
Dogs and cats often become inseparable and even eat from the same bowl. But sometimes instincts (or maybe jealousy for a beloved owner whom you don’t want to share with anyone) take over, and pets cannot get along. What should the owner do in this case? Help your pets find a common language! There are several secrets that are likely to help reconcile (and make friends) “blood enemies” living under the same roof.
But before moving on to them, it is worth noting that not all breeds of dogs are friendly towards cats. And even within the breed, the hunting instinct is stronger in some dogs than in others. This is worth thinking about, especially if you are going to add a cat to an already adult dog. Consult with the breeder about the features of the breed. If you are not sure about the nature of your pet, contact a zoopsychologist.
- As soon as a new family member has appeared in your house, you should take care of the temporary division of the territory and the arrangement of the comfort of each of the pets. You should not hope that the cat and the dog will immediately get along and start sleeping on the same couch from the first day. On the contrary, a new acquaintance is stressful for both parties. You need to make sure that the “newcomer” does not encroach on the personal space of the “old man”, and he does not offend him, trying to win back the former territories. You should not arrange pets forcible acquaintance. Let them first get used to each other at a distance. In order for pets to see each other, but not to scare, you can use gates installed in the doorway. In some cases, even such meetings at a distance have to be done only under supervision in order to control the behavior of animals. And between sessions completely close the door.
Encourage both pets to react calmly when they see each other. To create a pleasant association, use treats for both the cat and the dog. Reduce the distance between pets gradually, focusing on the reaction of the more emotional of them.
Adaptation will be faster if the new pet is still a cub. However, if you are adopting a puppy with an adult cat, you will need to teach him to respect the older pet. It will be difficult for a cat to get used to a newcomer if he is a source of discomfort.
Each pet should have its own place to rest, where no one will disturb it. In this case, it’s more about the cat. Buy a house for her, in which she can hide and rest from her neighbor, who is annoying with games.
And one more point for the calmness of the cat. The tray should be placed in a cozy place, remote from the dog, so that the neighbor does not interfere with the personal affairs of the cat.
Feed the cat and the dog will have to be in different places. Dogs eat the entire food bowl in one meal, while cats eat small portions throughout the day. What do you think the dog will do when he finishes his dinner? That’s right, he decides to empty the neighbor’s bowl as well. Therefore, it is better to place the cat bowl in a place inaccessible to the dog.
Provide your dog with the necessary mocin. So that she does not pester the cat with excessive attention, walk with her more often and purchase special toys that will occupy the dog in your absence. If in your case the cat is more active than the dog, you will have to allocate more time to play with it.
If the pets are already comfortable enough to play together, make sure that their interaction is neat. Try to catch the moment when one of the pets becomes uncomfortable and wants to rest. In such cases, let him “capitulate”, and find a more suitable occupation for the instigator.
A cat living exclusively in an apartment should have its nails trimmed so that it does not inadvertently damage the dog’s muzzle, especially the eyes. Take care of the health of your pets!
And the most important. Establishing friendly relations between a dog and a cat is more facilitated by your attention. In no case do not switch to one pet, depriving the second of attention: this way you will increase the stress of the “forgotten” pet at times. Be attentive to all your pets so that they have no reason to be jealous of you.
Also, keep in mind that dogs and cats are very different. The dog barks happily and wags its tail, greeting the owner from work. A cat meets a person with a quiet purr, and wags its tail only in case of extreme discontent. It seems that it is very difficult for such different creatures to get along under one roof, but practice shows the opposite.
Cats and dogs become not only wonderful neighbors, but also best friends: they play together, eat together, sleep on the same couch, carefully wash each other and are very worried if they had to be separated for a while or one of them got sick. Looking at such friends, you involuntarily recall the phrase: “They live like a cat and a dog” … And you know, everyone should live like that!
