Dogs and Cats

Many people think dogs and cats cannot live peacefully together. In fact, someone once coined the phrase “fighting like cats and dogs” and there is obviously some truth to the statement, as it’s been around for a while. Well, it’s true that some dogs and cats will not make good housemates. They are two different animals with two different distinctive personalities that will not necessarily blend. However, under the right conditions, many dogs and cats can live together in perfect harmony.

The majority of dogs can happily coexist with a cat if they are given time to comfortably get to know each other. If a puppy and kitten are raised together, they generally will learn right away to tolerate each other, and some cats and dogs grow to be real friends, even playing and napping together. However, if a cat is already an established member of the household and a new dog or puppy is going to join the family, certain precautions need to be taken.

When you first introduce a cat and dog, make sure the cat is at the dog’s eye level. You should also keep a firm grip on both animals. This will make them feel more comfortable and provide them with a sense of security. If one of the animals seems either aggressive or frightened, immediately remove the dog and try again at a later time. You don’t want to force the situation by pushing them before they’re ready. This will only make matters worse. If you take a few minutes several times a day to give the cat and dog this carefully supervised time together, you should soon see them feeling more relaxed around each other.

Never leave a cat and dog alone together until you are certain that they are comfortable with each other. If you walk away while they are still checking each other out, you may be sorry when you return. The cat or dog could be scratched or bitten or otherwise injured. Even if there are no visible wounds, an unsupervised interaction like that could traumatize an animal so badly that he remains terrified of other animals for the rest of his life.

If you are ready for a new puppy or dog to join your family, help your cat get accustomed to the idea, too. Under strictly supervised conditions, allow the cat and dog to sniff and inspect each other to their hearts’ content. This interaction should get them used to each other in no time.