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We all know that dogs and cats are life-long enemies. But we also grew up in households with both a cat and a dog coexisting in harmony as pets. There are those dogs who will chase every cat they see, and cats who will never tolerate a dog. But with caution, patience, training, and correct handling, most dogs and cats can live together in harmony. They may never learn to love each other; but they will be able to tolerate each other's presence. Dogs and cats who are raised together typically do well their entire lives. These animals may even accept an animal of another species more readily than one of their own, in that there are fewer conflicts over dominance and territory.
The majority of dogs have a lower prey drive and will leave alone a cat that sits still. But they will chase and attack one that moves. This is especially true of outdoor dogs. There is something about being out of the house that pushes the hunting instinct into overdrive, and will often result in even the most docile indoor dog attempting to chase cats in the outdoors. It is natural to make the assumption that a cat and dog who tolerate each other indoors will do the same outdoors, but that assumption can have fatal consequences for the cat.
Dogs that have a history of attacking cats are likely to do so again and should never be trusted with cats. If you plan to rescue a previously-owned dog, it is a good idea to get a history of the dog's attitudes and behaviors around cats before bringing it into a house with cats. Many shelters will allow you to test the dog by introducing it to a cat before completing the adoption. Many rescues already have an idea of the dog’s history, but it is always wise to test the dog yourself.
Most cats, if they have had positive experiences with dogs, will tolerate canines in the house. Those cats with bad experiences firmly embedded in their memories will not. Most cats, even those that fear dogs, will not attack without provocation. They may never bond with the dog, may avoid the dog at all costs, and may be miserable. It may be kinder to leave these cats in a feline-only household. Even if your cat is adopted, it is often possible to find out the history of the cat or to test its reactions to dogs in an adoption situation.
So which cats and dog can get along? The answer is just about all of the rest of them . In the best circumstances, cats and dogs really become friends, playing and sleeping together. In normal situations, cats and dogs may never be overly friendly, but they can learn to tolerate and behave themselves with other members of the family, including those of other species. As long as you are willing to work out a positive introduction and protect the animals from physical harm, these species usually get along. The process may take up to six or eight weeks, or even longer, but can be successfully accomplished.
If you are thinking of bringing a dog into a cat household, or vice-versa, there are steps that you can take to ensure the success of the relationship. First, because a dog can kill a cat, safety is your first concern. The dog needs to be kept separated from the cat. This can be accomplished with a crate, a baby gate, or a separate room. The dog should have a refresher obedience course, so that it will sit, stay, and come to you when told, and leave the cat alone if ordered to. The dog needs to remember that the people, not the dog, rule the house. This way you can 'explain' to the dog, if necessary, that the cat is yours and needs to be treated with respect. In addition, the cat needs to have a safe haven. This means that the cat's food and litter boxes need to be inaccessible to the dog and that the cat has places to run and hide. For example, leave a few bookcase shelves empty so the cat can climb to them, put a cat door into a closed bedroom, or use baby gates to separate the dog from the cat's own room.
Keep cats' litter boxes, toys, scratching posts, water, and food in extra rooms. Use baby gates to keep dogs out of the cat’s areas. Cut a small cat- opening into the closed mesh of the gate so that cats can dash through if necessary and not have to leap the gate. Dogs respect the gate, but if you have dogs that leap over it, you may need to cut the cat door into the room door or install a screen door with an opening large enough for the cats. Or one baby gate above the other.
The initial meeting and first few weeks are critical times to set the tone for the future, so it is important to make all introductions go as smoothly as possible. The key is to remember that these animals will be together for a lifetime; there is no reason to rush their meetings. If you are bringing a cat into the house, provide the cat with its own bedroom for the first few weeks or longer. The litter box and food should be placed in this room. The dog can smell the cat under the door, but has no real need to meet the new member of the family until the cat is comfortable and bored with its personal space. If the cat is a young kitten, it may end up living in this room for several more weeks. Once the cat is doing well in its own room, you can let the cat explore the house, undisturbed by the dog. You can put the dog in the cat's room while the cat is out, so that the dog really gets to experience the cat's scent without bothering the cat. You can also get the pets used to each other's scents by swapping toys, towels, or other items between them.
The initial face to face meeting should be done after the new cat is familiar with the entire house. Make sure that the dog is on a leash and under control. Have another person near the cat to provide help, if needed. Keep the meeting short and positive. Praise the dog for being good around the cat. Use food rewards if appropriate and make sure that the dog understands that good things happen when the cat is present. After a few, short positive meetings, it is time to let the cat explore for longer periods, with the dog present and on the leash. If this step proceeds calmly, let the dog off the leash and watch the interactions. Make sure you are always there to stop any problems before they can accelerate. Do not allow the dog to be aggressive in any way to the cat, and lavishly praise the dog for good behavior. Be certain that the cat has access to hiding places. If aggression occurs at any stage of the introductions, return to the previous stage and slow down. Even if all looks great, do not leave the cat alone with the dog until you are truly positive that everything is running smoothly. This means that if they cannot be supervised, the cat should be left in its bedroom or the dog kept crated.
Bringing a dog into a cat household is relatively easy. The dog should be kept on a leash for the initial introductions and never left unsupervised. Make sure that all animals are praised for their wonderful behavior when they are together. As previously discussed, the dog can be crated or the cat left in a bedroom when they cannot be watched. Since the cat is already familiar with its territory and the dog is a newcomer, the dynamics of the relationship often turn in the cat's favor, making the transition relatively easy.
Puppies and kittens do present unique challenges. Kittens must be protected from dogs at all times simply because any dog is big enough to badly hurt or kill a young kitten. A kitten must always be closely supervised even around the best behaved of dogs. Provide the kitten with appropriate toys of its own. Do not let the kitten 'play attack' the dog or chase it. This can rapidly escalate into a dangerous situation. For the same reason, do not let the dog 'play' with the kitten. The kitten must be kept in a safe room when an adult it not home. My kittens stayed in their own room when I was not at home and at bedtime until they were approximately six months old.
Rambunctious puppies may also be a problem. Without meaning to, an energetic puppy can harm a kitten or even an adult cat. It is up to you to make sure that their interactions are monitored so that no one gets hurt. It is also really important to exercise and play with the puppy routinely. Make sure the puppy has its own toys and uses them. A tired puppy is less likely to bother the cat and less likely to be a behavior problem in the house.
It takes work, patience, and time to introduce cats and dogs to each other. However, the positive outcome is well worth the work. Cats and dogs play, eat, relax, and sleep together. We get tremendous pleasure watching them. You will be pleasantly surprised how much positive energy is brought into your home by having both cats and dogs living there.
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