It is possible for cats and dogs, and even other pets, to live together in harmony. But there are no guarantees, and anything can happen at any time – they are animals, after all. In this article, we look at what you can do to keep the peace, starting with proper introductions.
Expect the unexpected
Before you consider getting another pet, do proper research. Is it likely that the animals will be able to co-habit peacefully? Keep in mind that certain dog breeds don’t like cats, or even other dogs. Also, certain dog breeds and cats are natural hunters. This means that their instincts could drive them to pounce on a small pet and seriously injure him.
Even if they seem to co-exist okay in the same house, you will always need to supervise them when they are together in the same room. Ideally, you need to keep smaller pets contained in a room or a cage when you can’t supervise them.
Introductions
Proper introductions at a young age can help certain cats and dogs to become friends and live together in harmony. The most important factor is to always keep the needs of your pets in mind, as well as their personalities.
Puppy meets the cat
Keep your puppy away from the cat for a few days, so that both animals can get used to the new smells while puppy gets a chance to settle into his new environment. It’s not a good idea to just put your puppy in front of your cat and expect them to be happy with each other – you’ll have to exercise some patience.
Keep them separated with a baby gate, so that your cat can ‘flee the scene’ if she is not feeling comfortable. When puppy is tired and less energetic, you can start the introductions. Keep puppy on a lead and on your lap, and see how your cat reacts. If your cat seems fine, place your puppy on the floor. He will most probably be curious and ready to play. You can distract him with a toy if he is too ‘busy’ for your cat. If your cat is disinterested, let her be and try again later.
Don’t be surprised if your cat sets the ground rules and teaches your puppy some manners by hissing at him or swatting him with her paw if she doesn’t like what he is up to. Your puppy will learn what is acceptable and what the cat won’t allow. Reward your puppy for his calm behaviour and don’t let him chase or harass the cat.
Both pets should have their own beds, personal toys, a private place for meals and obviously their own water and food bowls. And both animals need quality time alone with you – you need to make time for them. Monitor your cat and, if she is stressed, speak to your vet or consult a behaviourist to help you.
Kitten meets the dog
A kitten’s socialisation period, when she learns to deal with other animals and pets, is between three and eight weeks. Ideally, you should only get the kitten after that period. Therefore, it is important to check out the environment in which your potential kitten is being raised and that she is being socialised. This kind of kitten will be much more sociable and confident.
When your kitten arrives at your home, you need to confine her to one room that has her litterbox, water and food, and enough spaces to rest or hide if she wants to.
Feed the kitten and the other cat or dog on opposite sides of the door, so that they can get used to each other’s smells and presence. You can move the bowls further away if either of them is not happy enough to eat so close to the door.
After a week or so, move your kitten – in her crate – out of the room and let your other pets explore the room at their leisure. Let your kitten explore the rooms that the other pets frequent one at a time, but keep her separated from them with a baby gate or a door.
Once the animals are comfortable in each other’s living spaces, you can introduce them to each other. Keep the kitten in her crate and the other cat or dog in their crate. If they seem fine in each other’s company, you can allow your pets to come out of their crates to explore and meet each other.
Don’t allow any aggression and, if it happens, immediately move your kitten away and separate them. You don’t want your kitten to have any bad experiences at this early age. You will have to repeat the process, at a slower pace, and be patient.
Consult a behaviourist sooner rather than later if you experience any problems or if you’re not sure how to handle the situation.
