Keeping Dogs and Cats Together

Cats and dogs are not thrown in one corner and expect them to like each other right away. These animals have a different approach to first time meet ups. Dogs like to sniff all around another creature, whether it’s a dog, a human or a cat. Cats get scared and are not accustomed to being sniffed. So when the cat runs away the dog thinks it is being challenged so it runs after the cat.

A cat, on the other hand, likes to test other animals. It will approach a behaving dog and will paw it, just like testing water in the pool. But the dog thinks that the cat is attacking and so the fight starts.

When introducing a cat to the family dog, make sure that the dog has his space secure. Dogs are territorial animals and anyone that passes his territory will be barked at to let them know that the place has been claimed. Cats are also territorial animals but with different objectives. Food will be the center of a cat’s turf, no matter how small it is. When the food is scarce, they stake a bigger area. A well-fed cat will less likely be threatened by another animal and so it will share its space in peace.

Here are the steps on introducing your cat and dog to each other.

1. Before the cat and dog face each other, first make sure that your dog has had his exercise, water and food. The same goes for the cat, feed it and make sure it is satisfied.

2. In the same room, place the cat in its ate and put it where the dog can’t reach it. Use the leash on the dog just in case it jumps or becomes excited.

3. This time, the dog does not have pent up energy because of the exercise and the cat has just been fed. At their relaxed state, reward each pet their treats to let them know that they’re both being good pets.

4. You can stop here and do the same thing the next few days. Make sure that they won’t cross each other’s turf during the night or when you’re not around.

5. Keep both pets at bay. Get them to recognize each other as part of the family and let them be comfortable of each other’s presence before leaving them together until you feel that you don’t need the leash and the crate anymore. Keep giving them treats so they will be in their best behavior when they’re around each other.

Further social interaction among pets can be taught with persistence and the owner’s happy state. Remember that pets are balls of energy that respond to energy too.