There are people who are incorrigible cat lovers, and there are equally incorrigible dog lovers. And between these two groups of animal lovers, disputes often arise about which of the pets is better to have, which of the two pets is kinder, smarter, more affectionate, etc. Such disputes can already be classified as eternal.
And there are people who do not participate in such discussions for the simple reason that they cannot classify themselves as either a dog person or a cat person: they belong to both.
It is about the third type of people, or more precisely about their pets, that we will talk today.
Causes of enmity between dogs and cats
train a dog and a cat to live in an apartment or house
Dogs and cats are representatives of different families of the same order. Animals have specific behavioral characteristics and almost opposite types of temperament.
According to research, cats are not afraid of dogs. Aggression and attempts to avoid contact are effective ways to stop unwanted attention.
Cats have an independent character and love privacy. They value personal space and do not tolerate encroachments. Dogs, on the other hand, are considered social animals that seek company. Because of this, conflicts often break out between dogs and cats.
Cats and dogs also interpret body language differently:
- The cat regards light pushes of the skull and intense sniffing as an attempt to invade personal space. Such behavior causes aggression in the animal and a desire to grab the dog’s face.
- A dog's tail wagging means joy from an upcoming walk, meeting the owner, or seeing a toy. In this way, a cat expresses the highest degree of irritation and demonstrates its readiness to attack. Before a fight, the animal vigorously wags its tail and lashes its sides.
- Tight ears and a low head are interpreted by cats as a readiness to attack. In dogs, a similar pose means an admission of guilt. The dog understands that he deserves punishment and tries to appease the owner, demonstrating submission in advance.
- Cats purr to express the highest degree of satisfaction. The quiet, guttural growl of a dog means its readiness to attack and defend itself.
The dog unconsciously creates an intimidating impression on the cat. Frightened, she begins to run, awakening the hunting instincts in the dog.
The principles of living under one roof
- To accustom a cat to a puppy, you need to arrange living areas for both representatives from the cat and dog world. You can buy a high scratching post for your cat, on which he can watch his “neighbor”; for a puppy - a cage or enclosure (depending on where the owner lives).
- To teach animals to live together in harmony, during your absence you need to make sure that eye contact is maintained, but they cannot physically communicate . That is, for example, a dog can be locked in a cage (for its own safety). Or place the animals in different rooms.
- When the owner is at home, it is necessary to let the puppy out of the shelter so that he gets to know the cat better. If a cat’s “brother” begins to become impudent and tries to beat a young dog, the owner must stop this immediately, clearly indicating the need to unconditionally accept the new member of the pack . There is no need to persuade under any circumstances.
- Feeding both dogs and cats should happen simultaneously. But the bowls should be placed separately. Perhaps even to different levels. You need to make sure that no one steals food from someone else's bowl.
- One of the basic rules for teaching two animals to live in peace and harmony is to pay attention to both of them . Moreover, this must be done simultaneously. If the owner has petted one pet, then he should immediately call and pet the second one. Otherwise, jealousy will “destroy” the owner’s efforts to improve relationships between animals.
- In order to accustom a cat to “good manners” and accept a new family member, you always need to restore justice in fights, “thefts” of toys and food. Otherwise, the cat’s impudence will know no bounds.
Perhaps the moment will come when the owner begins to be jealous of the cat and the puppy, because they will find a common language and will frolic and play, thereby bringing pleasure to the whole family.
Is it possible to make pets friends?
A kitten and a dog are friends for life
If after the first acquaintance of the animals the situation is not left to chance, then it is quite possible to accustom a dog to a cat. Correct behavior of the owner and taking into account the characteristics of the pets will help establish friendly relations.
How quickly animals become friends depends not only on the owner, but also on the age at which the pets were taken into the family and began to be taught to peaceful coexistence.
Spending time together
Playing together is necessary for friendship between animals. Pets together in equal quantities will be satisfied with the attention of the owner and will be able to get rid of jealousy.
- And you should always encourage animals in any success, especially in relationships.
- A peaceful and calm approach to resolving misunderstandings is the most effective.
How to make friends with kids: kitten and puppy
The ideal option is when both pets were taken into the house as babies at the same time. Animals, only separated from their mother, will begin to look for understanding and support in each other. Due to their age, puppies and kittens cannot sleep alone and begin to instinctively cuddle each other in their sleep. Together they adapt faster and easier to their new home.
Also, a puppy and a kitten will be brought together by joint pranks and games. The kids will explore the world around them together, which will help them make friends.
Even if at the first meeting the puppy and kitten show dissatisfaction with the presence of their neighbor, it will disappear after a few hours. After sniffing, the kids will quickly get used to it and make friends.
Important! Left alone, the kitten and puppy can get carried away with games and mischief. Therefore, children cannot be left to their own devices for a long time.
Game method
Active joint “fussing” will help the animals get to know each other. The key condition for games is the presence of the owner. If during the game one animal injures another, the culprit should be lightly flicked on the nose and the action should be accompanied by a curt command: “You can’t!” Next you need to stop the game. You cannot beat animals or shout at them, because the lesson, accompanied by panic, will not be learned.
You also need to learn to avoid taking sides. Often, the owners begin to sympathetically press the “victim” to their chest and show their affection towards him in every possible way, while the instigator of the unpleasant event is condemned with anger and abuse. Such demonstrative acceptance of one into the pack and exclusion of another from it can become a reason for a real war between animals.
Important! If one of the animals hits its partner with a “soft” paw, without releasing its claws, and also does not hiss or press its ears to its head, this is a form of play, not aggression.
After just a few sessions, animals will understand that entertainment stops when their actions go beyond the boundaries designated by the owner.
How to make friends between an adult dog and a kitten, 8 rules for a peaceful neighborhood
Adult dogs are often friendly towards kittens. But increased attention can frighten the baby.
To ensure that the introduction of pets goes smoothly and without damage to the kitten’s psyche, it is advisable to pay attention to the following points:
- Exchange of smells. Before the kitten arrives, it is recommended to give the dog something that smells like the baby, so that his appearance is not regarded as a threat. At first, it is better to isolate pets in separate rooms, organizing daily meetings for them. This makes it easier for animals to become accustomed to each other’s smell and make friends.
- Adding cat scent. If the dog is aggressive or older, a few weeks before the expected arrival of the kitten, it is recommended to use special pheromones that emit a cat scent. This way the dog will stop stressing and will accept his new neighbor more loyally.
- Separate feeding. Dogs are jealous of their own food and in order not to heat up the situation, it is advisable to separate the eating area. Subsequently, the old-timer is recommended to give food first.
- A safe place for a cat. It is advisable for each pet to have its own corner. It is recommended to place the kitten's place higher so that the dog cannot reach it. If the owner does not take care of this issue, the animals will deal with the rest areas on their own, which will lead to a deterioration in relations. Prepare “safe places” where your cat can run and hide from your dog when he feels threatened .
- Obedience training. Your dog needs to be taught that chasing cats is not acceptable behavior. Teach your dog basic commands such as sit, stay and down. Then it will be easier for you to reconcile the cat and dog.
- Interaction control. You should only allow interactions under your supervision, especially in the first few weeks after your cat and dog have just met.
- Desensitization. The goal of desensitization is to reduce your dog's reaction to your cat through constant exposure. Separate them temporarily with a fence so they can see each other and sniff, but try to distract the dog's attention with toys and food so that the dog is not fixated on the cat. Over time, the dog will lose interest in cats.
- You can't scold a dog too much. The fact is that the dog may understand that he is being scolded because of his relationship with the cat and will pursue the cat even more. Try to encourage a positive attitude between them.
Desensitization of dogs and cats
You cannot scold or punish a dog for aggression. It is enough to strictly explain to the animal that it is not good to offend the baby. An adult dog usually does not want to harm the baby, but it is better not to take risks. The owner must equally distribute attention between the animals and organize a joint game.
Warning signs
- If the dog continues to closely watch the cat or the door , completely ignoring you, or suddenly jumps on him as soon as he moves, such cohabitation can end in tears. If you originally had a cat, you may want to consider another dog. If you had a dog, you should not get a cat.
- If a dog growls, jumps up or shows other signs of aggression towards a peacefully lying cat , they are unlikely to become friends. The same thing happens if a cat offends a dog who is behaving completely calmly. If you absolutely need to make friends with such animals, you will have to contact a specialist.
- If your dog behaves ambiguously around a cat that hisses and paws, then try to find a calmer cat. If you have introduced your dog to different animals, but it continues to conflict with everyone, it is better not to get a second pet.
- If your cat is aggressive , take a break and continue another day. It might be worth trying to pair her with another animal. On the other hand, a cat that constantly hisses at dogs is unlikely to want to live with them. Of course, she can tolerate them, but she will not be happy with such a life. Is it worth torturing her?
- If a cat stops eating, drinking, going to the litter box and approaching family members, she is unhappy. You should look for another pair for her or contact a specialist.
How to make friends between an adult cat and a puppy
Adult cats often perceive puppies aggressively. To protect the new resident from the sharp claws of the old-timer, the animals are initially isolated in different rooms.
Then the cat will not scratch the curious, playful puppy, who will probably become excessively active.
It is recommended that animals have separate places for feeding and sleeping. The cat will quickly get bored with the puppy’s pestering and will want to retire. Therefore, the owner must regulate the time the pets communicate and limit it.
If personal boundaries are violated, the cat will hiss for a long time at the new neighbor. If the puppy does not climb into her bowls, bed and tray, she will quickly get used to his presence.
How to make friends with adult animals
How to make friends between an adult dog and a cat
Accustoming adult animals to live together is very difficult, but quite possible. At first, the dog will begin to perceive the cat as an object for play or hunting.
Therefore, it will take a long time to separate the animals. If it is not possible to place your pets in separate rooms, it is recommended to buy an indoor aviary.
When first meeting the dog, it is advisable to keep the dog on a leash and muzzle. The animals will probably limit themselves to visual contact and refuse to sniff. You should not let the dog get close to the cat, otherwise the cat will decide that it is being attacked and will begin to defend itself.
It is recommended to organize further communication between pets at a distance to avoid a possible fight. If conflict between animals cannot be avoided, it is advisable to tie the dog and force it to sit on command. It is recommended to calm an angry cat with a voice and gentle stroking. Such actions will help relieve tension and resolve conflict.
To accustom a dog to a cat, it is recommended to reward any manifestation of goodwill with a treat. But you can feed animals in one place only after good neighborly relations have been established between them. Competition for food can cause serious conflict.
What not to do
Inexperienced owners, trying to accustom a dog to a cat, make serious mistakes.
To quickly make friends with your pets, you should not make the following mistakes:
- It is prohibited to put pressure on animals , forcing them to communicate.
- You cannot give one animal more attention than the other. Some owners deliberately single out their pet. Others unknowingly neglect one pet. As a result, the animal feels like an outcast and begins to be jealous, provoking conflicts.
- In the event of a quarrel, it is prohibited to punish the initiator of the fight. At the initial stage of accustoming a dog to a cat, conflicts will inevitably break out between animals. The owner must notice the emerging quarrel in time and extinguish it. In a cat, swearing causes a desire to take revenge; in a dog, a long-term fear arises.
- It is prohibited to have animals in cramped living conditions. Each pet should have its own resting place and enough space to move around.
- It is prohibited to leave animals alone. Attacks of aggression often come out of nowhere and calm can quickly escalate into a fight. Animal behavior is unpredictable and the owner must control the pets.
Dogs are more active and sociable. To prevent them from pestering their furry neighbor, they should not be limited in walks and active games.
We recommend reading:
- We teach the dog to stop picking up everything on the street
- Training or education of dogs
Additional sources of information:
Tips on how to make a cat and dog become friends
