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As a rule, dogs are simply territorial animals. They may engage a fight with any animal that does not belong, not just a new dog or cat.
Dogs are also prone to marking, or spraying, to provide a territorial barrier. Cats are actually just as territorial and share many of the same habits, scratching intruders and spraying boundaries.
Obedience Training: The First Step in Cat and Dog Coexistence
The first step to coexisting is obedience training. This should particularly center on the dog, which tends to be the instigator when placed in this type of situation. You must teach your canine friend to obey the word no from your mouth no matter what you are referring to.
Introducing Your Cat and Dog Safely
When you first bring a cat to your home with a dog, isolate the dog. While the dog is kept outside, or in a single room, allow your cat to mosey on around your home. This will make your cat’s roaming instincts happy and will leave his scent scattered about.
When your cat has finished checking out every room and nook and cranny isolate him in a small room, such as the bathroom, and let your canine friend back inside. It is now your dog’s turn to wander around, except he is checking out the new scent left behind all over the place from your new cat. This is the easiest way to introduce your dog to your cat safely.
Once this ritual is completed, release the cat into a supervised area with the dog and teach both animals that they belong there.
Use Verbal Commands to Control Your Dog’s Behavior
As a general rule, you can count on your dog to bark in warning at an unfamiliar animal in their territory long before they actually lunge. If at all possible the dog is going to try to scare the intruder away before engaging in a fight.
When your dog begins to bark at the new cat is when it is on you to firmly tell him no to assist him in beginning to realize that the cat also belongs in the home as a pet.
Completing the Introduction Process Successfully
At the point in your dog and cats introduction where the dog begins to be calm without having to be ordered no for barking and excitement he should be allowed to thoroughly smell the cat.
Not to mention when your dog reaches the point where he chooses not to alert by barking at the cat you have finished the animals introduction successfully.
Allow Your Pets to Interact and Spend Time Together
The last part of having both canines and felines successfully in your home is to make sure they spend time with each other. Usually, it is the cat that lacks in this department.
As a rule, a cat tends to stay away from any other animal, be dogs or people, they are very independent animals. This is not an act of fear, it is simple a personal preference character trait that comes with owning a cat. They enjoy being by themselves more commonly than not.
Encourage Coexistence and Socialization
It is not anywhere near impossible to have happily coexisting dogs and cats under the same roof. With time and patience you may even find your opposites sleeping together and playing with each other. It does require time and your attention however a happy cat and dog home is well worth the investment.
It is funny to see your cat curled up asleep on your dog’s back, or to spot your dog growling at the neighbor canine whilst standing in front of your cat. Consider owning both animals; just remember to take the proper time to train them effectively.
Harmony in a home is much preferred to the destruction that can be wrought by two animals that simply do not get along. That could be a lot of curtain and furniture replacement that could have been avoided.
Becca The Crazy Cats Lady is an experienced and knoweldgeable cat owner with years of experience caring for a multi-cat household. She curates, writes and shares cat content at https://CrazyCatsLady.com.
