What? Are you telling me to bring Tom and Spike together? That’s pure craziness.
Is it really?
I mean, look at Garfield and Odie. Okay, they might not be the best pals ever, but they do get along quite well.
If you want to be the owner of a canine and a feline, you need these tips.
#1. Always Try to Start Young
If it’s possible, try to raise your pet friends together from the time they are still very young. At this age, puppies and kittens haven’t yet socialized much with other dogs and cats to get unpleasant experiences. Plus, as they might be nearly the same size, the confidence, or rather arrogance level, would be low, meaning no one will have a fair advantage over the other.
#2. Take Personality and Not Breed Into Account
A popular belief includes considering the breed of the animal to match it with other pets. I’d rather you take the personality into account and this advice is given by someone who made a horrible mistake of trying to match a Groucho Barx, who we all know doesn’t like sharing its space, with an uncontrollably exuberant kitten.
No matter what type of dog you have, if you know he can be pretty aggressive, violent and possessive of his territory, mixing him with a playful cat is not a good idea.
So, if these two animals don’t seem to match up at all, create a backup plant and try to establish a household arrangement that will keep these animals separated from each other.
#3. Give the Cat Its Own Territory Before It Meets With a Dog
In terms of nature, cats are more territorial than canines.
While kittens might be friendly and act lovey-dovey at the start, once they mature, you’ll notice that their territorial behavior would emerge, demanding their own protected space.
Once your cat reaches 12 weeks of age, you should provide it with a sort of base camp where it would be able to get away from the rest of the household. Cats love playing and being pampered by their owners, but when the time comes to eat and sleep, your cat wouldn’t want to be pestered by anything or anyone.
If this private space is not provided, its territorial desire can lead to sudden signs of aggression. And, I’m sure you don’t want a dog-cat war to break out in your house.
Creating a dog-free zone is worth the effort.
#4. Train Your Dog
Needless to tell you what ensues when Spike chases after Tom. And, of course, when Tom dashes off in fear of being hit with a shovel or a golf club, that’s when you know it’s game on!
The only way to prevent your dog from leaping across the kitchen and chasing the cat around, destroying everything in its way, is to train it.
Yes, chaos can be avoided if you can make your dog obey to your commands such as stay, sit or run. It will help you be more in control of the situation and ensure a peaceful and calm home environment.
So, unless you get Fluffy to control its impulses, do not let it get in the face of Fido.
Little tip: It is strongly recommended to use a leash during the training stages.
#5. Let Them Sniff Each Other Out
Just like how human beings talk to get to know each other, similarly, felines and canines communicate using their smelling ability.
Before you plan the grand meeting, it is crucial to get them both mixed up with each other’s scents. For example, make them sniff each other’s beddings or toys and make them familiar without the need for a face-to-face confrontation.
#6. Shower Them Both With Affection
Do you forget your first child when you have a new baby at home?
I don’t think so.
The same applies to cats and dogs. Once you brought a new friend home, do not forget your old companion. When you embrace both of them with love and affection, chances are they will be able to accept each other more easily.
Do you live with a cat and a dog? If yes, why don’t you share your experience with us?
