Do you have a dog in your house and have you decided to get a kitten? Or, on the contrary, you have a kitten, but are planning to add to the family? The second option, of course, is simpler; making friends with two cubs, albeit of different species, is quite possible. Let's not concentrate on the small things and go the hard way - consider the acquaintance of an adult dog and a cat (kitten, young cat). If you are ready to work, correct the behavior of your charges, show patience and restraint, below we will look at how to accustom a dog to a kitten. If you think that it will “grow together on its own,” my urgent advice is to refuse to purchase a second animal.
Preparing for dating
Before bringing a new animal into your home, think through all the nuances in detail:
- Pets should not “cross each other” for 2–3 days.
- Both animals must have their own bedding.
- The “resident” must have access to the places where the “newcomer” has been.
- The cat must have access to the litter box.
- Feeding should be separate, behind tightly closed doors.
- The dog must know basic commands and be comfortable with the muzzle.
- The tips of the kitten's claws are filed.
Important! Do not be under the illusion that a dog poses a greater danger, yes, it is physically stronger, but a kitten saving its life is an “eye-scratching machine”! Be prepared for attack from both sides!
Cat and adult dog
It is very difficult to make friends with animals that are already in adulthood. This process is a little easier if they previously had experience of coexistence with a representative of the “enemy camp”. In another situation, it is better to think carefully about such a step and weigh whether you and your loved ones have enough strength, patience and time for the complex process of bringing your pets together. Be prepared for the fact that it will not be possible to achieve peaceful relations, and you will have to choose which of the two to leave in the house and which one you will have to part with, no matter how cruel it may sound.
A lot depends on the atmosphere of the first meeting of future neighbors, so when introducing a cat to an adult dog, great care should be taken. If she immediately runs away from the dog in panic and fright, then stop all attempts on his part to catch up with the elusive “game”
Command your dog to “sit” and praise him for following the command. She must understand that if she treats the cat peacefully and does not chase it, then the owner will always praise and encourage her. But in the first days of acquaintance between pets, it is best to put a muzzle on an adult dog and not remove the leash in order to hold the pet by it at any time.
You should understand that it will take a cat quite some time to get used to the presence of another animal in the house and adapt to the new neighborhood. This often takes several months or even more, especially if your pet has never encountered dogs before. To ensure that the process of habituation and adaptation takes less time and is not too traumatic for the psycho-emotional state of both animals, make sure that the cat always has a place where she can feel safe.
At first, make a large desk such an “oasis of comfort.” The ideal option would be another room where the dog cannot enter. You need to put a bowl of food there and place a house if the purr likes to sleep in it. Remember also that the dog needs to be blocked from accessing the litter tray, otherwise it will create inconvenience for the cat, and then for you, because she may refuse to use it out of fear. Experts advise making some changes in the life of an existing animal in advance, so that later it will be easier for it to adapt and come to terms with the appearance of a “stranger” on its territory.
Initial acquaintance
Animals do not need to see each other; they rely on smells. Ideally, the wards are locked in different rooms. If the home has one room, the kitchen is used as an “enclosure”. During the day, animals must be swapped and allowed to walk through “neutral territory” on a first-come, first-served basis. The period of 3 days is conditional; in order to accustom a large dog to a small kitten, you need to keep the animals separately until the primary emotions fade away. It will be especially difficult with choleric dogs.
Teaching friendship: secrets and nuances
Before introducing one pet to another, it is necessary to take into account some basic rules that will simplify the process and lead to a positive result. Therefore, let's look at how to accustom a dog to a cat.
First meeting
When a new pet comes into the house, he often reacts warily to everything that happens and hesitantly explores the apartment. For some period he can hide, be completely inactive.
At this time, introducing him to other inhabitants of the house is not recommended, as you can scare the new resident, especially if the pet that has been living in your apartment for a long time is an adult.
For example, if you buy a small kitten and immediately place it in the same room with the dog, it will probably try to run away from the curious and playful dog, and the latter will try to catch up with the baby and the consequences can be unpleasant for both animals.
Therefore, when you bring a new pet into your home, place it in a separate room that you do not forget to lock. An animal living in your house for a long time will smell a new smell and characteristic sounds, to which it will gradually become accustomed.
After some time, you can bring the new resident of the apartment into a room with another pet for closer animal contact.
Important! It is not recommended to leave your pets alone while they get used to each other, as a conflict may arise between them, and you should take the baby in your arms at any time for protection.
Owner's attention
Perhaps the main reason for hostility between a dog and a cat in the same apartment is the attention of the owner
If a cat by its nature is not attached to affection from its owner and calmly tolerates its absence, then it is very important for the dog that it receives a lot of attention, and it regards this as the main indicator of love.
But when a rival appears in the house, the cat’s behavior changes radically - it tries to attract attention to itself, competing in every possible way with the dog for the affection of its owner. When the dog is taken for a walk, the cat may meow desperately, indignant, and demanding to take it with you.
The dog is less jealous in this regard, but still will not allow the cat to be its owner’s favorite, and will try in every possible way to shift attention to itself. In this case, animals can be compared to small children who are jealous of their parents and try to attract attention to themselves.
Therefore, you should evenly distribute your time, paying attention to both pets, so that they feel needed and full-fledged members of the family
Everyone has their place
In order not to provoke conflicts between pets, it is recommended to arrange for them to relax in separate places that they have chosen.
It is advisable that they be in different rooms, in this case you will be able to control that one animal does not drive away the other, each has its own territory where the cat or dog can feel protected.
Lunch together
As for the food intake of the pets in question, their attitude towards food is radically opposite. A cat will never overeat if she always has food in her bowl. This animal eats little by little, returning to the food bowl regularly throughout the day.
The dog eats everything at once, regardless of what is offered to it. Therefore, she can eat all her food and switch to the cat’s bowl, which will soon also be empty, which the animal is unlikely to be happy about, returning after a while to once again refresh itself.
Over time, the cat, of course, will get used to this behavior of the dog and will try to eat the maximum amount of food at one time, so as not to go hungry the rest of the time.
Due to the above-mentioned eating habits, it is recommended to feed your pets together so that each of them receives the required amount of food.
Face to face – first meeting
When the first passions subside and the animals come to terms with the presence of a “stranger,” we move on to the next stage. An adult dog is put on a parfors (strict collar) and a muzzle. The animals meet through a crack in the slightly open door. Please note that a cat may well scratch a dog through a small gap. The procedure is repeated until the animals begin to behave restrained, “sniffing nose to nose.”
There is also a method for fans of fast and extreme moves. First, you thoroughly study the body language of cats and dogs! Afterwards, a soft muzzle and a loose leash are put on the dog, and the cat’s claws are trimmed. Animals are brought together in one room, the owner watches. If they intend to start a fight, the animals isolate themselves. According to the experience of the owners, the first method is more effective; it allows the wards to get to know each other under circumstances of moderate stress. No one guarantees that pets will sleep together, but they are quite capable of sharing territory without fighting.
How to make friends between an adult cat and a puppy: advice from experienced owners
Many animal lovers keep both cats and dogs at the same time. Moreover, often every old-timer at home has a negative attitude towards the recently adopted pet. The situation becomes much more complicated if we are talking about an adult cat and a small puppy. Due to age and temperament, such animals are more difficult to get along with than pets of other categories. However, if you act carefully and consistently, you can make friends between an adult cat and a puppy. Pets will even be able to make friends and have a great time together.
Of course, both animals, accustomed to the same lifestyle and family composition, cannot change their habits and behavior overnight. If you bring together a cat already living at home and a puppy at once, without preparation, it is almost guaranteed to end in a fight. Therefore, before introducing your pets, you should gradually, tactfully and unobtrusively prepare them:
- At first, animals should be kept separately and, preferably, away from each other. It is best if they have different rooms, or the puppy will occupy an outdoor enclosure. The cat and dog will immediately understand that there are other animals nearby. They will get used to the smells and sounds of each other . They should be allowed to do this: you can even help by giving the cat the bedding on which the puppy slept so that she can sniff it.
- When the pets adapt (after a day or several days), it will be possible to organize their meeting. It is better to walk the puppy for a long time beforehand, amusing him with games - when he is tired, he will react more calmly to the cat. The dog is put on a leash. Pets are given time to examine each other and sniff. When long stares and closeness begin, it is better to remove the puppy. Fights should not be allowed ; it is better to immediately interrupt the meeting. Gradually, the distance can be reduced, giving the animals the opportunity to smell and touch each other. Light games or comic growls are a sign of a tolerable relationship emerging. However, caution is still necessary.
- When the animals react more or less calmly to each other, they can be released into the common space. However, at this stage the likelihood of conflicts is still high. Therefore, the owner should take action. The cat's claws are trimmed so that it cannot seriously injure the baby. She should have a secluded place, inaccessible to the dog, in order to avoid violent games at will. Houses with narrow passages at a height are ideal - on bookshelves, a refrigerator, etc. The puppy needs to be given his own comfortable and warm sleeping place, where he will happily spend time without bothering others. Animals are fed in different parts of the house, away from each other and, preferably, at the same time. This will eliminate conflicts over food.
- It is very important that the cat does not feel abandoned when the puppy arrives. Therefore, from now on, be sure to pet her more , pick her up, play and talk to her. It is useful to pamper with treats and encourage in every possible way. Then the pet will stop being jealous and consider that the new pet can become a good playmate.
All these rules must be followed for a long time - usually at least a month. By showing patience and love for animals, the owner will definitely teach them to live in peace.
And to make this work better, treat the pets to encourage calm behavior together.
And be sure to closely monitor the health of the animals - if they are in pain, they are unlikely to be affectionate even to their beloved owners.
How to make friends with a dog and a cat
Is there enmity between cats and dogs? How to make friends between a cat and a dog. Friendship between a cat and a dog.
Introducing a puppy to a kitten or adult cat
Yes, the puppy’s behavior needs to be considered separately. The baby is unlikely to intentionally harm the cat, but is guaranteed to turn the existence of the mustachioed tabby into a “holiday.” Your task is to exhaust the dog on walks and distract it at home if the cat is not in the mood to communicate. Over time, Murzik will adapt to moving around the house without touching the floor, and the puppy will understand that the arched back and hiss of a “forced playmate” are far from a friendly invitation to frolic.
If serious aggression is shown, the dog should be punished by you, and not by the cat - it is safer. Your task is to catch the moment of the attack and strictly stop it with the command “Fu”, with a jerk of the parforce, a rolled-up newspaper on the butt as a last resort. If you do not “break” this moment in the process of growing up, either the dog will need a dog handler, or your cat will die the “death of the brave.”
How to calm a cat's aggression?
The hardest part is the “snack”. Exactly! Cat aggression is much more difficult to defeat! The dog instinctively serves, obeys, and is tormented by its conscience when its owner is upset. A cat has no such moral burdens. Even a kitten that has recently moved into the house can prove to be a cruel “dictator”.
There is only one way out - patience and affection, cats are not forced, they are negotiated with. Take the animal in your arms more often, sitting in a chair and stroking the cat, call the dog with a gesture and lay it at your feet, the pets should understand that your attention and territory will be enough for both. There is only one trick on your side - the cat feels more confident when it is higher than its opponent. Equip the animal with holes on window sills and furniture; being at the “top of the world”, the pet will ignore the dog.
Reasons why animals are not friends with each other
For what reasons may animals not be friends with each other, even after making friends at first? Zoologists identify the following reasons in this case.
Lack of attention from the owner
Many have heard the hackneyed phrase “A cat that walks by itself.” Some people really believe that cats are independent and do not like too much attention from their owner or family. But this does not mean that they should be given less attention; they need it just like dogs. Dogs are simpler in this matter: if they require the owner’s attention, they will show it with all their appearance.
If a dog and a cat live in the house, the struggle for the owner’s attention will be active. This can manifest itself in different ways, from who will be the first to meet the owner at the door from work, ending with the place near the owner
If more attention is paid to one pet, the second will show aggression, both towards the second animal in the house and towards the owner himself.
Important! Owners should understand that in terms of jealousy, animals resemble six-month-old children, so it is important to pay equal attention to both
Food as an object of increased attention
If there is a dog and a cat at home, many owners know how often one looks into the other’s bowl, even if he himself has a thicket of goodies. Zoologists say that cats, for the most part, eat without much appetite; a dog, on the contrary, will eat everything from the bowl and ask for more. Therefore, in a house where a cat and a dog live, the first ones will have to change their eating habits.
Food is an eternal object of contention
Owners must remember: the dog is prone to overeating, so a certain part of the cat food will be eaten. A cat can walk around half-starved. Because of this, pets can quarrel with each other. If possible, you need to place the animals' bowls so that one cannot look in and feast on the other's bowl.
