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| Cat Behavior |
Peaceful Coexistence: Dogs and Cats under One Roof
They fight like ‘cats and dogs’ is a phrase that you often hear to describe persons who seem to argue viciously all the time. Although there is some truth to it, there are many households all over the world that showcase the peaceful coexistence of dogs and cats with their respective owners and their families.
It just points out that by making the correct and reasonable
pet ownership decisions coupled with very cautious introduction of a new dog or
cat into the household can somehow guarantee a more blissful coexistence
between dogs and cats and their owner’s family. Add to this an excellent pet
management system, a consistent training, and appropriate behavior modification
techniques and you are all set to enjoy the many benefits of a multi-species
household.
With sheer luck, you might even introduce other pets into
your household. Read also: How to tame a destructive cat.
Choosing Wisely
The very first step to peaceful coexistence between your dog
and cat coexistence is by choosing the right breed of dog for your home. There
are certain breeds that are naturally comfortable being around cats or are
friendly to them and there are also certain breeds that have the propensity for
violence against cats. You may need to look into the dog’s temperament as a
major consideration for your choice.
Safe Introductions
If you have a household full of dogs and you want to
introduce a new cat into the mix, you need to introduce your cat to each of
your dogs, one at a time, with the dogs carefully restrained. You have to be
careful because, although dogs can be friendly to cats, your cat might not be
entirely sold to the idea of being close to a much larger animal than he is.
Provide Individual Spaces
In order for you to ensure the peaceful coexistence between
your cat and dog, you need to get them accustomed to each other’s presence
first. This will require you to have absolute, undivided supervision as well as
the use of barriers, containment units, and restraints. You can try fencing
them in first so that they will first get accustomed to the sight of each other.
They will eventually try to meet across the bars of your barrier and try to
socialize.
Condition your Pets in the Presence of Each Other
Once your pets are already accustomed to seeing each other
that neither grows anxious or agitated in the presence of the other, you can
now proceed to train them to be in each other’s company. You can achieve this
by being ready with your high-quality foodie treats for both your cat and your
dog. Feed them together but pay special attention to your dog which might suddenly
lunge at your cat. Gently restrain your dog if he does this. Do this for
several sessions until both your cat and your dog can eat together without
bothering one another. By using high-quality food treats, you are beginning to
condition them into respecting each other, associating the presence of one
another to the availability of high-quality food treats. Read also: How to understand cat language.
Be Patient
Training your dog and cat to respect each other and live
harmoniously together requires your dedication, patience, and commitment to
making this happen. Consistency should always be of utmost importance, so is
the frequency of the training sessions. Enlisting the cooperation of the entire
household may also help as a positive energy from the entire family can spread
well into your pets. For more details, click here.