In the olden days, the saying ‘they are like cats and dogs’ has existed, because it was thought that a friendship could never be formed between them because of their different characters. Of course, this is partly true, but it is up to us to try to make them live in peace and harmony. The dog is a sociable animal, it loves to live in a pack, it adores being with its owners, if it is abandoned it can barely survive, it depends a lot on who looks after it. The cat is more independent, knows how to survive adversity, becomes attached to the house and tends to return and find it again if it is abandoned, reserved, intelligent but also opportunistic, knows how to be affectionate if necessary and cuddly.
But what happens if we let cats and dogs live together? Their ways of communicating are completely different, the dog wags its tail to play and arches up, the cat does so to attack, the dog defecates to mark its territory, the cat does so by scratching surfaces, the dog barks to attract attention, the cat meows because it feels threatened and these are just examples!!!
It only takes a few measures to get them to live happily together! If you get them both as puppies, the problem is solved! They will soon get used to living together, grow up together and quickly adopt the habits of the house without fighting. They will even eat, play and sleep together!
We will have a little more difficulty if the dog is bigger than the cat and vice versa. If we have a guard dog or a hunting dog, the cat will be a little more afraid. A guard dog will tend to defend its territory from strangers and will be a little more aggressive and its rival is a threat; a hunting dog, having hunting instincts, will see the cat as a wild animal and therefore prey.
It is best to evaluate everything before adopting. If you have a docile dog that accepts new arrivals with enthusiasm, then welcome little one!!! What if the cat is bigger than the dog? It is always a good idea to choose a dog breed to go with your cat. The only advantage is that the feline already knows its environment and can quickly find a hiding place in the event of an escape or an argument.
It is always a good idea to leave two spaces in the house where each cat can feel safe and can isolate itself if necessary. Jealousy often leads to both of them fighting and even hurting each other, each wanting our attention, which is essential the first few times not to leave them alone. If one of them wants to stay on the sofa or on the bed, the other must not be excluded.
If there is a fight, beware of the cat’s scratches, which can cause an infection in the dog, and especially beware of the cat’s eyes, where the feline strikes most easily. The food bowls should be well spaced and the food should be different, the dog loves cat food because it is tastier and therefore more harmful to him. The good thing is that the cat soon learns where its place is in a few days and will trick the dog if it is annoyed.
However, with patience and love we will manage to have an excellent cohabitation and slow down the tensions, taking the time is the best solution!!!
