Difference between revisions of "Make a Cat and Dog Get Along"
m (importing article from wikihow) |
m (Text replacement - "[[Category: D" to "[[Category:D") |
||
| (8 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
===Introducing a Dog and Cat for the First Time=== | ===Introducing a Dog and Cat for the First Time=== | ||
#Prepare for the introduction. Whether you are bringing a new cat or dog into a home that already has a cat or dog or you are trying to make your existing pets get along better, you need to create a good foundation to build on. To begin with, make sure that your home has ample space for the two pets to have some space away from each other. You will need to keep the pets separated for several days, so multiple rooms in your home are necessary. | #Prepare for the introduction. Whether you are bringing a new cat or dog into a home that already has a cat or dog or you are trying to make your existing pets get along better, you need to create a good foundation to build on. To begin with, make sure that your home has ample space for the two pets to have some space away from each other. You will need to keep the pets separated for several days, so multiple rooms in your home are necessary. | ||
| − | #*Also, make sure that the dog will follow your commands. You will want to refresh it's obedience training if it does not heed your directions well.<ref>https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/introducing-your-dog-new-cat</ref> Don't let the first encounter your cat has with your dog be a bad one because of an overzealous and aggressive pup. | + | #*Also, make sure that the dog will follow your commands. You will want to refresh it's obedience training if it does not heed your directions well.<ref name="rf1">https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/introducing-your-dog-new-cat</ref> Don't let the first encounter your cat has with your dog be a bad one because of an overzealous and aggressive pup. |
#*If you are introducing a new dog to your home or you have a young puppy that doesn't know it's commands yet, then you need to be more cautious when introducing it to a cat. | #*If you are introducing a new dog to your home or you have a young puppy that doesn't know it's commands yet, then you need to be more cautious when introducing it to a cat. | ||
| − | #Go slow. Do NOT just let your dog chase your cat around. Keep the pets separate at first, waiting 3 or 4 days before actually introducing the animals face to face.<ref>http://www.animalhumanesociety.org/training/introducing-dogs-and-cats</ref> Animals need time to get to know each other's smells and to get to know new homes before they can deal with getting to know another animal. | + | #Go slow. Do NOT just let your dog chase your cat around. Keep the pets separate at first, waiting 3 or 4 days before actually introducing the animals face to face.<ref name="rf2">http://www.animalhumanesociety.org/training/introducing-dogs-and-cats</ref> Animals need time to get to know each other's smells and to get to know new homes before they can deal with getting to know another animal. |
#*Cats and dogs are much more likely to fight or be unhappy if you try to force them together suddenly. Keep them in separate rooms and out of sight of one another until they are both calm. | #*Cats and dogs are much more likely to fight or be unhappy if you try to force them together suddenly. Keep them in separate rooms and out of sight of one another until they are both calm. | ||
#*Begin mixing the animals smells by stroking the cat then stroking the dog and vice versa (with pets in separate rooms). | #*Begin mixing the animals smells by stroking the cat then stroking the dog and vice versa (with pets in separate rooms). | ||
#Alternate the rooms you keep the animals in. This is so they can sniff where each other has been without the other animal being present. Smells are a very important way that animals get to know each other. Let your animals get to know the other's smell before they actually get to know them face to face. | #Alternate the rooms you keep the animals in. This is so they can sniff where each other has been without the other animal being present. Smells are a very important way that animals get to know each other. Let your animals get to know the other's smell before they actually get to know them face to face. | ||
#*Try rubbing a towel on your dog and then putting the towel under your cat's bowl. This will help your cat get used to the dogs smell and accept it. | #*Try rubbing a towel on your dog and then putting the towel under your cat's bowl. This will help your cat get used to the dogs smell and accept it. | ||
| − | #Let the cat and dog smell each other under the door dividing them.<ref>http://www.adoptapet.com/blog/6-steps-to-introduce-a-new-cat-to-your-dog/</ref> This will help them associate the new smells they are smelling with a specific animal, even if they can't actually see it. | + | #Let the cat and dog smell each other under the door dividing them.<ref name="rf3">http://www.adoptapet.com/blog/6-steps-to-introduce-a-new-cat-to-your-dog/</ref> This will help them associate the new smells they are smelling with a specific animal, even if they can't actually see it. |
| − | #*Try feeding the cat and dog on separate sides of the same door.<ref | + | #*Try feeding the cat and dog on separate sides of the same door.<ref name="rf2" /> This will force them to adjust to the smell of the other animal. |
| − | #Wait to introduce your cat and dog until the cat seems relaxed and ready.<ref | + | #Wait to introduce your cat and dog until the cat seems relaxed and ready.<ref name="rf1" /> If the cat is frightened and runs and hides whenever the dog gets near the door to their room, you need to give the cat more time. When the cat is adjusted to the smell and sounds of the dog, it may be time to let them see each other. |
#Hold your cat in your arms until it is calm and relaxed. Then ask a family member or friend to slowly bring your dog on a leash into the room. Gradually bring the dog closer in small steps, waiting for your cat and dog to both settle down as each step of the way before getting closer. Do not let the animals make physical contact with each other, just get them used to the presence of the other. | #Hold your cat in your arms until it is calm and relaxed. Then ask a family member or friend to slowly bring your dog on a leash into the room. Gradually bring the dog closer in small steps, waiting for your cat and dog to both settle down as each step of the way before getting closer. Do not let the animals make physical contact with each other, just get them used to the presence of the other. | ||
#*Be sure to hold the cat only if it is happy to be held. | #*Be sure to hold the cat only if it is happy to be held. | ||
#*Wear long sleeves to protect your arms from scratches. | #*Wear long sleeves to protect your arms from scratches. | ||
| − | #*Another option is to have the cat in a crate while you bring the dog in on a leash.<ref | + | #*Another option is to have the cat in a crate while you bring the dog in on a leash.<ref name="rf3" /> This will guarantee that there is not physical contact between them when they first meet. |
#Show your pets equal amounts of love as you introduce them to each other. Animals, like people, get jealous when 'the new kid' gets more attention than them. Show both of your pets that they are loved by you and that the other animal is not feared by you. | #Show your pets equal amounts of love as you introduce them to each other. Animals, like people, get jealous when 'the new kid' gets more attention than them. Show both of your pets that they are loved by you and that the other animal is not feared by you. | ||
#Separate your pets once again. Don't force them to interact for too long, this will just exhaust them, which can lead to conflict. Make sure the first meeting is a good one by keeping it brief and pleasant. | #Separate your pets once again. Don't force them to interact for too long, this will just exhaust them, which can lead to conflict. Make sure the first meeting is a good one by keeping it brief and pleasant. | ||
| − | #*Gradually increase the lengths of these sessions.<ref | + | #*Gradually increase the lengths of these sessions.<ref name="rf3" /> |
| − | #Continue to have your dog and cat interact until they are relaxed in each other's presence. Once the cat seems comfortable enough, keep the dog on leash but let the cat go loose in the room.<ref | + | #Continue to have your dog and cat interact until they are relaxed in each other's presence. Once the cat seems comfortable enough, keep the dog on leash but let the cat go loose in the room.<ref name="rf3" /> After several weeks of this, your dog should be trained not to go after the cat, as so you can let the dog off the leash as well. |
#*You can also use pheromones, available through your veterinarian, to help both animals stay calm and relaxed. Ask your veterinarian if he or she thinks that the use of synthetic hormones could help your pets during their adjustment period. | #*You can also use pheromones, available through your veterinarian, to help both animals stay calm and relaxed. Ask your veterinarian if he or she thinks that the use of synthetic hormones could help your pets during their adjustment period. | ||
===Adjusting Your Pets to Life Together=== | ===Adjusting Your Pets to Life Together=== | ||
#Separate your pets when you are not home or with them. You should do this for quite awhile, so that your cat and dog do not injure each other. | #Separate your pets when you are not home or with them. You should do this for quite awhile, so that your cat and dog do not injure each other. | ||
| − | #Redirect negative behaviors that your dog directs at your cat. This includes rough play and barking.<ref | + | #Redirect negative behaviors that your dog directs at your cat. This includes rough play and barking.<ref name="rf1" /> Give your pup another activity or do some obedience training with it instead of letting it focus on the cat. |
| − | #*Try to avoid scolding your dog in this circumstance. Keep the situation positive and your dog is more likely to have positive associations with the cat in the future.<ref | + | #*Try to avoid scolding your dog in this circumstance. Keep the situation positive and your dog is more likely to have positive associations with the cat in the future.<ref name="rf1" /> |
#Reward and praise your dog for good behavior around the cat. This can include friendly behavior or simply ignoring the cat. Make it so that when the cat comes into the room it's enjoyable for your dog to treat the cat well, not to be aggressive or to attentive to it. | #Reward and praise your dog for good behavior around the cat. This can include friendly behavior or simply ignoring the cat. Make it so that when the cat comes into the room it's enjoyable for your dog to treat the cat well, not to be aggressive or to attentive to it. | ||
#*Say, "Oh, look, Puppy, Kitty's here! Yay!" and sound very happy. Then give the dog a small training treat. Your dog will soon learn to associate pleasant feelings with the cat. | #*Say, "Oh, look, Puppy, Kitty's here! Yay!" and sound very happy. Then give the dog a small training treat. Your dog will soon learn to associate pleasant feelings with the cat. | ||
#Provide your cat with a place where it can always get out of reach of your dog. This can include a cat tree or a baby gate across a doorway, whatever allows your cat to escape. Cats will generally attack a dog only when backed into a corner with no way to avoid the dog. | #Provide your cat with a place where it can always get out of reach of your dog. This can include a cat tree or a baby gate across a doorway, whatever allows your cat to escape. Cats will generally attack a dog only when backed into a corner with no way to avoid the dog. | ||
| − | #Have realistic expectations. If your dog or your cat has never lived with another animal before, it will not immediately know how to deal with the situation. In addition, you will not know until they are introduced whether your dog will see the cat as play, prey, or a curiosity and you will not know whether your cat will see your dog as a curiosity or a threat.<ref>https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/introducing-your-cat-new-dog</ref> Understanding that you may have a long period of acclimation between the two will help you to persevere with the process of making them get along. | + | #Have realistic expectations. If your dog or your cat has never lived with another animal before, it will not immediately know how to deal with the situation. In addition, you will not know until they are introduced whether your dog will see the cat as play, prey, or a curiosity and you will not know whether your cat will see your dog as a curiosity or a threat.<ref name="rf4">https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/introducing-your-cat-new-dog</ref> Understanding that you may have a long period of acclimation between the two will help you to persevere with the process of making them get along. |
== Tips == | == Tips == | ||
*Try not to play favorites. Sometimes fights are triggered by jealousy. If the dog notices that the cat is getting more attention, it may respond negatively. | *Try not to play favorites. Sometimes fights are triggered by jealousy. If the dog notices that the cat is getting more attention, it may respond negatively. | ||
| − | *It is helpful to introduce the animals to each other when they are younger.<ref | + | *It is helpful to introduce the animals to each other when they are younger.<ref name="rf1" /> Young animals adjust more easily to the idea of living with another type of animal. However, young puppies don't always know their own strength and love to play, so they can end up hurting a kitten by accident.<ref name="rf5">http://www.paws.org/library/cats/home-life/introducing-cat-to-dog/</ref> |
* Make sure to introduce them slowly, don't just put the cat down as soon as you get it and put it in front of the dog. Make sure they get along before putting them in an open space together without being monitored. | * Make sure to introduce them slowly, don't just put the cat down as soon as you get it and put it in front of the dog. Make sure they get along before putting them in an open space together without being monitored. | ||
