Do you have a cat and dog that can’t seem to coexist? It is not uncommon for cats and dogs to fight like, well, cats and dogs. Some animals just seem to be able to live happily aside one another, while others need some help getting along. Knowing how to make a cat and dog get along can help restore harmony in your home.
When you want to introduce a new pet into the home it helps to make sure your home has enough space for you pets to have breathing room from one another. You want to keep the pets separated for several days so it is necessary to have a home with multiple rooms.
Make certain that your dog understands basic commands. You want to be able to control your dog so he doesn’t scare your cat by being overzealous or aggressive. If you are introducing a new dog into the home it won’t know commands yet so you will need to be very cautious when you introduce the dog to your cat.
Take it slow. Don’t just allow your dog to chase your cat around your home. Start off by keeping them separate for 3 or 4 days. This will give them time to get to know one another’s smells. It will also give the new pet a chance to adjust to their new home.
Cats and dogs are more likely to fight if you put them together prematurely. It is best to keep them in separate rooms until they are both calm and comfortable. Start the introduction by mixing the animal smells. Do this by petting one pet and then petting the other. They will smell the other pet on you.
Switch up the rooms you keep the pets in. This way they can sniff the other animals smell. Smells are how animals get to know one another. Allow your animals to get used to each other’s smells before you introduce them face to face. You can also rub a towel on your dog and then put the towel under your cat’s food bowl. This will help your cat get familiar with your dog’s smell.
Have your cat and dog smell each other separated by either a door or a baby gate. Put their food bowls by the divider so they are forced to adjust to the smell of the other pet.