For pet owners who already have a cat at home, one cat is no longer enough to satisfy them. What they pursue is a happy life where they can pet cats with their left hand and dogs with their right hand, and have both cats and dogs! But if you already have a cat at home, how can you help the new dog get along harmoniously with it? After all, some cats can kill a dog in a matter of minutes if they get into a fight.
The answer is actually very short: step by step, give cats and dogs a transition period.
Step 1: Let the cat become familiar with the dog’s scent
Before bringing your dog home, you can put your cat in a room that provides the cat with a litter box, plenty of food, water, toys, and its bed. If possible, place a dog-scented blanket on the cat to acquaint the cat with the upcoming dog scent, which is necessary for the safety of both animals. When you bring your puppy home, both pets can hear and smell each other even if the door is closed, and they will both quickly realize that there is another animal in the house. The purpose of this step is to allow both cats and dogs to have a transition period.
Step 2: Give them some alone time
Give each pet individual company time and make them feel comfortable by playing, petting, and talking to each other in their area. Next, separate them and switch places so the pets, whether it’s a cat or a dog, move around to sniff and try to figure out where the other one is. Repeat this process a few times and observe the behavior of the cat and puppy: Focus on the cat. Does it seem anxious? Does it appear nervous? Or is it just sniffing curiously, without much anxiety? These observations will give you a hint as to how long it might take for your cat to accept this transition. How long this transition might take. For dogs, because they just arrived home soon, the puppy may act very happy and want to play. This process may take some time for the cat to calm down and adapt, and requires the owner’s patience.
Step 3: Let the cats and dogs meet harmoniously for the first time
Once you’re confident that both animals are happy with each other’s scent, it’s time to bring them face to face. First, make sure the situation is under control by keeping something between them, such as a baby gate or a playpen, and leashing the puppy first so the dog doesn’t panic or get too excited and cause the situation to get out of hand.
When meeting for the first time, the cat may hiss, growl, or moan, while the puppy opposite may jump, jump, or bark. Cats may even show some anger, but dogs are just curious and want to play! These are completely normal situations. When they calm down and find that the other person is not aggressive, the cat may also calm down, and the dog may also calm down. At this time, you can reward and pet them to help them relax and calm down.
Step 4: Let cats and dogs have real contact
When you have let the dogs meet many times and they are relatively calm, you can let the cat and dog play freely. If you just start and feel that the situation is still out of control, you can put the dog on a leash first. If the dog is in good condition, let go of the leash. Over time, they will get used to each other. In reality, dogs and cats can get along, it just takes some time for them to get to know each other. Once they get used to each other, they may even develop a bond with each other, playing together, cuddling together, and even sleeping together! At that time, you will be the real winner of both cat and dog.
There is really a big difference between raising cats and dogs. If we talk about the biggest difference, I think this paragraph can probably sum it up:
Dog: He gave me shelter and food. Is he God?
Cat: He gave me shelter and food. I am God!
Original article author：Shit Shovel Officer，If reprinted, please indicate the source.：https://www.petcatanddog.com/article/10531.html