Can cats and dogs live together without constantly being at war? It seems that they very often can.
We often hear people claim to be a "cat person" or a "dog person", but browsing through the various pet forums it appears that there are many of us that equally like both cats and dogs.
My son has a beautiful Border Collie who was the only pet of the house until she was five years old. Then three part Burmese kittens were brought into the family. Mollie the Collie and the kittens were introduced to each other slowly, and Mollie was taught that the kittens were not to be harassed. Naturally she was given extra doses of attention and affection, just to show her that the kittens were an addition to the family, and not a replacement for her.
As the kittens grew they soon learned to dominate the dog, after all they are felines and a canine must know its place, besides there are three of them. Often when Mollie is snoozing, or just reclining chilling out, one of the cats will just walk right over her, forgoing the niceties of walking around the dog. Mollie gives the impression that this behavior does not bother her, but sometimes a little sigh of exasperation is heard. Rarely do the cats take any interest in what is in the dog bowl, Mollie on the other hand, will quite often take a sniff of the cats lunch, and if one of the cats is close by it will give a warning hiss.
I don't think that it can be said that the cats and Mollie are great friends, they never appear to play together. They live together in a state of tolerance, rather than friendship, but the relationship works OK, my son's house is free of cat and dog fights.
But from reading the posts on the pet forums, many people report that their cat and dog are the best of buddies.
A lady writes that her Boxer and tabby curl up together on the sofa. Another post from an elderly gentleman reports that his Persian often hitches a ride on the back of his Labrador cross. There are many posts about cats and dogs being taken for walks together, stories of felines and canines being absolutely inseparable, even accounts of dogs pining for cats that have passed away.
All this does not imply that any old cat and dog can be thrown together and get on like a house on fire. Some dog breeds are unlikely to put up with sharing their home with a cat. Hounds and hunting dogs, for example may not be a wise choice. Also not all breeds of cat are sociable enough to live with another species of animal.
When introducing cats and dogs to each other do it slowly and make sure that you are in control. Never leave your pets without supervision while they are learning to get along with each other. Feeding your cat and dog in separate places, and at separate times is probably best until they are used to one another.
Remember that two or more dogs are likely to have a pack instinct, and could see a new kitten as prey. If yours is a multi-dog household and you are adding a cat to your pet family, make the introduction one dog at a time. Remember also that it is not only dogs that can hurt cats, frightened cats can inflict nasty scratches to inquisitive puppies and dogs, and a scratch on the puppy's eyes could be serious.
So can cats and dogs live together as friends? Yes, they can, it may take patience and perseverance on your part, but the result will be worth it
About The Author
Larry Chamberlain is the webmaster of www.best-cat-art.com and a lifelong cat lover. He lives in London England. Want to find that perfectCat Lover Gift?
executive chauffeured services Bradford .. Madison to Airport carTraining your dog to "sit" is probably the first thing... Read More
This is the story of my dog called Shandy. He... Read More
Wondering how to begin crate training your puppy or dog,... Read More
What makes something news? The fact that you take good... Read More
It happens all too often. A family or cat friend... Read More
The other day, I was invited to see my friend's... Read More
Have you ever thought about what you need to do... Read More
Some say it started with the Taco Bell dog. A... Read More
Just like when you bring home a new baby, you... Read More
Mistake #7 ? Assuming You Can Get On Any Horse... Read More
In compiling some information on achieving a proper fit to... Read More
A crate is a valuable and useful training tool. Its... Read More
Can you comprehend a time when dog food, cat food,... Read More
Why use a crate:When used properly and not abused, crates... Read More
One of the most common causes of Feline Urinary Tract... Read More
Shy dogs are more common than most people think, but... Read More
Dogs and kids, it's a combination that at it's best... Read More
You've seen them in movies and on TV shows, and... Read More
Many chronic diseases commonly seen in pets result from immune... Read More
Some Dogs like Boxers unfortunately, are prone to several potential... Read More
A few years ago, before I decided to stay home... Read More
A well-train dog usually leads a happier and healthier life... Read More
The most important thing to remember in analyzing the behavior... Read More
Mention the word "video" and different people would come up... Read More
In part one we talked about forming good behavior traits... Read More
O'Hare Chicago prom limo ..Playing reinforces the bond between you and your cat.Playing with... Read More
So you're thinking about trying cichlids. A good choice. In... Read More
For thousands of years, dogs have been "man's best friend."... Read More
Unfortunately, there are a number of household items which we... Read More
Do you make a lot of trips to the vet's... Read More
Oscar is kind of a funny name and it fit... Read More
By Jeffrey Rolocopyright 2004 AlphaHorseIn the dating world many men... Read More
When we talk about hypoallergenic dogs, we mean that they... Read More
What kind of materials should you use when constructing a... Read More
Are you thinking about getting some discus then and want... Read More
Obesity in dogs is a growing problem, which can cause... Read More
Are you ready for a Boxer?The answer is "no" if... Read More
For realistic tips for humans who are moving with cats,... Read More
The West Highland White Terrier or Westie, has it's origin,... Read More
Bringing home a new puppy, ushers in a wave of... Read More
Mistake #7 ? Assuming You Can Get On Any Horse... Read More
Dog day care programs benefit the dogs of owner's who... Read More
A dog, like a human baby, experiences the world through... Read More
With all the companionship and love that our dogs give... Read More
Many different skin problems can arise in the aquarium. thankfully,... Read More
If you are beginning to feel like an endangered species... Read More
1) Why should I crate train my dog? ... Read More
Proper training of your dog should begin when he is... Read More
This is an old saying that many of us have... Read More
Here are 5 things to do to put the odds... Read More
Pet |