It was long held that dogs and cats can't co-exist under the same roof. Having both a dog and a cat myself, I can confirm that is not the case. There are, however, several factors to take into account.
How you introduce a dog to a cat is key. Also, introducing these two species at an early age is always best. You should never force the introduction, but there are a few things you can do.
If you have a cat or cats and want to bring home a mature dog, try to find out some history on the dog. Things like whether or not they've been around cats before. If you can't get any history, it's better to be safe than sorry. Keep them separate for awhile and introduce them slowly. Use of a dog leash would be good for this purpose.
Some breeds actually don't get on well with cats. These include your hunting breeds like Dobermans, hounds and others. Also, terriers don't get along well with cats. Please keep the breed in mind when you decide to bring a dog home to a cat environment.
If your new dog does not react much to cats when brought home, don't automatically think all is well. Sometimes, grown dogs will be completely civil when inside, but then attack when outside. So don't leave them unsupervised in the same room until you are sure.
Now, if you bring a new puppy home instead of a grown dog, there are some better introduction methods you can use. Remember, I mentioned earlier the age of the dog makes a difference. You will want to keep them apart for a couple of days or so. During that time, let the cats sniff the puppy's blanket to acclimate to the puppy's scent. Be sure you let the puppy do the same for where the cats normally sleep.
Now it's time for the true introduction. You should hold onto the puppy firmly on the floor and let the cats come to the puppy. This is their first visual as well as physical meeting. The puppy is secure and the cats are free to approach and withdraw as they please. If the cats stay in the area after this, let the puppy go. If the puppy starts to run toward the cats, firmly say "No". This will bear repeating as the puppy learns not to chase the cats.
Before long, the two species will be romping around together and be good friends. Many will even become protective of one another. Just take the time to socialize them properly and you'll be one big happy family.
Debbie Foster is the owner of
http://petbedsunlimited.com where you'll find a wide selection of quality pet beds, dog crates, dog carriers, dog pens,
large dog beds, cat beds, cat carriers,
pet strollers and more.
