Want a pet but cannot decide whether to get a cat or a dog? Are you asking yourself whether you are a cat person or a dog person? Well, If you do not mind an intelligent, independent, low-maintenance animal that is rather aloof and not clingy, then you are a cat person material. If you like intelligent, highly trainable, very loyal animals that are in tune with humans' feelings; are team players and people pleasers then my friend, you are indeed a dog person.
What? You love them both; you cannot decide whether you are a cat person or a dog person? Then why don’t you just be a pet person and get them both! We all heard tales about how they don’t get along, and become territorial or potentially violent with one another. While these tales can be based on truth in certain cases, if you have a weakness for both feline and canine companionship, don’t let these old folk tales stop you.
It’s true that some cats and dogs will not make good housemates; they are two different animals with two different distinctive personalities that will not necessarily blend. However, under the right conditions, many cats and dogs can live together in perfect harmony. So, if you want your cats and dogs to play well together, there are a few steps that you should follow:
First, you need to introduce your animals properly to each other:
If a puppy and kitten are raised together, they generally will learn right away to tolerate each other, and some cats and dogs grow to be real friends, even playing and napping together. However, if a dog is already an established member of the household and a new cat or kitten is going to join the family, certain precautions need to be taken.
- You need to make sure that both animals are kept apart from each other but still can smell each other, they need to be familiar with each other’s scent before getting to actually meet. When you first introduce your new cat to your dog, the cat should be at the dog’s eye level and you should make sure that you have a firm grip on both animals. If one of the animals seems either aggressive or frightened, immediately remove the cat and try again at a later time. Do not force the situation. Take a few minutes several times a day to give the cat and dog this carefully supervised time together and soon you will see them feeling more relaxed around each other.
- Never leave a cat and dog alone together until you are certain that they are comfortable with each other.
Second, you need to ensure that the living environment is accommodating to both animals:
- Many dogs can become highly protective of their food, as a result, some dogs may hide their food or become aggressive if another animal approaches them while eating. You should avoid this by ensuring that each of your pets has their own designated feeding spaces
- As most cats and dogs enjoy a mix of socializing and time spent alone... be sure to give each animal a private space to rest and enjoy quiet time.
- You ought to designate a quiet space for your cat's litter box that's away from a lot of foot traffic and keep it out of areas where your dog may be tempted to sniff it or mess with it, as that may cause your cat to feel like their space has been violated.
Just remember that if you're going to take on the responsibility of two animals, you should also be prepared to give out double the attention. This means ensuring that both your cat and dog get their own individual time to connect with you.
One last thing, please bear in mind that there's a chance that your cat and dog won't be friends, but you can help them coexist in peace using treats and other techniques.