This is an age-old question, and it is still as common today as it was 100 years ago: Can cats and dogs live happily in the same household? Can they share the same space without fighting?
Yes! Cats and dogs can share the same space. While they won’t always be best friends, they can learn to tolerate each other.
Do cats and dogs get along?
Typically, most cats and dogs will absolutely get along; you may have to put a little work in, but there’s no reason that you shouldn’t be able to grow your furry family.
As we have lived with cats and dogs in the same house for over 15 years, we have learned how to help them get along, and we want to pass on our seven best tips to you. Below, we’ll explain how these steps can help bring harmony to your home.
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Make sure there is no competition for resources
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Introduce them on neutral ground
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Slow and steady
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Use treats liberally
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Be aware of the breed
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Separate feeding and toileting
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Don’t leave animals unattended until acclimatised
1. Make sure there is no competition for resources
When it comes to encouraging cats and dogs to be friends, our first piece of advice is always to ensure there is never competition for resources. That means no competition for food, water, and a place to call their own. More importantly, it means no competition for your affection either.
If both animals feel cared for, loved, and that their needs are fulfilled, there will be little need to fight.
This means that you should place any items, such as automatic cat feeders, dog water fountains, and pet beds, in separate areas they can feel are their own.
2. Introduce them on neutral ground
Much like humans, animals feel territorial over where they eat and sleep. Any first meeting between species should happen on neutral ground where neither will feel a need to guard their personal space.
This will avoid aggression over territory or the feeling that one animal is encroaching on the other’s turf.
If one animal has a bedroom and the other the living room, use the kitchen. Use a room both animals know and are comfortable in but that isn’t their territory.
3. Slow and steady
If you’re hoping for your cats and dogs to get along, taking things slow is vital. Set aside separate places to eat, drink, and toilet, and give them both space. Set up a ‘meeting’ where you briefly introduce one to the other and then let them go their separate ways to avoid them becoming overwhelmed.
If one animal is curious about the other, allow them to sniff and explore. If the other gets uncomfortable, split them apart again and try again later or at a later date.
4. Use treats liberally
When encouraging cats and dogs to be friends, you want to reinforce the positive association. That means using treats liberally. If both behave themselves, treat each with their own treat of choice. Alternate treating one animal first so there is no perceived hierarchy.
As you’ll know from training, treats and positive reinforcement help create a positive association with the command, the action, and the outcome. We can use this when helping cats and dogs get along.
5. Be aware of the breed
Some dogs find it harder to live with smaller, faster-moving animals than others. Dogs with a high prey drive will have a harder time adapting to living with a cat than a dog with a lower prey drive.
Dogs such as terriers are notoriously challenging to teach that a cat isn’t prey to be chased. Breeds like Labradors or Alsatians can easily be trained to leave alone with training.
Some cats are naturally more territorial than others, but this has less to do with breed and more to do with personality. Unfortunately, you’ll have to figure this out as you go along.
6. Separate feeding and toileting
As per our previous point about not competing for resources, that’s especially true for food and places to toilet.
Feed the cat somewhere the dog cannot get to it and do the same for the dog. Use training to instruct the other animal to leave well alone and everything should be fine.
There may occasionally be a bit of food stealing, but as long as each animal feels safe when eating, there should be no conflict. This problem can be reduced or prevented with the use of a microchip cat feeder, which only dispenses food when a particular pet’s microchip is sensed.
Do the same for toileting. While animals will naturally avoid places other animals go to the toilet, use training to make sure each can toilet in peace. After all, no one likes being disturbed on the toilet!
7. Don’t leave animals unattended until acclimatised
Don’t let your cat and dog meet on their own until they have accepted one another. Chances are that it will be fine and nothing bad will happen, but it’s vital in those early stages that every interaction is a positive one.
Be present and make sure someone is around for every meet to begin with. If you have to leave the house, consider using a child gate or crate for the dog to give the cat its own space.
This will help each animal relax and hopefully teach them that even though there’s another animal around, they won’t always be made to be in the same space.
How do you get cats and dogs to get along?
It is definitely possible for cats and dogs to share the same space. As long as you approach everything in a calm, logical way and consider each species’ psychology, you should be fine.
Make sure no animal feels left out. Ensure they have their own space, their own food and water and their own time with you, and everything should work out!
Useful cat and dog products at Closer Pets
We hope this guide has taught you that a dog and cat can be friends if you introduce them gently and make the time to accommodate each of your pets’ needs.
Closer Pets is the home to pet innovation, and as such, we have a wealth of cat products and dog products that allow you to spend more quality time with your furry family members.
Contact us
If you’d like to know more about our innovative products, be sure to get in touch with us. A member of our team will be more than happy to give you a helping hand!