Can Cats and Dogs Can Live Together ?

Question

I have a gorgeous 4 year old rotti\sheppard who has never been socialised with cats, i have a cat moving in shortly and dont want my puppy to eat it :s, what is the best way to get them to live together?

Answer 1

your 4 yr old is NOT a puppy. give the cat it's own room for awhile. they can get safely aquainted from under the door. but only when someones there so the dog doesn't "eat" the door.

Answer 2

If possible, try doing it the same way you would introduce a baby, except both ways...

If you have access to both pets a week beforehand, then bring some of the cat's bedding to the dog to sniff, and praise him with petting and verbal "Good boy" and stuff for a good while. And vice-versa for the cat with the dog's bedding. Switch 'em back every few days to keep the scent fresh. Then they'll have positive association with each other's smells and won't be freaked out by that much, since scent is overwhelmingly important to animals.

When you first bring the cat, have the dog put away in another room somewhere so you can safely bring the cat carrier in without the cat being too freaked out (JUST for the length of time it takes to get the cat to that room, then let the dog back out). Designate the cat to a single room for a couple days with the door closed, with the carrier open but not dumping the cat out. Let it emerge on its own time, and bond with it so it can trust you.

Meanwhile, whenever the dog or cat sniffs under the door, praise whichever animal you can reach with petting and verbal praise. Dogs and cats work different ways when it comes to correcting: If the dog is too excited and is barking or screeching and digging at the door, clap to distract it and tell it to be easy. If it won't be easy after a few tries, lead it away for a few minutes before letting it go again. The dog needs to associate the scent of the cat with being calm. Praise him when he's calm and interested only.

Cats, since they're not naturally pack animals, do NOT work best when "corrected" when they have a certain mood. If they exhibit fear or anger at the dog's scent, disciplining them will only make them associate dog-smell with anger. Instead, pet and talk to the cat soothingly to calm it down. Yes, doing this with a dog would mess it up, but this is how cats work from my experience; they're emotional rather than action based, so it's up to you to set a mood with them.

Once the cat seems comfortable with the room and you, perhaps after a couple days to a week, put up a baby-gate and open the door. That way the dog and cat can see each other and sniff noses, but not reach each other. Pretty much let them be. The dog might regress to excitement or the cat to defensive postures, but let this go for a day or two. It's due to the newness. Within three to four days, they should calm down as they get adjusted to each other. After this much time, if they're still behaving with unease, resume the old methods: Correct the dog, praise calmness. Reassure the cat.

Finally, put their food and water bowls about four feet apart; on each side two feet from the gate. Eating near each other should help them build a degree of trust once they see that neither of the other will steal their food. If there's too much growling, move them both equally a little further away, then return to previous distance next feeding.

Once they've eaten by each other calmly for three days in a row, put the dog back into a solitary room temporarily (though give it attention, toys, or have someone take it for a walk for two hours), and remove the gate. Let the cat explore the house on its own terms for two hours so it can get a grasp of its environment.

What you do next heavily depends on the cat's personality since they're all so different. If it seems 100% comfy, then you can let the dog out (or back in) and just let things play out according to the Meeting Guidelines below. If the cat still seems nervous or didn't wander very far, then put it back in the room with the gate up before letting the dog back into the general area, and do this whole process every day until the cat seems more comfortable with the whole house.

Always have some safe zones for the cat to retreat to... You can raise the baby gate for the room it's been in just enough that it can fit underneath but not the dog. You can have climbing posts that go up to the ceiling so it can perch up high, or have some stools set up so it can ascend them to some high piece of furniture, or it can have a few cat crates or boxes scattered around to hide in. Even if it gets along with the dog, it still might want time to itself once in a while, so have these in place ahead of time.

Here's my personal Meeting Guidelines that should help:

When the cat is comfy with most or all of the house and you bring the dog into the open area, have the dog on a leash, and do this while the cat is out in the main house rather than its safe-room. Have the dog's collar or a choke-loop up high on its neck, so you can control his head like a dog-show dog. That way he can't pull you around and correcting him with a quick little jerk upward or to the side will be easy (not choking him or pulling him, just a redirecting jerk lasting an instant).

Let them sniff each other and stuff. Watch the dog's reactions. If he's way too tense while staring at the cat, this isn't good as he might be contemplating aggres

Answer 3

think its hard since ur dog had grown up.

its easier if both are still little

Answer 4

That's tough. You'll need to keep them in separate rooms and monitor them at first just in case one pet goes crazy. I actually have a problem with my CAT attacking dogs that like him so it can go both ways. I'm not sure if you can force them to get along together. Just try to slowly spend time with them together under supervision and make sure you keep their treats separate and hopefully that will help.

Answer 5

Trust me it is not your cat you should be worried about. Cats can defend themselves. You need to introduce them but you need to hold onto your dog so it does not eat the cat when the poor thing is least expecting it. As long as you are petting the dog and reassuring him and showing him you love and affection he should not attack the cat.

If your dog is well trained obedience wise you should have no problems. Let him in to met the cat but tell him to "sit" and "stay" and that should be that. The cat may wonder past a few times and he will be very very intrigued and will move unless you have control. so keep reminding him to "stay" before he does move.

I have 4 dogs and 3 cats and I have not had the cats first and then got the dogs it has just been a gradual process one by one built the family and everyone had to get use to each other and that is that. So as long as everyone remembers your the boss and they are family members who must respect each other and you. You will all be fine.  

Answer 6

The best way is to raise them together as puppy and kitten. But in your situation, introduce them by you holding the cat carefully so you don't get all scratched up, and slowly let your gorgeous dog sniff the cat. Talking sweetly to both of them as you introduce them. Your dog loves you and just show him you love the cat too. Do this often, until they get used to each other. It could take a few weeks. And if the cat gets threatened, it could try too claw at your dog. So be cautious and keep an eye out for them. Good luck and be patient!