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For many people who love animals, their favorite saying could easily be “the more the merrier.” But how can you keep pets of different breeds together and ensure harmony in the household?

Whatever the species involved, planning, supervision and vigilance are key to a safe and happy relationship between all members of the household. This is particularly true if you allow interaction between species which would normally be regarded as predator and prey.

In some instances, you can never be fully confident, no matter how long the animals have lived together peacefully: a sudden moment when instinct overrides training and conditioning can mean a tragic end to one of your beloved pets. Here are some tips for handling some common interactions:

Contrary to popular myth, cats and dogs can be good friends if introduced properly. Those that have grown up together usually get along fine and the cat will always be the dominant one in the relationship regardless of the size of the dog. Physical space and territory are very important to cats so make sure that your cat always has a safe place where it can retreat from the attentions of the dog, especially if the latter is young and boisterous. Always confine the dog rather than the cat. Make sure your dog learns basic obedience so you have some control over its behavior and can step in if things get a bit out of control.

On the other hand, puppies may need protection from sharp feline claws which can cause severe damage to their eyes. It’s best not to leave the two animals together initially and to supervise all interactions until they have settled and seem relaxed in each other’s company. Don’t expect that all dogs and cats will eventually snuggle together - in many cases, they simply learn to tolerate and ignore each other’s presence.

Don’t force the animals upon each other; let them get used to each other in their own time. As dogs and cats have very different body languages, they can find it difficult and confusing when communicating with each other at first (for example, cats sniff noses on greeting whereas dogs sniff each other’s rear ends; dogs wag their tails when happy whereas cats whisk their tails from side to side when they are irritated).

Don’t be over-protective or interfere too much in the interaction. Allow the animals to sniff each other and communicate physically. Step in only if things look dangerous. Some initial spats (especially hissing and spitting on the part of the cat) are expected and nothing to be too concerned about.

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Tags: Pets

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