We teach a dog to a kitten or the secrets of eternal friendship. How to introduce a puppy to your cat

The dog is peacefully dozing on the rug, and the cat is comfortably settled next to it and lulls its tailed friend with an affectionate and gentle purr. How to make a cat and a dog friends in an apartment so that such an idyllic picture becomes a reality? Indeed, many owners are faced with the opposite situation, when their beloved pets turn the house into a war zone and compete not only for territory, but also for the attention of all family members. And the main task of the owner in this case is not to take a neutral position, but to make every effort to reconcile the animals and help them become true friends.

Causes of animosity between dogs and cats

If we recall the work of the English writer Rudyard Kipling "The Cat that Walks by itself", then dogs and cats are eternal enemies and there can be no talk of any friendship between them. But in fact, these animals have no special reasons for enmity, they just perceive the world around them differently.

Dogs, like their closest relatives, wolves, prefer to lead a pack life, because it is easier for them to survive and protect their territory from strangers. Cats, on the contrary, are loners by nature and avoid communication not only with other animal species, but also with representatives of their own kind.

Such features of the behavior of cats and dogs determine their mutual hostility, since the dog considers all household members and animals living in the house to be members of his pack and will persistently seek their society. Naturally, the cat does not like such an obtrusive neighbor, so the fluffy pet begins to defend itself, taking a fighting stance and hissing at the dog, which eventually ends in a fierce fight between the two pets.

And often the owners, observing the daily conflicts of their pets, make a radical decision to give one of them to another family, although it is quite possible to make friends with a cat with a dog if you show a little patience and follow certain rules.

Who is the head in this house?

When a kitten and a puppy enter the house at the same time, the question of how to reconcile them does not even arise, because the kids see each other not as a rival or enemy, but as a companion with whom they can play and frolic.

In adult animals, the process of adaptation to a new neighbor is much more difficult, therefore, before introducing a dog to a cat or a cat to a dog, it is advisable to prepare for this in advance.

If a dog lives in the house:

Before you get a kitten, you should observe how the dog on a walk reacts to cats running past. If he is torn off the leash, trying to rush after the cat, the pet must be taught the commands “no” or “fu”;
It would not be superfluous to take the dog to visit friends who have a cat and observe the behavior of a four-legged pet. In the case when the dog does not show aggression towards the cat, but shows interest, you can safely get a fluffy pet;
Before meeting a cat, it is advisable to put on a muzzle or at least a leash on a large dog or a representative of a hunting breed so that he cannot harm the new pet;
The dog must know and follow basic commands such as "sit" and "down" so that the owner can control it in the process of getting to know the kitten.

If a cat lives in the house:

In order for the cat to get used to the new neighbor faster, you can first introduce it to the neighbor's dog and give the animals the opportunity to communicate, of course, under the supervision of the owners;
Before bringing a puppy into the house, it is advisable for the cat to cut its claws so that in the event of an attack on the dog, the pet does not inflict serious wounds on him;
The sounds of a dog barking unnerve and frighten a cat. Therefore, before getting a four-legged pet, some owners record dog barking on a cassette or disk and turn it on every day for several minutes so that the cat gets used to the source of irritation and subsequently ceases to perceive it as a threat.

First acquaintance of pets

It is very important to correctly and competently organize the first acquaintance of animals, because it depends on this how their relationship will develop in the future. If a dog frightens a fluffy pet with a loud bark or tries to attack him, then one can hardly expect that friendship and mutual understanding will arise between the pets.

If a cat has been a full-fledged owner in the house for more than one year, then before you add a new neighbor to him, you should make sure that he is in a calm and relaxed state. You can put the dog in the room and see how the cat reacts to it. If she took on a menacing look and began to hiss, but is at a safe distance and does not try to attack the puppy, then you should not interfere, it is better to give the animals a few minutes to get to know each other.

But, when, when meeting a dog, a cat without warning rushed at her and grabbed her claws, the animals must be immediately separated into different rooms and contact between them should be prevented for the next two or three days. Perhaps in a few days, the cat will get used to the smell of a new pet and subsequently treat him more friendly.

In the event that the dog was the first to appear in the house, they put a leash on it before meeting the cat and only then let the new pet into the room. When the dog does not show aggression and does not bark furiously, the cat is allowed to examine the room, but at the same time, the behavior of the dog is monitored all the time. If he calmly watches the movements of the newly-made neighbor, we can assume that the first acquaintance was successful and in the future the cat and dog will make friends, and will not turn into irreconcilable enemies.

If the dog is hostile towards the cat and the owner fears for the life of the fluffy pet, in the next few days the dog is put on a muzzle and allowed to watch the cat from afar.

You can also apply this method: the room is divided by a mesh partition so that the pets can see each other, and every day arrange short meetings for them, lasting 15-20 minutes. After a while, the animals will get used to the fact that they now have to share one territory and may be more comfortable with the presence of another pet in the house.

Advice to owners: in no case should animals be forcibly pushed together or locked in the same room, this will only lead to aggression and hatred between them.

Rules for keeping a cat and a dog in the same house

Sometimes a dog and a cat coexist peacefully in the same apartment, but their relationship cannot be called friendly. Pets do not show any interest in each other and try to avoid communication and meeting. Most often, the owners are satisfied with such a situation when a fragile truce has reigned between the animals, and they do not start fights for the territory and attention of the owner.

But if the goal of the owner is to make pets friends, then he should help them in this, and not remain an outside observer.

When the owner takes the dog for a walk, he forgets that cats can also be walked on a leash. Therefore, next time you should take a fluffy pet with you, perhaps a common walk will bring the animals together and contribute to their friendship;
When the cat is comfortably seated on the owner’s lap, it is advisable to call the dog to him so that he is not jealous of the opponent and does not feel deprived of attention and affection;
Both cats and dogs love to play. Therefore, you can come up with a game in which both pets would take part, for example, throwing a ball to them in turn;
If the dog accidentally bit the cat during the game, corporal punishment should not be used. The owner must express his dissatisfaction with the “no” command and lock the dog in another room for a few minutes. So the pet will understand that he has done something illegal and next time he will be careful;
Animal feeding is also important. The cat, when satiated, will calmly leave the food in the bowl and come to the plate when it gets hungry again. This is the main problem, because the dog eats everything to the last crumb and will not miss the chance to finish eating food from the cat's bowl, which, of course, does not please the cat. To avoid this, the fluffy pet's plate is placed in a place where the dog cannot reach, for example, on the windowsill;
Animals must be cared for and cared for equally. Then they will not have feelings of jealousy and rivalry, and the pets will not start a fight for the attention of the owner.

Despite the deeply rooted stereotype that peace between cats and dogs is impossible, these animals, so different and different from each other, often show an example of strong and disinterested friendship. Therefore, reconciling pets is not so difficult as it might seem at first glance, you just need to be patient and surround them with affection and care, then a calm and peaceful atmosphere will always reign in the house, and this is the most important thing.

Probably everyone is familiar with the saying “they live like a cat and a dog”, because the relationship between these two animals leaves much to be desired. However, many couples and families are faced with the fact that these two pets must get along on the same territory.

Animal lovers who have similar experience are willing to talk about how to make friends with a cat and a dog in an apartment.

First you need to decide who should be started in the first place: a cat or a dog. Many pet owners claim that it is best to have a kitten and a puppy at the same time.

This state of affairs is considered ideal. In this case, most often a strong and lasting friendship is established between the animals, so problems in the future are simply excluded.

However, you should not be upset if the situation is different. If you decide to pick up a kitten on the street, you do not need to abandon this idea just because there is an adult dog in the house. In this case, you need to be patient, understanding and take advantage of the recommendations of experienced professionals.

As already noted, it is better to have a puppy and a kitten at the same time, but the distinctive situations need to be studied in more detail. For example, if you are the owner of a cat, but at the same time you decide to get a puppy, it is better to give preference to an animal aged from 3 to 12 weeks.

If we are talking about the need to make friends with an adult dog with a kitten, it is important to consider the relationship of the first animal to the representatives of the cat family. Most likely, it will not be the best idea to replenish the house in the form of a kitten if the dog on the street behaves extremely aggressively at the sight of cats.

If a four-legged friend does not show interest in cats, there is a chance to establish relations between pets.

As practice shows, it is more difficult to make friends with an adult cat with a small puppy. The fact is that a cat living in the house, at the sight of a new inhabitant, begins to feel that it is losing its place, therefore it can behave extremely aggressively, releasing its claws and hissing. As a rule, dogs concede superiority and do not respond with aggression.

When you first meet a cat with a dog, it is important to take into account the size, because an aggressive animal can not only scare, but also injure a new family member.

In addition, if we are talking about the first meeting of an adult dog with a kitten, you need to remember that an adult animal does not know that you should behave more delicately with smaller brothers. The awareness of this simple fact will come to the dog over time, so in the early stages it is recommended to monitor the behavior of the pet and pull it in dangerous situations.

In order for the cohabitation of a cat and a dog in the house not to cause excessive inconvenience to the owners, it is necessary to think through all the nuances. You can also use the following practical recommendations:

The first meeting between animals should take place at a distance so that the animals have the opportunity to get acquainted with each other's smells. Experts recommend giving preference to the separate keeping of animals in the first two to three days. This will avoid conflicts and at the same time get used to them with the presence of each other.
It is important to exclude excitement on the part of the owners, because this can be transmitted to animals and not have the best effect on their first meeting.
It is also better to choose different rooms for serving food, so that smells evoke only positive associations in animals, which will contribute to quick taming. If this is not possible, you can feed the animals in the same room, but the food should be placed in different directions.
When feeding animals, you first need to put a bowl of food on the animal that is older. It is noted that this approach has a positive effect on the subsequent relationship between animals.
The first four days it is necessary to control the joint stay of animals. As a rule, this period in most cases is enough for the cat and dog to get used to each other and be able to leave them unattended in the future.
Cats and dogs are quite jealous animals. Be sure to try to equally pay attention to each pet, because otherwise conflicts between them cannot be avoided.

Experts assure that the relationship between a dog and a cat depends not only on the above factors, but also on the attitude and behavior of the owners.

Before you start such different animals in the house, you need to thoroughly think about the fact that this step is quite responsible. More attention will be required from the owners, because its lack can cause serious hostility.

We really want to believe in friendship between animals, but most scientists argue that games between different species of animals and even their joint sleep cannot be attributed to the manifestation of friendly relations. Let's not argue with them, let's better think about how to make sure that the relationship between a dog and a cat is not at least hostile.

A lot of people who want to take a cat into the house are worried about her health and life, so they already have a dog in the house, but it happens the other way around, they already have a cat, but they take a dog, but in this case they worry about the cat. Although quite often in such families where both pets live, as a rule, the dog suffers! What to do to avoid quarrels and fights between a cat and a dog living in your house?

Not everything is as bad as it seems at first glance. Peace between such different animals is entirely possible. There are many stories in which a cat adopted a small puppy, or vice versa, a dog took a tiny kitten under its care. It is much more difficult to try on two adult animals, but, in my opinion, if you show patience and the right approach, then this is also possible.

Who to turn on first?

Often the question arises: who to get first - a cat or a dog? And if it turned out that a pet already lives in the house, and you picked up the second one on the street and there is no one to attach it to? That is, you do not have to choose, because fate decreed so. So you need to "negotiate" with the "senior" animal. Show patience and understanding. If the situation gets out of control, consult a specialist. Remember, there is always a way.

At what age is it better to introduce a cat and a dog?

It is better when they are both small or at least one of them is the best option. If you have a cat in your home but would like to have a dog as well, then try to adopt a 3-12 week old puppy. The ideal option is when you have a dog that is good (calmly) with cats. You can try to get a kitten and introduce them to start with, but everything should be under your control. Try to restrain the dog from excessive emotions.

How to introduce animals?

We are getting a kitten.

To begin with, the meeting should take place at a distance, let the animals get acquainted with the smell of each other. Do not force anything and try to be calm, as your excitement may be indulged in by animals. Experts recommend keeping animals in different rooms for the first 2-3 days so that they do not see each other if possible, but hear and feel each other.

They should also get food in different rooms, then the smell will be positively associated with eating and taming will be faster. If it is not possible to keep in different rooms - feed in one, but in opposite corners. First, put a bowl of food on the older pet, and only then on the younger one - this will also have a positive effect on the further relationship between them.

The dog will soon get used to the kitten, but still, at first, try to control their behavior in order to avoid possible conflicts. In most cases, the animals quickly get used to each other and already approximately on the 3rd-4th day they get along well with each other, as if they had known each other for a long time. The main thing is that the kitten evokes positive emotions in the dog. Punishment won't accomplish anything.

We are getting a puppy.

In this situation, everything is much simpler. A puppy will get used to a cat from childhood and, as an adult, will not show aggression towards it. However, he can be far from friendly with other cats. It's all envy from the owner himself. A small puppy does not need to be accustomed to a cat at all, except to stop all his attempts to annoy her. It is very important to teach animals to eat separately so that they simply do not interfere with each other. Each of them should have their own personal territory.

But if suddenly the cat and the dog did not make friends, then in this case it is better to make sure that they at least meet less.

There are dog people and there are cat people. Some people just love animals. different. Everyone. They even have houses, sometimes, like in Noah's Ark - each creature has a pair))) And it doesn’t matter if the pet meows or barks, everyone is loved, everyone is welcome and everyone can find a corner in their hearts and in the apartment.

Some make a decision to get both a dog and a cat in a balanced and deliberate way, plan in advance, discuss ... And for others, everything is spontaneous, it's just how their life circumstances develop. They threw, for example, a baby kitten under the door ... Do not drive him away, he will die of hunger and cold! That's what they take into the house. Well, what if a dog already lives there, they will make friends somehow! 🙂

Everyone knows that by nature a cat and a dog are antagonists. So what to do?!
A wise owner will read a competent article and help his animals to establish peace in the apartment! And we, in turn, will try to help this owner with valuable advice - how to behave correctly in such a situation and what, first of all, you need to pay attention to.

It will largely depend on the behavior of the owner how quickly and easily a cat and a dog can make friends. And it will also depend on at what age and in what sequence the cat and dog appeared in the house.

Two kids.

The most ideal scenario is when both a cat and a dog appear in the family at the same time and as babies. Having just been separated from their mother, they will find valuable support and a kindred spirit in each other. Toddlers are not used to sleeping alone yet, this is a real stress for them. They will cuddle up to each other in a dream, together it will be easier and calmer for them.

It is easier for mischievous, restless children to establish contact with each other - joint games, pranks and fun unite! 😉

Adult animal and baby.

If you already have an adult cat and you take a puppy, or, conversely, a small kitten appears in a family with an already grown dog, at first you will have to be on your guard!

Do not leave animals alone without supervision! Their acquaintance and communication at first should take place only under your control. The rest of the time during the first two or three days, the animals should be isolated, in different rooms. Let them hear sounds, smell smells and get used to each other at a distance.

So the cat and the dog will be less worried, and the adult animal will not be able to inadvertently harm the baby, causing injury.
It is also desirable to feed the animals at first in different rooms.

Usually dogs are more calm and even about the appearance of a new family member. Cats are more jealous, distrustful and wary. Therefore, it is very important to provide that the cat has its own “safety island”, on which, in which case, it could hide from the encroachments of the dog.

Arrange a special sleeping place for the cat - a soft house or a cozy shelf at a comfortable height for her so that the dog cannot get there. The cat should be able to be in solitude whenever she wants!

Two adult animals.

Perhaps this is the most difficult of all possible options. An adult animal most likely already has some experience of communicating with another species. And, most likely, it will not be positive. Perhaps your cat has already been chased by dogs, or the dog, on the contrary, was scratched by a cat chasing her.

It will take much more time and effort for an adult cat and dog to be able to make friends. The most important thing in such a situation is to be patient and in no case force things.

Emotions.

Remember that cats and dogs have different expressions of emotion. For example, a dog wags its tail, showing us its positive attitude and friendly attitude. If the cat is wagging its tail, this indicates its tense and irritated state.

Do not bring animals against their will and watch closely for any signs of fear, hostility or aggression.

Sooner or later, curiosity will prevail over caution, and their friendly relationship will gradually begin to emerge!

Old timer and new.

If you already had a pet, and recently a “new one” appeared, the old-timer may begin to painfully experience this fact. Remember that animals are sometimes terribly jealous.

In order not to provoke them into conflicts, make it a rule to try to give them the same amount of attention. For example, it is desirable to feed or stroke them together so that they do not have the desire to compete with each other for a piece of food or the caress of the owner.

Fortunately, there are often cases when a beloved pet "adopts" a new one, accepting him as his child - begins to care for him and entertain him.

Food.

Remember that cats and dogs have slightly different attitudes towards food. The cat eats exactly as much as he wants now, setting aside the excess on the plate. The dog will strive to eat his entire portion and, in addition, profit from cat food.

To prevent your dog from overeating, remove bowls of leftover food by placing them by the clock when it's time to feed. Now you'll have to watch your pets' eating habits more closely to prevent one from getting hungry and another from overeating.

Help the cat and dog make friends!

The owner can use cunning to help his pets get closer. For example, you can come up with joint games for a cat and a dog. You can go for a walk all together or go to the country. Even just lounging on the couch surrounded by your pets, petting and scratching them both, will be a great move to make friends between a cat and a dog and bring peace to the family! 😉

I would like to summarize the topic briefly - the love, care and attention of the owner work wonders.
Show patience and wisdom and your animals will live together.

And in conclusion, I would like to introduce you to the wonderful poem by Maria Vasilievna Semyonova:

From the bosom, taking out an orphan puppy,
The owner addressed the cat with a word:
"That's it, grey! Forget about mice for a while:
You need to take care of the baby.

Will you be the uncle of the kitten until you grow up? —
"Moore-mur-meow!" the cat answered in agreement.
And immediately I was puzzled by many things -
Warmed, and comforted, and sang a song.

And then we started talking about the sciences:
How to drink from a saucer, how to ask to go into the yard,
How to chase a rooster and grumpy geese ...
Time was running fast for new friends.

After spring, spring, after a blizzard, a blizzard ...
Instead of a crybaby puppy, a handsome male became.
And, taking a turn for everything in this life,
A cat rested under a garden bush.

The owner of the hushed dog stroked for a long time ...
And then he said, looking at the sky:
“We are all mortal, shaggy ... But know that the soul
Very soon a baby will enter the other!

The dog listened as if he could understand,
And in the evening he dragged the kitten home.
Also gray! With a white spot on the chest! ..
Say, strictly, Master do not judge me!
Do you see the little one crying? Pour milk!
I'll be the cat's uncle for now...

I remind you that this article is copyright, and its full or partial use is allowed ONLY if there is an active clickable link to it on the website resource

And a few more of our materials on the relationship between cats and dogs:
— Funny video about how a cat nurses Jack Russell Terrier puppies.
— A selection of funny photos "We lived like a cat with a dog"
— With the arrival of spring! Happy Cats Day!

You are a happy owner of a nice cat. To make yourself even happier, you decide to get yourself a cute puppy too. Acquaintance of two pets is a very ticklish moment. Most likely, it will be a sad experience for both. There are some methods that allow you to make this acquaintance more enjoyable. With the right approach to this issue, you will avoid future problems with the cohabitation of your pets. How to bring a puppy to a house where there is a cat?

Let's start with the puppy.

Let's assign him a separate room. It can be a room or, if the apartment has only one room, a kitchen. We put everything necessary for him: a sleeping place, bowls of food and water, toys and more. The main condition is the absence of a cat in this room. Such isolation will only take a day or two. At this time, give both pets more affection, care and attention. Just don't let them see each other. It is important! If the cat wants to come to the door, do not prevent it. The main thing - do not let into the room.

Preparing a cat for a puppy

The cat already knew that something was happening. Our task is to gradually adapt it to the appearance of a new tenant. The emphasis is on the cat. By nature, puppies are friendly and respond only to counter aggression with aggression. Unfriendly attitude towards a new pet for a cat is a very common problem. So what's next? Now we need to take the cat out of the house. Do not close somewhere, namely, take out completely. We release the puppy from its confinement and let it fully explore the new territory. Make sure that he visits every corner of your house. He must look at everything and sniff everything. We bring the puppy back to his room. We return the cat to the house. She will immediately feel a new smell for her. A start.

Cat and puppy. First meeting.

To do this, we need a box or a strong box. There must be holes in the box. This is done so that the cat sees the puppy, and the puppy sees the cat. We place the puppy in a box, making sure that he cannot get out of there. We bring the box to where our cat is. We step aside, allowing the cat to explore an alien object with a surprise inside. Try to distract the puppy if he growls or barks at the cat. This procedure should be carried out for several minutes twice a day. Please note that both pets still live in different rooms. At this stage, their meetings should only take place with the help of a box. After several peaceful meetings, you can proceed to the next stage.

Now the pets are ready for closer contact. To do this, bring the puppy on a leash to the room to the cat. You can't let your dog off the leash! It will be better if you ask someone to hold the puppy out of the way. At this time, calm the cat and say kind words to it. Don't bring her close to the puppy, she should come closer when she's ready. At first, keep these meetings short. Gradually it will be possible to increase the time spent together. The puppy must still be on a leash.

When you are sure that the animals are calmly together in the same room, you can try to let the puppy off the leash. Before that, you will need to make sure that the cat has a place where she could hide. At this stage, animals should not be left alone. Take full control of these meetings. After a while you will see that they get used to each other. Then you can leave them unattended.

This method allows you to gradually introduce the cat to the puppy. If you follow the correct procedure, then there will be no problems.