It is an old wives' tale that dogs and cats are mortal enemies and cannot live together peacefully. What is true, however, is that the dog must be well trained and the owner of the two animals must have his dog well under control. If you let a dog and a cat live together uncontrollably, you may put them both in serious danger.

 

Getting to know dogs and cats as adult animals

The success of the first meeting between dog and cat depends largely on the previous experience of the two animals. When choosing animals, the new owner should therefore take into account their background and experience with other animals.
A dog that has been frequently scratched by cats in the past will probably not be very happy if it has to share its home with a cat, of all people. Likewise, a cat that has had bad experiences with dogs will be extremely hostile towards a dog.

Assuming you find two animals that are theoretically a good match, you have to get the first meeting of the two right. The first impression between a dog and a cat is just as important as with people.

All housemates should be relaxed and positive about meeting each other, because stress transmitted to the animals through nervousness makes them unnecessarily anxious and makes a good relationship more difficult. For the first few days, the new animal should be kept in a separate room and of course be allowed to settle in well there with good food, fresh water and lots of affection. The animal that lived in the flat first should have the rest of the flat at its disposal during this time. If you have a good feeling, you can occasionally and under supervision leave both animals together for a short time and give them both equal attention.

If the owner will be in the house all day, he can let the new animal out of his room. For safety reasons, the dog should stay on a loose leash for the beginning. Both animals need time to get to know each other. Never force them together. So if the cat hides, you should wait until it feels safe enough to come out on its own.

Growling and hissing are quite normal in the first days. Dog and cat must first learn to assess each other without endangering their own position of power. However, if they start to seriously attack each other, they should be sprayed wet or separated from each other with loud reprimands until they have calmed down. None of the animals should be punished for this.

The friendship between a dog and a cat takes a while to develop. This is mainly because they first have to learn to understand each other. The dog's body language can be interpreted in exactly the opposite way by the cat, which leads to misunderstanding and hostility. For example, if the dog wags its tail, it is happy. If a cat wags its tail, it is tense and wants to be left alone.

Dog and cat as animal children

When a dog and a cat grow up together, there are usually no problems at all, because they have time to get to know each other through play. Animal children are naive and have not yet developed a defence mechanism.
Nevertheless, even as a puppy and kitten, dogs and cats should be brought together carefully when they first meet. An adult should always be present to supervise until they have become accustomed to each other. At the first sign of aggression, separate them and try again later. It is also important to be relaxed and positive.

Until the animals have become friends with each other, they should be allowed to each have their own sleeping area. If they learn to tolerate each other over time, a real friendship can develop. Often they will then sleep together in the same basket, but this is something they must decide voluntarily.

Important: You should never just leave a dog and a cat together and wait for them to sort out the situation with each other.

If one of the two animals has to go to the vet, it will inevitably bring the smell of the clinic home with it. This can make the other animal nervous and lead to arguments. So it is best to observe the animal for a while after the vet.