How Do Cats and Dogs Get Accustomed to Each Other?

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First of all, although both cats and dogs are seen as ideal pets, they have different characteristics within themselves. Therefore, these obvious differences in body languages ​​that communicate with the outside world are known as the main reason for disagreements. For example, our feline friends wag their tail when they are restless or angry, while our canine friends, on the contrary, do this when they are happy. Similarly, adult cats may perceive the pup’s play requests as a threat, while adult dogs may view the kitten’s playfulness as a target because of their hunting impulses. But don’t let the fact that there are such contrasts in nature make you despair, don’t get used to the cat and dog; It is not as difficult as it seems to overcome these disagreements by showing effort and patience.

So, how can these two species, which are often presented as rivals, be friendly with each other? What should be done and what should be avoided during the cat and dog training process? In this article, we have put it under the spotlight for you.

Things to Do in the Cat – Dog Training Process

The saying of our ancestors that the tree bends when it is old is also valid for the animal world. These creatures, which are seen as two eternal enemies, can easily get used to each other and become friends during their childhood. In this period called socialization, cats and puppies begin to get to know their environment and it is quite easy for them to accept or adopt other living things. One of the important reasons that accelerates the habituation process of the cat and dog is that the suspicion of a foreign creature brought before the adult cat or dog is not seen in the puppies in this period.

Another point to be considered is to eliminate situations that may make our lovely friends uneasy at the first encounter… A quiet and calm environment will make your job easier by keeping them peaceful. As a preliminary preparation, it will be beneficial for the cat and dog to smell each other’s items such as blankets and toys during the meeting. If the former resident of the house is the dog, it must be rewarded compared to the cat. Motivated by a treat or a caress at every encounter, the dog will soon realize that he has been rewarded by the new guest and will show positive behavior towards the cat. Otherwise, when they get angry and exhibit aggressive attitudes, it is necessary not to panic and to keep the pets under control as much as possible without separating them from each other. Because the more time they spend under your control, the faster they get used to each other.

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Not Possible for Some Breeds

After the pets are compared, they should not be left alone, even if they do not act negatively or harshly on each other. For a certain period of time, when you cannot be present, they must stay in separate rooms, under conditions where they cannot come into physical contact. In addition, placing food and water containers in remote places will prevent small quarrels that occur during the habituation process of the cat and dog.

It is a known fact that female dogs are faster and more adaptable than male dogs in establishing friendships with cats, since they do not have much leadership impulses. If you have a male dog, don’t worry, over time they can decide who is the leader and become close friends. However, due to their nature, some breeds, unfortunately, do not seem to be able to form friendships with cats. We can list them as follows:

  • rottweiler
  • boxer
  • Jack Russell
  • doberman
  • terrier

Especially hunting dogs perceive the movements of the cat as a target and hunting impulses are triggered. For this reason, it is not recommended that these breeds and cats live in the same environment.

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