Dogs and cats under the same roof
Dogs
are often territorial and will fight not just new cats but other new
dogs as well. They tend to mark their territory and will fight anyone
who invades their space. Cats have the same tendencies and even if they
are smaller than to dogs, they will scratch and fight for their
territory.
The first step is obedience. This is necessary especially for the dog,
which is usually the aggressor in this kind of situation. You have to
train your dog to obey when you say "no".
Allow your cat to wander around the house. Cats love to roam and this
will make her scent scattered in your home. After doing this, lock your
cat in one room and let your dog wander around the house sniffing for
the cat's scent. This will make your dog acquainted to your cats smell
and train the dog that the cat is part of the household.
Dogs usually start barking whenever they see some other animals in
their territory, hoping to scare them away. They won't really lunge at
something immediately. Once he starts barking, this is where the
obedience part starts to come in. Say "no" and make him realize that
the cat is also a pet.
If your dog starts to calm down when in the presence of the cat, then
it's the time to let him sniff the cat. Once your dog starts to decide
not to bark at your cat you know that you've done the introduction part
successfully.
The final step is making sure that both pets have the time to coexist.
This part is usually the cat's fault. Cats have the tendency to be
aloof and stay away from the dog and other people. It's not because
they are afraid of the dog but more because it's their nature to be
alone.
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