Can these two notorious enemies ever be friends? Tim Falk finds out how dogs and cats can live together peacefully.
When Judy Gillespie decided to add gorgeous rescue cat Leo to her family, she couldn’t help but worry how her nine-year-old Staffy Nina would react. After the sad passing of the family’s other Staffy, Nina was the family’s only pet — which suited her just fine.
“I was very worried that Nina wouldn’t get along with a cat as she had absolutely no previous experience with them. But I did heaps of reading and we luckily have a spare room which I set up for Leo,” Judy explains. Leo the tabby, adopted because of his “chilled” nature around people, dogs and other cats, seemed like he could be the perfect pet to share a house with the lovable Staffy. But can it ever really be possible for dogs and cats to get along?
The answer, according to animal behaviourist Dr Jo Righetti, is yes. “Cats and dogs can get along really well together. They can even play together, sleep together or groom one another,” Dr Jo says. “For some households, however, being best friends may be a bit much. Living in peaceful harmony may be the most realistic goal.”
Why the drama?
Why do our two favourite domestic pets have such a reputation for fighting like, well, cats and dogs? Dr Jo says inadequate socialisation and poorly managed introductions are the usual cause of a cat and dog not getting along together.
Starting again
Do you have a dog and cat that don’t get along? Dr Jo says it’s time to start again and begin introducing the animals as if for the first time. Keep them separate by the use of a lead, crates, carry cases and space within the home, and create positive associations by giving each animal what they love (food, praise, pats) when the other animal is present.
- When the cat dislikes the dog: “Allow the cat to sit high and watch the dog’s movements, get to know their noises and their scents. If nothing bad happens to the cat, they will begin to accept the dog. Never let the dog chase the cat,” Dr Jo says.
- When the dog dislikes the cat: “If this is a fearful situation, gradually introduce the cat to the dog, going at the dog’s pace. If the dog is aggressive towards the cat, keep them separate and seek professional assistance from a dog trainer or animal behaviourist. You may need to brush up on your dog training skills prior to any re-introductions.
The original article was published in PETS issue 62. Click here to subscribe to our magazine.
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