For centuries, the animosity between dogs and cats has been a subject of conversations from the White House to the smallest homes in the country. Needless to say, there are actually some pet owners who have no problem with their cat and dog co-existing peacefully in the same residence. In some instances, the animals make it a practice to ignore each other or they go out of their way to stay out of the other’s favorite places. Of course, there are also the cases where the dogs are constantly chasing the cats around the home.

This fighting like “cats and dogs” does not have to be the norm because the two species can get along with each other. Sometimes the animosity may exist because of the animal’s previous experience with the other species before the two became paired together. At other times, the communication differences may be the source of the problem. For instance, when a cat moves her tail about it is typically to  show she is unhappy. A dog, on the other hand, moves his appendage to show he is happy and/or excited. You can help your two pets survive comfortably together by remembering and respecting the needs and innate behaviors of both animals.

If you plan on having a home where the cat and dog get along together in some way, then your best choice of pets is a dog who has had some positive experience with cats and a curious feline who is not afraid of canines. When you adopt the new pet, the shelter or other organization where you find your furry friend can help you decide which animal is most likely to be a suitable friend for the pet you already have. This selection will be made after the personalities of both pets have been reviewed.

There are some pets that do not make good partners for pets of other species. Case in point, canines who are basically hunters, like terriers, herding dogs, and hounds, do not do well with felines because their natural instinct is to catch and kill. Cats who have lived in the wild will not do well in homes with dogs either because of their previous experiences with “the enemy” in their natural environment.

Check the Water Before Jumping into the Pool

Even more so than dogs, cats can be quite territorial; they do not like change so in order to keep things comfortable for everyone involved, the introduction should be slow. At this time, patience is a necessity because the introductory period could take as little as a couple of days to a number of weeks to a month or two. To speed along the process, it is important that the pet owner remember to spend one-on-one time with each individual in their respective spaces.

Kind, soft words will go a long way towards making each animal feel special. It is also of vital importance that the oldest, animal family member does not feel neglected during this time. The animals can be exposed to each other through brief meetings in a common area of the house. These short meetings will let them both know that there can be two pets in one household.

A Restrained Meet and Greet

To maintain control of your dog during the initial meetings, it is a good idea to keep him on a leash in case he becomes a little too excited. The “down/stay” command will be quite beneficial if your pooch is trained. For both safety and emotional reasons, the cat should be kept clear of the dog’s bite range during the meet and greets. When the cat wants to move away from the door, it should be allowed to do so.

Some pet owners have their animals meet for the first time on the reverse sides of a gate. Even so, the animals should not be allowed to mingle or even touch each other’s noses until they have become more familiar with one another. In other circumstances, one pet has been placed in a pet carrier while the other is given freedom to walk around the carrier and sniff the other animal. The latter situation may vary in effectiveness depending on the behavior and personalities of the individual pets.

Use Common Sense and Share Scents

Unlike humans, animals do not use face-to-face conversations to get to know each other; they learn about each other through their scents. For this reason, your two pets could learn about each other before they actually meet. To begin the scent exchange, softly rub a washcloth, shirt, towel, or sock over your dog, and then place the piece of cloth somewhere near an area where you know the cat will be, places like the cat bed or eating area.

After a couple of days, rub the scented item on the feline so the two animal scents will be mingled. Now, the same process can be use to acclimate your dog to the cat’s scent. Performing this sharing of scents will provide the animals with at least a little awareness of each other so they will not be complete strangers at their first meeting.

A Safe Space for Your Feline

Since cats are extremely territorial, your cat (and it does not matter if the cat is the resident or new family member) will need his or her own private area for a while during the introductory period. This private space should be a room or area with some type of door or divider that will allow the feline to have alone time without fear of being disturbed. In this area, there should also be water, food, a bed, toys, a clean box filled with litter, and a scratching post or similar item. This safe space will give you cat a sense of security because it will know it has a retreat away from the dog. The dog should not be allowed to hang out around the feline’s safe spot because its presence will create an air of tension that is counterproductive to a comfortable environment.

Provide Individual Eating Areas

Separate eating spaces should be set up so that each of the animals can eat without worrying about the other pet. To keep the dog from grabbing the cat’s food, it is a good idea to have the cat’s eating area located on a high surface like a windowsill or a countertop. There is another benefit to having each animal eat in its own area; separate dining tables assures that each animal will receive the right food. Dog and cat foods are not the same. Most cats have no interest in canine foods, but dogs tend to like the fat and protein content that is found in most feline diets. Dogs who eat cat food on a regular basis tend to gain weight and do not receive the proper nutrients.