Differences in Nature of Dogs and Cats & Tips on How They Can Get Along Well
By Ali Raza, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Dogs and cats are amazing pets. Their friendly nature and elite companionship characters have made them two of the most popular pets worldwide. They have been around humans for thousands of years, sharing habitat but both have retained their unique characters.
Keeping dogs and cats together can sometimes lead to trouble but if they're introduced and trained properly, they can get along well. In this article, we will talk about some prominent differences between the nature of these pets and some tips on how these two can get along well.
Differences in Nature of Dogs and Cats
Dogs have worked together throughout history and even the domesticated dogs have retained some of this pack mentality. Dogs are good at following commands from their leader so dogs are more likely to be good companions than cats. Cats, on the other hand, are solitary hunters. They don't like to follow commands from the their owner. They enjoy their own company at times and if you are looking to make a bond with your cat, you'd have to take the first step.
Dogs and cats have markedly different physiques and stamina. Dogs are active and can be your excellent partners in hiking, running, and other athletic activities. Cats are agile too but they are better at playing games with you. They can't keep up with you while running or hiking. Moreover, the daily physical activity requirements of a cat are fulfilled by indoor activities.
Dogs are more friendly and better at guarding the house. Cats have smaller sizes and like to sleep through most of the daytime. When dogs are aggressive, they snarl and show their teeth. Cats do so by arching their backs. Hair on the skin may also be lifted.
Tips on How Cats and Dogs Can Get Along Well
If you are planning on keeping dogs and cats together as pets, you should get them when they're young. Pets can be trained better when they're young.
You can give a hint of the presence of other pets by letting them smell their bed and toys.
When you have got your cat and dog at home, the first meeting should be done very carefully. Make sure you're present there to avoid any undesirable behavior. The cat should be at the eye level of the dog. Keep a firm grip on both the animals. If one of the two is feeling nervous or frightened, separate them immediately and try this at another time.
When you have introduced the two pets, make sure they don't have any unsupervised interaction in the early days. One can attack the other and may hurt him. Apart from physical injury, such an attack can traumatize the affected pet for life. This can lead to certain behavioral problems.
Competition over toys can result in fights. You should keep the toys and beds of your cat and dog separate. This will minimize the chances of any friction between them while playing.
Exercise your dog regularly according to his physical activity level. The excessive energy should be used in games so that he doesn't lose control around cats.