The arrival of a new member to your family may not be a good reception for your cat, especially if the newcomer is treated neither more nor less than a dog. And it is that your nice feline can be the most cuddly and adorable for you, but at the same time behave like the worst enemy for your dog.
Indeed, the saying of getting along like a cat and a dog may have its point in some cases, but is it something irremediable? Quite the contrary, because if you want to know how to make a cat accept a dog, in this article on our site we will detail what you can do to solve this enmity.
Can a cat and a dog get along?
The relationship between dogs and cats has a reputation for being complicated. But nothing could be further from the truth, since the formation of a stable and secure relationship between these two species will depend on multiple factors.
By this we mean that, indeed, a cat and a dog can get along to the point of being great friends or, at least, tolerating living in the same household. But if you are wondering why your cat hisses and growls at your dog, you should know that this relationship will largely depend on whether the following conditions are met:
- If adequate socialization has been carried out during the puppy stage.
- Give them adequate adaptation and acceptance time.
- Establish clear guidelines for coexistence.
- Provide a suitable environment for both of them.
As we will see below, when any of these points or multiple of them limp, a bad relationship between both species may arise that will make it difficult harmonious coexistence at home.
In this other article on our site we give you some Tips for a dog and a cat to get along.
For more information, we encourage you to watch the video below, where we will see more
Why won't my cat accept my dog?
Both dogs and cats are sociable animals, which have the innate tendency to create bonds of friendship and belonging to a group. However, in this case, the learning process will be a fundamental part that will determine how sociable they are, as well as what they should and should not be afraid of. With this in mind, let's see why your cat rejects your dog:
No socialization with dogs
The period of socialization of a puppy is a stage in which he is especially susceptible to learning about his environment and those who inhabit it
During this period, your kitty learns to interact with others, be it other cats, people or dogs. If, on the other hand, your cat as a puppy did not meet any friendly dog, now introducing him to a dog is something completely unknown to him, which is why he is afraid of it.
Negative experience
A very common reason why your cat might reject your canine friend is because the feline had a bad experience with one or more dogs in the past; it could be a simple bark, that it has chased you or even an aggression.
If we add to this what was mentioned above, that is, that your cat has not known friendly dogs as a puppy, the perfect combination will be formed so that your cat shamelessly shows his discomfort with the new member of the family. family.
Resource Protection
If your cat was used to living comfortably alone at home, that is, without having to share, it is natural that he feels uncomfortable with the sudden presence of a third member at home, since this can take from him the resources that are valuable to him , like his food, his bed, the pampering you give him, etc. Therefore, he needs to keep this threat away.
Hurry to introduce the new family member
It is extremely important when introducing a new member to the household, be it a dog or a cat, among others, that you try to make as progressive as possibleAnd it is that cats are very susceptible to changes; they need time to adapt and associate this change with something positive. But if they are sudden, the feline will feel stressed and will probably develop an irritable or skittish mood, in addition to clearly affecting quality of life.
How to make a cat accept a dog?
If your cat openly rejects your dog, growls, hisses or may even attack your dog, as well as if you are wondering how to introduce a dog into the house if you live with a cat, you should knowing that this relationship can be on the one hand completely hostile or, on the other hand, tolerable and even pleasant if you do it properly and progressively
So let's see how to introduce a dog and a cat correctly so that your two pets get along:
Prepare the ground before arrival
As we have discussed, any sudden change will make your cat feel insecure and develop stress. It is for this reason that, before bringing your dog home, prepare your home thoroughly a few days before so that your cat can adapt in advance. This implies:
- Make sure that both your dog and your cat will have at least one individual space where they feel safe Keep in mind that the shelter of your cat should be placed in a high place where your cat can monitor the environment and the dog cannot reach it.
- Each of your pets should have access to water and food individually and without being bothered by the other, since which could cause a conflict.
- The your cat's litter box should be placed in an intimate place, where your dog cannot access.
- Prepare a space for your dog (such as a room) where it will spend these first days of adaptation. This area should not be a point of interest for your cat (such as the living room) so that it does not perceive it as something negative.
- It is recommended that you use a pheromone diffuser to help your cat feel comfortable despite the change.
Olfactory exchange
Because smell is not a sense that we humans have as highly developed, we sometimes overlook that for both dogs and cats, odor is a part of essential to their lives.
For this reason, a few days before eye contact between your two furry ones, it will be necessary as an introduction to make an olfactory exchange, for example exchanging toys or blankets.
Let them be seen
The visual exchange is, without a doubt, the most delicate part, since it is the one that can most easily scare your cat. For this reason, eye contact should first of all be made from afar, at a distance where your cat feels safe. In this process, it is recommended that someone help you, because while one person is watching the cat, the other must be next to the dog on a leash.
In addition, it will be extremely important that in order to associate this experience with something positive, r strengthen both your cat and your dog with rewardsThat is, every time your cat sees your dog and is calm (remember to keep a distance where he feels safe), you should reward him. In the same way, if your dog does not react by being nervous, barking… when seeing the feline, he should also be rewarded so that he learns to be calm (and does not scare your cat).
Little by little you must go shortening distances, always reinforcing the calm behavior of both with rewards, so that they perceive the presence of the other as something positive and not a reason for fear. Never try to rush them too quickly, as forcing the situation will only create a negative experience for your feline, which will be even more difficult to reverse.
Let them interact
If your two furries are already so close to each other that they could touch and both are calm, let them interact with each other, which greet and sniff each other, and reward them for being so nice to each other.
For safety, it is important that your dog wears a muzzle, especially if it is an adult (for this reason you should get used to wearing it beforehand), to prevent any rapid movement of the cat from inciting the dog to play roughly, potentially hurting him.
Leave them loose but with vigilance
Finally, if you are 100% sure that your two pets get along and display a calm demeanor in each other's presence, you can begin to let them loose for the same space Always under your supervision and avoiding situations in which conflicts could arise, such as a bowl of food.
