When there is no debate about whether dogs or cats are more intelligent, then they are talking about how these two animals are mortal enemies. This is one of the stereotypes that should be broken. We give you 7 tips for making a dog-cat friendship and ways to make a relationship between a dog and a cat.
If you raise dogs and cats together in a positive and supportive environment, they will be friends, or at least learn how to handle each other.
Dog and cat behavior
It is important, when initially trying to understand these pets, that they take into account their natural environment.
A cat is by nature a lone hunter who chases her prey, often alone, without the help of a pack guarding her back.
Logically, a cat’s relationship with its environment is much more developed than its need for a relationship with other cats or other creatures. This ultimately makes the cat a more independent pet.
The dog, on the other hand, is a pack animal, accustomed to living in the wild as part of a larger group.
This means that it will be easier for the dog to adapt to changes in his surroundings, as long as his pack, which he feels most comfortable with, is always around him.
The innate psychology of a pack in a dog means that it is easier to train than a cat because it seeks the attention of the members of its group, specifically the pack leader.
Dog and cat physiology
A cat, a lone, hidden hunter, will naturally be built differently from a dog – a pack hunter.
Cats because of their instinctive desire to silently track prey, which attacks only when they sneak, are usually leaner, with elongated muscles designed to jump and grab surprised prey.
Their physical constitution is primarily tailored to maneuverability and dexterity, sacrificing the sheer force and athletic endurance that adorn the dog.
The dog, on the other hand, is built with far less “worry” about sneaking and dexterity.
In the wild, a dog would rely on the ability to catch its prey in a longer race, rather than the sneaking and surprise that a cat uses to reach for food.
Generation after generation, these hunting methods have made the dog a durable predator, able to outrun any prey in nature.
Feeding dogs and cats
The history of dogs and cats has also influenced their diet.
A cat, for example, is a complete carnivore, without exception.
Fat meat has been a major way of survival for cats in the wild, and for centuries, they have relied on protein-rich meat meals to maintain superior fitness. Cats also need to eat more often than dogs, though smaller amounts at each meal.
Unlike a cat, a dog is omnivorous.
Like humans, dogs can survive on a plant-based and meat-based diet.
In difficult survival situations, dogs were even able to sustain themselves solely on vegetarian food, although meat proteins would certainly be more comfortable for them to work more efficiently.
Dogs can eat much less often than cats, though in larger meals, continuing activities, slow-digesting food, and using calories from a large meal throughout the day.
If necessary, dogs are even able to use their fatty deposits for a short time to produce energy.
Other differences between dog and cat
The cat has retractable claws, which allows it to keep them sharp and deadly for dangerous situations.
The dog on the other side of the claw is constantly blunt when walking, so they are usually blunt.
The cat’s body is adapted to climbing and jumping, which allows her to chase prey (or squirrels and birds) along with trees and other tall objects.
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The dog is built to stay on the ground, unable to jump and climb anywhere near as deft as a cat.
The cat usually learns the hygiene rules on its own with the help of a cat toilet, instinctively doing your part of the job.
In contrast, the dog must be taught, while the puppy is, about where and when it is okay to perform the emergency, and this process can take a lot of time and effort.
When she grows up, a cat will have 30 teeth. An adult dog is 42.
The cat breeds and metabolizes certain drugs differently from the dog, or human, which makes some drugs toxic to cats, although they are perfectly safe for humans and dogs.
A cat usually has a far better memory than a dog. Cats can remember things for up to 16 hours, while in a dog this can be up to 5 minutes.
7 tips for making a dog-cat friendship
To help make your job even easier, we’ve prepared some helpful tips to help you get your dog and cat together into a trusting relationship and prevent any inconvenience.
1) Consider their nature
If the dog is aggressive and territorial, it will not fit well in a household that has a whimsical cat.
Or in the opposite situation, if the dog is older, he would not want to share his space with a noisy kitten.
If the two animals do not agree with nature, it would be worth considering accommodation in which they would be separated and not disturb each other.
If you are planning to adopt a new pet, be sure to inquire if he has lived with other animals and how he or she has treated them.
2) Train your dog
To keep your dog comfortable with cats, teach them to control their urges.
Does your pet jump when he sees someone drop food or panic when he hears strange noises?
If this is the case with your pet, he or she will probably not get along immediately with the cat, as it will jump to its feet as soon as it is seen.
First, teach him not to jump, teach him to be calm. Or better yet, keep your dog on the leash for the first couple of encounters.
3) Give your cat space before you meet her dog
Cats need space that is just theirs.
Since cats like to climb, take advantage of the vertical surfaces of your apartment.
Buy a cat climber, set up shelves, or put a cat bed on a bookshelf. This allows the cat to observe the dog from a safe distance or to cross the room without having to use the floor.
It is also very important not to give your dog access to your cat’s sandbox. Cats should feel safe while doing an emergency. And it’s not just the safety of the kitten.
Dogs sometimes like to sniff and even eat cat feces, which can give them intestinal parasites, which can cause them a host of health problems, such as vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and anemia.
One solution is to fence the cat’s box.
If your dog is jumping high, still keep the box open and in the middle of the room, not in the corner. This way, the cat will not feel trapped if the dog enters its territory.
4) Practice with your dog
People probably exercise with a dog about 20% of what it should be.
It is really important for dogs to shed their excess energy somewhere outside the home so that they can slow down and really control themselves when they are near cats.
Dogs need a lot of stimulation. If there are not enough of them, they will satisfy that shortcoming by, for example, chasing the cat. Toys are recommended for toys and other activities where they can shed their excess energy.
“Instead of just taking the dog for a walk, stop and tell him to sit five times in each street, change the direction of movement three times, or change the speed of movement twice. The purpose of these exercises is to get the dog free of his instincts to chase prey appropriately, ”experts recommend.
5) Let them get to know each other
One idea would be to let your pets sniff each other’s toys, as well as where they sleep before the first meeting. In this way, they can satisfy their curiosity as well as avoid negative reactions to invading their territory.
Also, carefully plan their first meeting. Schedule it when it is time for a meal, but keep the dog on the leash and both animals on opposite sides of the closed door.
They will not see each other but will smell of each other as they eat their favorite dish. They will begin to associate this scent with food and pleasure, which will help them make a good first impression.
Do this for each meal for a few weeks before it will meet face to face. Keep feeding them separately, but with an ever smaller obstacle before finally removing them.
Always keep your dog on a leash until you are sure that it is safe to remove it, and then be careful.
6) Keep their food and their toys separate
After successfully getting to know them through an exercise in the last paragraph, keep their food as well as bowls separate.
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The cat will try to reach the dog’s food bowl while the dog is eating or near and try to eat from there, to which the dog is likely to have a violent reaction.
To prevent this, they should have meals at certain times, and keep their bowls in separate parts of the house, or place the cat’s bowl in a high place.
Also, keep an eye out for mac toys – competing around toys can also lead to a fight.
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7) Consider raising a dog and a cat together as a kid
The last, but perhaps most useful, the tip is to socialize between these animals from a small age, which is easier than meeting them later.
Puppies are “sponges” that easily absorb new information and situations.
Also, houses are less confident when they are small and physically smaller, allowing cats to release fear and then be able to establish their place at the top of the hierarchy.
Keep an eye on them to ensure that everything is working properly – especially when the dog enters its “teenage” phase, ie before it becomes an adult dog.
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