10 Tips for Dogs and Cats Living Together

Everyone’s heard the expression “fighting like cats and dogs” - but with a little bit of work, this doesn’t have to be the reality for dogs and cats living together. To help you out, we’ve put together a little guide you can follow to ensure your pets have a happy life together.

Why don’t cats and dogs get along?

If dogs and cats living together don’t get along, there are a few reasons that could be at the root of their strife:

• Competition: When dogs and cats first started to interact with humans, they had to compete against each other for food scraps, leftovers, and attention. If dogs and cats living together today perceive a sense of competition over resources in their home, it can result in similar feelings of competition that their ancestors experienced.

• They ‘speak’ different languages: The body language and behavior that cats and dogs use to communicate signals of aggression, fear, dominance and friendship are very different. If not introduced properly, these different ways of ‘speaking’ can cause confusion between dogs and cats living together. 

• Instinctive behavior: Some of the instinctive behavior that dogs and cats have can make them ill-suited companions. For example, if threatened cats will try and flee from the situation, which triggers a dog’s prey drive to chase them.

Does the size of my dog or cat matter?

The size of your pet doesn’t play a big role in how well they’ll get along with other animals – dogs and cats of any size should be able to get along well with each other. However, your dog’s breed can play a role in their propensity to bond with felines.

Due to the characteristics of their breeds, some dogs may be more or less likely to get along with cats:

• Toy breeds: These breeds are known for being affectionate and sociable, both with other dogs and properly introduced cats.

• Sporting breeds: Known for their friendly and outgoing nature, they’re quick to make friends with animals of all shapes and sizes.

• Terriers: Originally bred to hunt vermin, fast-moving cats could trigger a predatory instinct, making them less suited to living with felines.

• Hound breeds: Dogs in this category are bred to chase, so if a cat starts to run they won’t be able to resist following suit.

• Herding breeds: Herding breeds have a habit of herding anything they can – including cats. While not necessarily dangerous, some cats may find this difficult to tolerate.

Can a dog and a cat live together?

The short answer is, yes, dogs and cats living together usually have no issues. However, it’s important to note that for them to coexist peacefully, it can take some work.

Taking introductions slowly and making adjustments to your home and routine so that both pet’s needs are met can make all the difference. This doesn’t mean they’ll always be best friends, but they will always be able to tolerate each other.

How do you handle a dog and a cat living together?

If issues arise between dogs and cats living together, it could be because one of your pets is feeling bored. Pets that lack mental or physical exercise are more likely to display disruptive behavior due to boredom, such as ‘teasing’ other resident animals. The easiest way to handle a dog and cat living together is by ensuring that they are both mentally and physically stimulated. You can do this by:

• Making sure they get enough mental and physical exercise: To avoid feelings of boredom impacting the relationships of dogs and cats living together, try making little changes in their daily routine that encourage them to stay active, such as regularly scheduled walks or playtime and brain-teasing toys they can play with independently or with you.

• Approaching training as a lifelong process: Another way to ensure your pet stays mentally and physically active is to treat training as a lifelong process. Training that continues beyond basic commands will not only allow you to teach your pet some pretty cool tricks, but it will also keep their brain busy so they aren’t tempted to cause trouble with their four-legged housemates. If you need help with this, you can always sign them up for training with a reputable trainer.

Tips for Dogs and Cats Living Together

Whether you’re introducing a new four-legged member to the family or simply want to improve the dynamic between your existing pets, here are our top ten tips to improve the relationship between dogs and cats living together.

• Raise them together: One of the best ways to get cats and dogs to coexist is simply to raise them together. Puppies are more easily trained than dogs and tend to be less confident, so they are more likely to allow their feline companions to assume the alpha position in the household. Of course, this isn’t always possible so if you need to deal with introducing grown cats and dogs, read on.

• Introduce their items before doing face-to-face introductions: Before you start with the face-to-face introduction, it’s a good idea to first introduce the other’s pets’ toys and bedding. By doing this, each pet will have the opportunity to get to know the other and satisfy their curiosity and potential fights that could break out if they investigated while the other was around. Animals use scent to familiarize themselves with new things so by doing this, each pet will be able to satisfy their curiosity and you can avoid potential fights that could break out if they investigated while the other was around.

• Introduce them in neutral territory: Animals can feel territorial over the places where they eat and sleep, so if you’re introducing a new pet it’s helpful to have the first introduction be done in a neutral territory. For instance, ask a friend or family member if the first introductions can be done at their house. This will avoid any potential territorial-related aggression.

• Take the instructions slowly: When the time comes for your cat and dog to meet in person, it’s important to take it slow. Just like with humans, first impressions are important. And for a successful first impression food can be a great tool to ensure everything goes smoothly. The best time for your pets to meet is at mealtime. For first-time meals, feed your pets on either side of a closed door. This way they won’t be able to see each other, but can still smell each other and start building positive associations between tasty food and their new friend. Continue this for as long as you feel necessary – a couple of days to a couple of weeks, depending on how your pets react – and then slowly introduce a visual element to the introduction. An easy way to do this is to feed your pets in the same room, but keep your dog on a leash. Eventually, you’ll be able to remove all barriers between the two and they should be able to cohabitate nicely.

• Give your cat its own territory: Your cat must have a space in your house that is all theirs. Having this space will be especially important when introducing your pets to one another for the first time, but will also continue to act as a refuge they can use when they need to escape and enjoy some downtime. If you live in a small space, don't worry about limiting the space your dog has access to. Since cats are natural climbers, you can make use of any vertical space in your house, whether it be a cat tree or newly installed shelving. Both of these are perfect spots for your cat to be able to observe your dog from a comfortable distance.

• Use treats to create a positive association: Most pets are highly food-motivated, so treats and other foods make excellent rewards to reinforce positive behavior. Giving your pets plenty of their favorite Freshpet treats during introductions, praising their good behavior around the other animal. The combination of praise and a tasty treat will help them create a positive association with their new housemate.

• Start with supervised time together: Even if the first introductions go well, it’s important that during the early stages of dogs and cats living together, their time together is supervised. During this introductory period, keep an eye on both your cat’s behavior and your dog’s behavior to ensure that everyone is happy with their new living arrangement. If you have to leave them home alone, it’s a great idea to either keep them in separate rooms or make use of a baby gate or crate to keep your dog within a set area. By doing this, your pets will understand that even though there’s another animal around, they won’t have to compete for their own space.

• Keep things equal: Jealousy and resentment over toys, treats, and attention can have a huge impact on the relationship between a cat and a dog, so it’s important to keep things equal. This means making sure your pets have access to the same amount of both toys and treats, so things stay fair. But this equality goes beyond just physical items – the time you spend with them should also be equal. For example, if you constantly make a fuss over your dog whenever you arrive home, your cat will quickly pick up and may start finding ways to display their displeasure at the inequality – or vice versa.

• Train your dog well: Before any introductions begin, it’s important that your dog has a strong understanding of their basic commands like sit, stay, down, drop it, and leave it. The better they know these commands, the easier the introductions will be as they will be able to remain calm while meeting the cat. Whenever your dog interacts with your cat, redirect any negative behaviors your pup displays, including rough play and barking. Instead of scolding them, try distracting them with another activity or command and allow them to “reset” before going back to your cat. The more positive you can keep the situation, the more positive associations they will have with not just your cat, but any cat they come across.

• Separate their things: No matter how well they get along after the initial introduction, it’s a good idea to give them both some space that is just theirs. For your cat, this means having a private space for their litter box. Unfortunately, some dogs seem to be a little bit too interested in what goes on in litter boxes. If your dog tries to approach your cat while it’s using the litter box, it may cause your cat to feel threatened, and if it happens consistently can result in them avoiding the litter box to do their business. The same goes for food. Feeding your pets in separate areas minimizes the chance of an issue due to food aggression. It also ensures that each pet can eat at his or her own pace without feeling rushed.

The most important thing to remember when introducing your pets is that all cats and dogs are different – what works for one may not work for another. If you’re struggling to help your pets develop a relationship, the best person you can talk to is your vet. They’ll be able to provide you with tailored advice or even put you in touch with a behavioral specialist. But in most cases, with a little patience, your cat and dog will be cohabitating happily in no time.