There are many people who have pets cats and dogs in the same house? How do these families manage to live happily ever after?

All animals instinctively try to protect themselves from danger. When coming into contact with a dog, cats tend to react first as dogs are usually larger then them and they feel threatened. When a cat meets a dog for the first time, the cat might hiss or even attack and then run away and hide. The dog will chase the cat simply out of curiousity, not because he or she wants to attack or harm the cat in most cases.

With simple yet effective methods, pet owners have been able to encourage their pet cats and dogs to live together peacefully and friendly.

How To Build Harmony Between Cats and Dogs

The best way to make your cat and dog friends is to raise them together from puppyhood and kittenhood. At these stages of their development, they are not capable of judging potential threats and they will usually consider their “natural enemy” as one of their own allowing themselves to become the best of friends.

When the cat and dog have already reached adulthood and are brought together, problems will usually arrive. At this stage, they are already acting on their cautious and defensive instincts, which can be extremely difficult to change. In this case, making you cat and dog become loving family members will have to be approached gradually and very tactfully. The cat will usually be the one that reacts first because the size of the dog scares him. You will almost always have to instruct the dog sit or lay down before introducing your cat to.

Never hold your cat down and force him to be close to the dog. This can turn ugly and you cat may scratch you and the dog in the process. Instead, show your cat that the dog how friendly the dog is by patting and cuddling the dog. Then invite your cat to sit close to you (and the dog!) at the same time.

Feeding time is another great time to try and bring the cat and dog closer. Usually when pets are hungry they will not bother much with who is present next to them. Just be sure you have taken the time to introduce them several times so they are familiar with one antoher.

Taking the time and allowing your cat and dog to get to know one another will be a big step in getting them to become friendly and loving family members. Remember - it takes time.

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