At times you may wish to own more than one pet. For example, if previously you had been keeping a cat and you may decide to add a puppy to your home. Your desire may be to keep the two animals in peace. However, the thought of coexisting together might not be an easy one for your two friends, at least in the beginning
So if after introducing a puppy you notice that they don’t get along well, here are a few tips on how to help them coexist peacefully;
1. Go Slow With the Introduction
Most likely the pet who had been staying with you in the beginning regards the home as her territory. In such a case the new pet is regarded as an intruder. If that’s the case, forcing them to stay together in one room from the first meeting point won’t be possible.
Instead, keep the cat and the puppy in separate rooms for a while. Through their natural scents, each will earn about the other with time.
Then when you feel the time is right for a face to face meeting, take the cat to the dog but supervise the introduction. It might be necessary to keep the dog chained at first.
2. Restrain the urge to force a relationship
Just like it might take time to get used to a new neighbor, your pets also requires more time to get along. So give them time to forge a relationship.
Don’t try to force the two animals to get along. Furthermore leaving them to fight may be dangerous to you and them too. Once familiarity is developed the two animals will just co-exist peacefully.
3. Keep a Close Watch
Don’t just bring a new pet and dump it there in your compound. Your job shouldn’t end there. Once you bring in a new pet, keep a close watch of the animals’ behavior. It will give you a clue why they can’t get along.
The causes of rivalry could be numerous, here are just a few;
• It could be all about one animal trying to meddle with the other’s feeding bowl. If that’s the case then try to keep the two feeding bowls separate.
• It’s also possible for them to fight over one toy. In such a case, introducing a new toy may help to break the fight. For instance, you can introduce tall cat trees and let the puppy keep the original toy.
• The Puppy Trying to Bully the Cat
Whichever the reason, keeping a close eye about the pets will help you identify the cause of the enmity and thus solve it in time.
4. Reward Friendly Behaviors
In the course of trying to get along, if you notice any friendly behavior between the two then encourage and reward such activities.
For example, you might spot them playing together or just sitting side by side quietly. Reward such moves by joining the play or giving them a treat.
With time they will detect that doing so earns them recognition and thus be willing to repeat the activity next time.
5. Keep the Litter Box at a Strategic Location
Just like human beings value their privacy, cats also require privacy in the location of their toilets. So it is necessary to keep the cat’s litter box in a private location.
At the same time, it should not be in a place where the cat would have to pass close to the dog to reach her toilet. The best move would be to keep the dog away from the litter box.
6. Hire the Services of a Professional
If you don’t have time or skills to spot the cause of hostility between the two animals, then seeking help from a veterinarian is advisable.
Such a professional will find it easy to train the pets to get along well. In addition, he may also notice any signs of ill health which could be a hindrance in getting long.
Conclusion
It is possible to for two pets like a puppy and a cat to get along well. But it might need some time for the two animals to learn about each other and adjust accordingly.
Take time and dig out the underlying issues preventing a peaceful coexistence. At times it could be necessary to hire the services of a professional.
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