Can a Dog and Cat Live in the Same House

If you currently have a dog or cat in the house and would like to bring in another animal, it is important to understand the situation before doing so. There are many dogs and cats that get along just fine, however there sometimes can be problems. As a pet owner it is your responsibility to identify them before creating a dangerous, possibly lethal situation.

If you have a dog in the house and you decide to bring in a cat, watch how the do looks at the cat. If he is paying too much attention to the cat that may be a bad sign. Barking or growling are not that important as stalking behaviors. For instance, if the dog’s focus is on the cat all the time and it is hard to break its concentration- this can forewarn of a problem. The constant watching and waiting behavior of animals is usually the catalyst of a predator/prey relationship.

It usually takes time for both dogs and cats to get used to each other and it also depends on the type of dogs. Disposition is extremely important as well. If your dog gives little attention to your cat except the infrequent look, it is usually fine, but when a dog constantly eyes the cat it can mean trouble.

Cats can also bother some smaller dogs. If you have a smaller dog, then cats can sometimes irritate them. They may try to scratch your small dog or aggravate it. If you see this happening it is important to separate them. Obviously controlling a cat and small dogs are easier than a large dog/cat relationship. But before mixing animals make sure you know your dog\cat and watch them well the first few months for signs of trouble.