Many would think that cats and dogs don’t get along. The idea that they hate each other may be brought about by the nature of dogs to chase smaller animals. Television programs showcasing their dislike to each other have strengthened the notion that they are enemies.

One common thing about cats and dogs is that they are both predators. Cats readily jump on anything that moves, like rats, birds and even butterflies. Dogs on the other hand love to chase anything that runs or abruptly moves. What urges the dog to chase smaller animals is its prey drive. Although domesticated, dogs still act upon what nature has designed them to do.

Kittens on the other hand enhance their hunting skills by practicing on certain things such as curtains, plants and dog tails. Dogs are often challenged by the sudden movement of the cat which leads to chases. To avoid this problem, owners having them both as pets keep them as far away from each other as possible.

How a cat reacts on a dog’s presence varies. It may isolate itself because it is not accustomed to having a dog around. Or it can develop a friendly relationship with the dog and play.

If you are planning to have a cat and dog under the same roof, you have to supervise them. You also have to make sure that they can get along. You will know if both parties are receptive or not to each other’s presence by observing them. If you think that they can’t get along that easily, you might need help in training them.

You can train your dog to ignore the cat even if it suddenly moves. Praise the dog if he is able to ignore the cat no matter how distracting the cat’s activity may be.

Dogs should also be taught that the cat is a part of the family and not a toy. You can incorporate this to the dog that having a cat is a good thing by giving the dog treats every time the cat is in the same room as he is.

It is not a good idea to introduce a cat to two dogs or more at the same time. Although one of the dogs is trained to leave the cat alone, the other dog may entice him to hunt. It is best to introduce the cat to one dog at a time. This way, a dog will be able to understand that the cat is a friend and not a prey.

Keep them away from each other during meal time. Aside from having different dietary needs, the cat and dog might fight over their food if they eat together. The dog is very possessive when it comes to its food, it might see the cat as a threat if they eat together and attack it.

If your dog has a strong prey drive, make sure to train him of the “leave it” command. This way, you can easily control its chase impulse. It is in the dog’s nature to chase and catch smaller animals for food. This is something that they do on an instinct. The prey drive of dogs will always have the tendency to be triggered. If you are able to train him to stop chasing something once you give the command, then it wouldn’t be a problem.

Give both pets attention as much as possible. You can teach your dog to sit when you are holding the cat on your lap or play with the dog while the cat is resting.

Contradictory to the popular notion about cat and dog not getting along, they can live peacefully together. This can be achieved once the owners understand the behavior of each animal. Owners must also be patient in training their pets to live harmoniously together.