Why do dogs chase cats?
Within the instinctive base of the dog is the innate behavior of hunting.
The dog as a hunting animal has the ability to search, locate and chase its prey.
The smell, size and tendency to flee of cats easily awaken their hunting instinct.
When it comes to the house cat
When a dog finds a cat inside his house, this hunting instinct is displaced by another of his instincts.
In the worst case, the defense instinct will act and the dog will go after the cat nervous about the invasion of its territory.
But if we do things right, it is relatively feasible that the predatory instinct will give way to the herd instinct of the dog.
The dog stands out for its ability to establish bonds of friendship with individuals of its species or other species different from its own. This has led them to become great friends with humans, but it can also happen to other species, including cats.
The dog sees the case cat as a member of the family, and will never chase it with intent to harm it.
So can I bring a dog in with a cat and everything will be fine?
No. The fact that there are ballots for it to go well does not mean that it always goes well.
Cats are very territorial
Cats are more solitary and territorial than dogs.
However, they do get along well with other animals, when the welfare state and resources are abundant. This occurs, for example, around a rubbish bin, where the cats form veritable colonies.
Some dogs will never be able to live with cats
There are extreme cases where, due to space and natural tendencies of prey and strong defense on the part of the dog, it will be very difficult to assume coexistence. Stress factors in the cat could also make it unfeasible.
A good presentation is half
The first experiences are very important, so improvising when introducing your dog and cat is not an option.
Steps to ensure success
Present them in the socialization stage : if you present them in their first months of life, you will be favoring them to see each other as friendly species in a natural way.
Introduce them through smell: both species have a highly developed sense of smell, so starting to connect them through the smell of one and the other is a good start. This also allows you to observe the body language of both and what they may be feeling for each other.
Set the mood – Each species likes a different thing. While cats are more of heights, your dog will like to take shelter under furniture to rest. Give them separate spaces and easy exits for when they decide they don’t want to interact
Don’t be in a hurry : sharing moments together little by little is better than leaving coexistence to chance. In addition, supervision in the early stages is very important and it is difficult for you to be on 24-hour surveillance.
Put order and routines : if you observe your dog and cat, you will see how both are able to communicate and understand each other as well as with you. Do not forget that you will be the “head” of the family and you must ensure a peaceful coexistence, with rules and routines that they can understand and accept both species.
Ensures access to resources : for example, interactive toys that are filled with food are a wonderful alternative for animals to entertain themselves and concentrate without worrying about the rest. Sharing these moments of mental leisure is very good for dogs and cats. But you have to take care that they don’t interfere and each one has their space to squeeze the coconut with the game.
Protect your cat as well as your dog : although cats do not usually go outside, dogs do and so do we. That is why it is just as important that you maintain health prevention and deworm your cat both internally and externally with the appropriate products. Exactly the same as you do with your dog, but with products for cats.
The main problems that you can find during dog-cat coexistence and their solution
- The dog eats the cat’s poop : place a litter box inaccessible to the dog, or ensure immediate cleaning after use. There are automatic ones on the market.
- The dog eats the cat’s food : cats love to have food at all times, hence the abundance. However, if the bowl is within range of it, it will last for one second full. Cat food so rich in meat protein, dogs love it. Solution: place the food high up, where only the cat can reach it. You can also order the cat’s food intake, without leaving the full bowl freely available, this is how my very pet companions Carlos and Bea do it successfully.
- The cat annoys the dog : cats are hunters and like to hide, give prey and also use their claws and teeth for fun. Solution: Make sure you cover these needs in your cat with enough and appropriate play, otherwise he will seek to satisfy it as best suits him, even if it is annoying for the dog.
- The dog stresses the cat : This usually occurs in young dogs with insufficient activity. Solution : Increase your dog’s physical and mental exercise time on a daily basis so that he is satisfied.
To finish, I hope this article gives you the knowledge to enjoy your multispecies family.
