How can I make my cat more comfortable around my other pets?
One of the most effective ways to help cats feel more comfortable with stressors is to use the behavior modification techniques called desensitization and counter-conditioning. (Please refer to the resource called “Cat Behavior Modification: Desensitization and Counter-conditioning” for general information about these training techniques.)
The first objective is to prevent other pets from intimidating and chasing the cat. (For guidance, refer to the resource called “Dog Chasing Cat: Tips for Stopping This Behavior.”) This sends a message to the instigator that this behavior is inappropriate and provides reassurance to the fearful cat that she is safe.
Before you start the exercises, you should provide safe areas for your fearful cat to retreat to if she is chased or otherwise intimidated by other pets. Clear off some bookshelves or add cat trees to your home so she can jump to an elevated, protected area. Adding skirts around tables or chairs also creates hiding places for your cat to feel safe. A low-tech alternative is to provide cardboard boxes with two holes cut out of them; the second hole allows your cat to escape if another cat jumps in. Place baby gates in doorways; cats can jump over them or squeeze through them if a dog is in hot pursuit. You can also buy cat collars that signal a cat door to open, which limits access to a room to only the cat wearing the collar.
You should also provide a “house of plenty” so your fearful cat does not have to compete with other pets for food, water, toys, or attention from you. Highly confident cats often “guard” these resources by sitting or standing near them, preventing your fearful cat from approaching. To counteract this, place food dishes, water dishes and litter boxes in several locations in your home. You can also put them in protected areas, such as on top of counters.
And how to get them to be BFFs
Is your dog afraid of your cat?
Even though most dogs tend to be bigger than their feline siblings, it’s not uncommon to find a dog who’s totally terrified of her roomie cat.
While it might look a little silly from the outside, you shouldn’t ignore your dog’s fear. The best thing you can do is try to figure out how to get your pup to feel more comfortable around your cat.The Dodo reached out to Dr. Sarah Wooten, a veterinary journalist and veterinarian with Pumpkin Pet Insurance, to find out why your dog is scared of your cat, and how to get them to become besties.
How Should I React When My Dog Is Scared?
It’s important to understand that fear is a normal and instinctive response to things in your dog’s environment.
Just because you think your dog should not be afraid of something doesn’t mean that he will see it that way.
The best way to react to your dog’s fear is to calmly remove him from the situation without acknowledging it.
You should not try to console your dog, yell or jerk him around, or encourage him to interact with the source of his fear.
After your dog is removed from the situation, you can engage with him like normal and refocus his attention.
After pinpointing the source(s) of your dog’s fear, you should work with him to turn similar situations into positive experiences through training, utilizing a dog trainer if necessary.
This Dog And Cat Are Acting Like Predator And Prey | Cat vs. Dog
Households with both cats and dogs can experience issues ranging from mild irritation and small squabbles to flat out attacking each other and serious injuries.
It is common for these fights to be loud, violent, and repetitive, hence the phrase “fighting like cats and dogs.”
Even our media is aware of the difficult relationship between these two species; cartoons, s, and videos of cats and dogs fighting are all over the internet.
Although it is normal for two animals in a household, especially those of two separate species, to squabble sometimes, excess or out-of-control fighting can create fear and tension for either animal.
Fear can also be caused by a lack of proper introduction and interaction between the animals at a young age.
One of the most obvious signs of this miscommunication is seen in tail movement, which cats do primarily as a sign of aggression while dogs wag their tail when they are being friendly or excited (not always though).
Another difference is cats greeting each other while walking up to each other, and blinking slowly to indicate good intentions while dogs run to each other and avoid eye contact to appear friendly.
Vocalizations are also quite complex since cats purr when there is content and meow to communicate with humans, but dogs interpret purring as growling and they primarily bark or growl in negative situations.
These types of miscommunication can be major contributors to the fighting between cats and dogs, which ultimately leads to fear and anxiety for either or both animals.