A sluggish introduction, and endurance helps a canine and a cat meet, and even get to be buddies! (SALLY CRAGIN)
DEAR PET TALK: Do dogs get together with cats? – Logan, Mr. Wironen’s 4th Grade, Reingold School, Fitchburg
DEAR LOGAN: As you recognize, each Monday we deliver our remedy canine Sarrju and remedy cat Reggie to go to, and they’re really the very best of buddies. And Keifer, the Bernese Mountain Dog who additionally comes to go to lives with a sassy tabby cat very fortunately. Cap Corduan, Keifer’s mother notes: “When I brought Keifer home to a year-old Shiloh, Keif quickly learned who was in charge. He has never learned that he has 100 pounds over Shiloh. Now they do fake wrestling, which Shiloh usually starts.”
Friendship – even love – between a canine and a cat is feasible. And the consultants agree. According to the American Kennel Club web site: “Most dog breeds can live calmly with a cat if they are socialized as puppies and are trained to leave the cat alone.”
However, we now have discovered that an older canine with a peaceful temperament can be taught to stay with a cat. And {that a} cat can modify to life with a canine. AKC additionally means that two instructions: “leave it,” and “stay” “can help keep the peace. Proper introductions will also help, and it’s a good idea to make sure the cat always has an escape route. Never leave your new dog alone with your cat until you are positive they won’t have issues.”
Numerous folks shared on the Be PAWSitive Facebook web site that they’d had harmonious canine and cat relationships. For “Reverend Blamo” of New Hampshire, his “three dogs and (at one time) four cats got along great. As a matter of fact our Pit Bull, Shirley is often found napping with Momo the cat curling in a warm, furry ball. However, we find it best for the cats if they have places they can go that the dogs can not. When the pups get excited and playful it may not be as fun for the cats.”
Some dogs have been bred to chase different animals – and terriers could discover it troublesome to depart cats in peace. Dani Kumpalanian has a greyhound who got here from a shelter. Though he was by no means examined with cats “we’ve found over the years he has mixed feelings about cats when outdoors but is neutral about them when indoors, on the cat’s turf.”
Kyndyl Greyland of Missouri has a service canine, a Collie named Runa who’s skilled to be calm “and has always done well since meeting her older and now younger brother” cats.
Patricia Steinhauer of Fitchburg means that giving the cats escape routes and protected spots, separate feeding stations and litter packing containers inaccessible to dogs is sweet follow.
In quick, dogs and cats can defy the cliché – and get alongside simply tremendous!
Sally Cragin is the director of Be PAWSitive: Therapy Pets and Community Education. Visit us on Facebook and name/textual content inquiries to 978-320-1335
