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| Merging dog and cat – can this work? |
Through her profession as a cat behavior therapist, Claudia has already been able to support many great cats and their people and enrich their everyday lives. The socialization of dog and cat is a topic that often occupies them. You can find out how she would proceed as well as tips and tricks here.
A matter of the heart: Cat behavior therapy
Claudia lives with her two cats Olala and Kimani, her dog Rico and her partner near Trier. When her cat Kimani joins the family in 2014, Claudia is unsure, as several years have passed since her last cat. After the first problems with Kimani, Claudia consults a cat behavior therapist and is thrilled:
"She gave me a lot of valuable tips on how to improve Kimani's living environment and keep her busy. When everything improved, I was very fascinated and wanted to help people and their cats myself. So at the beginning of 2017 I made the decision to train as a cat psychologist. Since February 2019, I have been working part-time as a cat behavior therapist and since this year also as a Bach flower consultant for animals. In addition, since April 2020 I have my own podcast called "Talking Cats"."
Dogs and cats are natural enemies: cliché or truth?
is often assumed that dogs and cats can't stand each other – but why is that really? Claudia clarifies:
"In general, dogs and cats are natural predators. This means that the cat belongs to the prey scheme for the dog and therefore triggers the hunting instinct in him. The cat will then run away or defend its life. In addition, the body language and social behavior of the two four-legged friends is very different, so that misunderstandings can often occur here as well. For example, the wagging tail usually means joy for the dog and for the cat it means nervousness or stress.
Ideally, the two grow up together and learn to interpret each other's behavior correctly. But that's the ideal case and of course it's not always possible to buy a dog and cat together."
Tips & Procedure for merging dog & cat
In most cases, conflicts arise between the two four-legged friends because they have not yet been able to "sniff" each other sufficiently. Claudia shares some tips and tricks on how to merge:
Matching character traits
"Ifa dog moves in with a cat (or vice versa), in the best case both sides should not have had a bad experience with each other. In addition, it is important that the two four-legged friends fit together in character. A very curious and lively puppy dog can unsettle a calm and anxious or even older cat if it does not know this behavior. So if the cat is anxious and reserved, a balanced and calm dog fits better into the family. However, if the cat has a good self-confidence and is very open-minded, it can also deal with a very curious and friendly dog."
Creating retreats
"Once the choice has been made, the cat should definitely be given a retreat that is only accessible to it and in which it feels comfortable. Elevated places, food bowls and litter box should be located there. In addition, she should be offered sufficient hiding places and preferably not just a bed under which the cat can escape. Because elevated places give retreat and security, which means that the cat does not have to hide in the last rear corner under the bed or the chest of drawers. And safety comes first anyway, should the dog run after the cat, because he has no access to elevated places."
Making fragrances & sounds known
"You can also get the animals used to each other's smell in advance, for example by exchanging the blankets or towels of the respective four-legged friends and thus their fragrances with each other. Furthermore, the cat can also be played soft barking sounds of the dog from time to time, if you have the opportunity to record the barking sound of the new roommate. On YouTube you can also find videos with barking sounds. Of course, the same applies to the cat's meowing, which can be played to the dog."
The first meeting
"When the first encounter takes place at the arrival of the new roommate, you should above all try to stay calm yourself, because the tension and nervousness of the people are also transferred to the four-legged friends. In any case, the dog should also be on a leash (a longer house leash is suitable for this) and the cats are allowed to decide where they want to go. Escape possibilities to the heights are essential for the cat here. In addition, attention should also be paid to how close the dog and cat are allowed to get, because the cat could also injure the dog if it feels threatened.
After the first successful meeting, you can then praise both sides separately from each other and deal with them. Therefore, it is initially advisable to allow repeated shorter contacts and then to separate the four-legged friends again. This all requires a lot of time and patience, but is very sustainable because the positive encounter is remembered."
Professional support
"The right time to let the animals meet freely can be determined by the owner himself. However, it is advisable to include a dog trainer from the outset and, ideally, a cat psychologist. They can assess the behavior and reactions of dog and cat very well and then give the green light for a first independent encounter. In addition, you can support both four-legged friends with Bach flowers. This natural form of therapy is very good, especially during mergers, in order to bring dog and cat back into balance in case of fear or discomfort."
Safety first
"Nevertheless, the following applies: Only when you are really sure that safety is guaranteed for both sides, you can leave dog and cat unattended. The cat should still have a retreat that only it can reach.
Dog and cat just don't want to get along – what now?
"If, in extreme cases, dogs and cats do not get along and the cat, for example, only lives under the bed or on a closet, then you should always try to get the help of a cat therapist. If there is still no improvement in sight, a return of the respective animal should be considered. This is always a difficult decision, but you should also act in the interest of the animal that has been in the family from the beginning. You can't program animals and there is never a guarantee, but with these tips a merger can work sustainably and nothing can stand in the way of a coexistence of dog and cat."
Thanks for reading: Merging dog and cat – can this work?, Sorry, my English is bad:)