Getting two pets to live together peacefully is an important topic for anyone who loves cats, dogs and other animals. Animals have very human-like feelings: they can be jealous, aggressive, possessive and stressed. So let’s shed some light on how cats get along with other cats and with dogs, and how to help them become friends.
Let’s look at the most common pet combinations in one home.
A Kitten and a Kitten
This pair rarely causes any problems. Kittens usually get along wonderfully, especially littermates or kittens of a similar age. In fact, many shelters and breeders recommend adopting two kittens together: they play with each other, burn off energy, learn good manners from each other and are less likely to get bored or bite their owners. If one kitten is much smaller or weaker, make sure it gets its share of food and isn’t bullied during play.
A Kitten and a Puppy
This duo will mostly cause trouble with their noisy, energetic games. Even if your kitten is independent by nature, a puppy is a social animal and will often turn it into a playmate. Still, supervise their play: a puppy can be much bigger and rougher than a kitten and may hurt it accidentally.
The main thing they may fight over is food. Feed them separately, and put the cat’s food somewhere the dog can’t reach, such as on a counter or behind a baby gate. Kittens and puppies need different diets, and dogs love to eat cat food.
An Adult Cat and a Kitten
An adult cat may be hostile toward a new kitten at first, so keep a close eye on them. Usually, after a while, the older cat either gets used to the kitten and even becomes friends with it, or simply ignores it. Many adult cats are quite tolerant of kittens, and some even “adopt” them and look after them as if they were their own. A playful young adult cat is usually a better match for a kitten than a quiet senior cat, who may find a kitten’s energy exhausting.
An Adult Dog and a Kitten
This can be a good pair if you keep things under control and help them get to know each other. First, make sure your dog still feels loved and gets as much attention as before. Teach your dog to stay calm around the kitten, rewarding it for relaxed, gentle behavior, and keep the dog on a leash during the first meetings.
Be especially careful with dogs that have a strong prey drive, such as many terriers, sighthounds (greyhounds, whippets) and some herding breeds. A kitten running away can trigger the urge to chase. In most cases, everything works out, but if your dog fixates on the kitten, lunges or won’t settle, ask a certified dog trainer or behaviorist for help.
An Adult Cat and a Puppy
This situation isn’t as simple as an adult dog and a kitten, but it’s manageable. Remember that cats generally need less company than dogs. An adult cat may scratch an overly playful and pushy puppy, and claws can injure a puppy’s eyes, so you’ll need to act as referee. Protect the puppy from the cat, and protect the cat from the puppy: calm the puppy down or keep it busy with games, so it doesn’t pester the cat too much. Give your cat high places and dog-free rooms where it can escape. Never leave them alone together, at least until their relationship has settled down.
Two Adult Cats
This can be like having two cooks in one kitchen. Everything depends on both cats’ personalities and on your patience. Nobody can tell you for sure whether they’ll become friends. The most important things are a careful introduction and not rushing it. Don’t try to make them friends as quickly as possible, and don’t count on them working it out themselves. Read our guide on how to introduce cats to each other.
A Male and a Female Cat
It doesn’t take a genius to guess how this pairing can go if neither cat is neutered: they’ll either fight or fall in love, and you’ll soon have kittens. Unless you’re a registered breeder, have both cats spayed or neutered before they reach sexual maturity, at around 4 to 6 months of age. Once neutered, a male and a female often get along very well.
Two Adult Male Cats
Two unneutered (intact) males usually don’t tolerate each other. They compete for territory and mates, and you can expect sleepless nights of yowling, urine marking around the house and, at worst, fights and injuries. Two neutered males, on the other hand, can live together happily, especially if they’re introduced gradually or grew up together. Neutering is the key.
How to Introduce a New Pet
Whatever the combination, the same basic rules apply:
- Start with separation. Keep the new pet in its own room with food, water, a bed, toys and (for cats) a litter box for at least a few days.
- Swap scents. Rub a soft cloth on each pet’s cheeks and leave it near the other pet’s food bowl, or swap their bedding, so they get used to each other’s smell.
- Feed them on opposite sides of a closed door, gradually moving the bowls closer.
- Let them see each other through a baby gate, a cracked door or a screen door before any face-to-face meeting.
- Keep the first meetings short and supervised, with the dog on a leash. Reward calm behavior with treats and praise.
- Give each cat its own resources: food and water bowls, scratching posts, beds and litter boxes (one per cat plus one extra), in different places.
- Make sure your cat always has escape routes and high perches the dog can’t reach.
- Go at the pace of the most nervous animal. Introductions can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks.
Hissing and growling during the first meetings are normal. If there are serious fights, go back a step and slow down. If problems continue, talk to your vet or a qualified behaviorist.
We wish your pets a strong friendship and harmony with each other and with you!
