CATS & DOGS TOGETHER

“Fighting like cats and dogs”—this idiom reflects a popular belief that the two animals can’t coexist, at least without claws and fur flying. But many pet owners will attest to the fact that they can not only share a roof, they may even become to be the best of friends. All it needs is careful training and patience, patience and more patience.
The best way to make these two breeds live together is to introduce them to each other while they are still young. They will accept each other’s presence as a fact of life and even grow up to be playmates.
But what happens if you have a full grown cat (or dog), and would like to introduce a puppy (or kitten)? You’ll need to train your adult animal and monitor their relationship for several weeks to make sure that no rivalry (or at least lasting injury) is made.
Start by introducing the kitten to your dog. Personally bring the new member of the family in, and show him to your pet. By doing this, you communicate that you—the master—have already made a decision and that he should accept it.
Next comes the hard part. You have to train your dog to tolerate the kitten’s presence. This is a long and tedious process that requires much patience and commitment. Initially, keep the kitten inside a confined area, like a room. Allow the kitten to get used to the environment and grow accustomed to the smell and sounds of your canine pet.
After a few days, put dog your dog on a leash and allow the cat to go out of the room. If your dog jumps forward or barks at the kitten, immediately scold the dog and command him to “SIT”. Reward his obedience with a tasty treat. Force neither the kitten nor the dog to accept each other. You are training these animals to go against their natural instincts. This will take time.
Continue with this activity until the kitten has gained enough confidence to walk around and your dog no longer finds the newcomer “interesting”. Remember though, that during the training period, always reward your pooch when he “ignores” the kitten.
When you feel that both animals have accepted each other’s presence, then you may remove the leash. Keep your eye out for both animals though, since this would be their first “unsupervised” interaction. If you dog chases the kitten (even if it’s in play), then scold your canine. If he does this and gets away with it, chances are he will try to do this again. You have to nip the unwanted behavior in the bud, before it becomes a habit.
When both animals have adjusted, you may leave them alone to play. There are still some safety concerns though. Even during play, a large-breed dog may accidentally injure a kitten, or a kitten’s claws may scratch the dog’s sensitive nose or eyes. Monitor their play activities carefully until the new animal (be it the kitten or the puppy) has grown big enough to take care of itself.
Training dogs and cats to live together takes time, patience, effort and commitment, but if this is done properly, your animals will develop a deep bond that will last for the rest of their lives.