If you think that one kitten or puppy is adorable, then having both must be twice as good, right? While kittens and puppies may look extra sweet in photographs, there are some things to keep in mind when raising a kitten and puppy together. Here, our Torrance vets explain.
If a puppy or kitten is adorable, then when you take the two of them together they must be just as cute and sweet, right? While this certainly can be the case, raising a puppy and kitten in the same home as one another isn't always so simple.
While these pets can become fast friends when they grow up together, that doesn't mean you won't run into some growing pains. There is also a scary possibility that a grown dog may mistake your cat for prey. Here, our Torrance Companion Animal Hospital team explains how to set yourself and your pets up for success for a long, healthy and happy life together.
What are the best dog breeds to raise with a cat?
While there are a few different practices you can implement while introducing your two young pets to one another, one of the most common ways of setting your pets up for success comes before either of them have a chance to even come into your life!
The breed and temperament of your puppy, more than your kitten, will be what determines how successful raising the two together will be in the long-term. The instinctual drive to hunt is present in all dogs, in fact, a lot of their play involves simulating some aspect of hunting, from chasing down a ball (small animals) to tugging on a rope (dividing up a catch). Even squeakers in certain toys are exciting to your puppy because they simulate the sounds of dying prey (yikes!).
This hunting instinct (also called a 'prey drive,' is much stronger in some breeds of dog than it is in others. And this innate prey drive is where you are liable to run into issues with your pup's behavior. As your dog grows to be larger than your cat, even if they get along excellently, they may have their instincts take over and case your cat as if they were prey.
Dogs like Shiba Inus, Huskies, Terriers, Beagles, Dobermans, Malamutes and Cattle Dogs all have notoriously high prey drives and, if your puppy is one of or mixed with these breeds, you will likely have to be very mindful of their prey drive when rising them with your kitten.
How do I raise a puppy and kitten together?
Beyond being careful about the breed of dog that you get if you intend to raise your dog and cat together, there are a number of strategies to use to introduce your two pets to one another to help set them up for success and a life full of freidnship.
Introduce Them Slowly
While introducing your puppy and kitten early in their lives is a great start to helping them get used to one another, the way you introduce them is important too!
When first introducing your kitten and puppy to one another, make sure they can see one another, but each have their own personal space too. Setting them up in connected rooms with a baby gate between them can be an excellent start.
When introducing your two pets, you should expect some excitement - especially from your puppy. Don't be worried if your kitten hisses at your puppy. They are just asserting their personal boundaries to a new creature. the goal of your introductions is to help them build positive reactions and associations with one another (or even just to not care about one another very much).
If your puppy and kitten are happy to just do their own thing within eyesight of one another, that's a great sign that they will be able to safely and comfortably live their lives together.
Dedicate Time To Training Your Pup
Working on your puppy's obedience is always important, but it is even more important than usual when they are being raised with a kitten!
Making sure that your dog knows commands like Sit, Stay, Stop and Leave It are always important. But, if your puppy is getting too physical with your kitten, getting too excited around them, or beginning to stalk or chase them, these commands can be critical in snapping your puppy out of it and teaching them what is and isn't allowed when it comes to your cat.
Managing Your Pet's Time Together
The last thing to keep in mind when raising a puppy and kitten together is how closely you need to manage and monitor their time together. You will be able to assess this as you watch their relationship develop, but depending on your puppy and kitten's individual temperaments, you may want to do any of the following:
- Avoid having your dog and cat in the house alone together. You can crate your dog when you need to leave the house for long or close off part of your home with one of them in it to avoid confrontations.
- Avoid having your puppy and kitten eat at the same times or in the same place. Some dogs are very protective of their food and may get confrontational with your kitten, even if kitty was only sniffing the interesting food their sibling is eating.
- Set up safe areas of your home for each pet to be alone if they would like. This can include teaching each of your pets to stay out of the other's space, getting your puppy a crate, or setting aside the upstairs or basement for one pet or the other.