Relationships between pets. Is there friendship between cats and dogs?

My mother often told me that when I was three years old, in my grandmother’s village I had companions - a kitten and a puppy. They followed me everywhere, we were an inseparable trinity.

Where did the kitten and puppy go later? Mom and dad’s versions differed, but now I understand that I was taken home, and the animals were given to someone.

But to this day, the friendship between a cat and a dog evokes emotion in me; I can look at photos of cats and dogs hugging to lift my spirits. Apparently the impressions of early childhood are making themselves felt.

If you have such an emotional boost, then I have prepared for you 10 wonderful photos of the friendship between a cat and a dog.

Shar Pei adopted a kitten

It also depends on the breed of the dog whether you will have friendship between a cat and a dog. Companion dogs more often allow the possibility of friendship with cats than dogs of guard, security, and especially hunting breeds.

Personally, my Dobermans have never been friends with my indoor cats, but prefer to chase them around the yard.

Friendship between a huge Newfoundland and a kitten

There have always been dogs in my house, big shaggy Newfoundlands. And so, when my newfie Noira was preparing to become a mother for the second time, they brought us a long-awaited kitten of the Siberian breed, which we named Zaster. Noira gave birth to 2 puppies and after a couple of days I noticed that not two, but three furry balls were actively sucking milk. There was a kitten lying in the middle between the puppies. We kept our son, Noir, and Zaster and Tsentik grew up together. Their antics could be watched endlessly. And now, many years later, we remember this wonderful time when we could see the true friendship of dogs and cats.

Dog and cat in the village on a stump

I have often noticed that dogs still distinguish between their own and other people's cats. Just because a dog accepts your pet cat doesn't mean it will playfully flirt with every cat it comes across.

My Doberman Lucas can hardly tolerate the British Asya and chases her from time to time. But he simply can’t stand other cats.

Dog and cat together in one house.

Nowadays, many people have pets: dogs, cats, and sometimes all together. It is often difficult for four-legged animals to get along together. But there are times when pets live peacefully, are friends, take care of each other and protect each other.

Animal lovers are divided into 2 types. The former cannot imagine life without cats, while the latter are crazy about faithful dogs. And yet there are those who have decided to place in their home two pets that are completely different in character. The opinion that cats and dogs cannot get along together is very common. But is this really so? How to prevent your home from turning into a battlefield between pets?

Although it may seem strange, love and mutual respect for your furry friends is primarily up to you. And if you take a few tips and are patient enough, a dog and a cat can live together in the same home.

A dog and a cat are together - but how different they are!

Even a small child knows that dogs and cats together do not get along. But not everyone understands the reason for such hostility. And it lies in the fact that these animals have completely different lifestyles and views of the world. Dogs need companionship and play because in the wild they lived in packs. And graceful whiskered predators are creatures that need personal space. And they don't really want to see other animals on their territory. This is why a curious dog will hear a hiss in response to her kindness. And, of course, he will not want to communicate with the cat. It is quite difficult to constantly watch this confrontation between two beloved animals. And any owner will want to make friends with them.

Cats are very freedom-loving. They do not like intrusions into their personal space. They are affectionate and do not resist being petted, but they rarely seek the attention of their owners. They love to do their own thing. Dogs, on the contrary, require attention, while giving all their love and devotion to their owner. It is necessary to remember that a dog and a cat are together at home, they are like children: jealous, they will demand attention. So that they do not quarrel, it is necessary to devote enough time to both.

Dependence on the person.

Cats differ from dogs in a huge number of ways, but not all and not always. Many people believe that a cat chooses a person. And a person chooses a dog, which to some extent is really justified. After all, we cannot train a cat, unlike a dog. And they do not become attached to everyone, choosing first of all benefits and comfort. Cats can form packs if it benefits them. Although, due to the fact that they are very good hunters, they are generally independent loners. Therefore, you cannot train a cat, because it does not need it. And he will not want to obey you as the head of the pack, and not because he is stupider than a dog. However, some trainers successfully use the imitation method when training. Then the dog and cat learning together can even help each other in this.

It is wrong to believe that cats do not experience any affection and love for humans, which is in abundance in dogs. Cats, unlike dogs, do not tolerate bad treatment. And if your cat doesn’t purr near you and goes away for weeks, then most likely you should reconsider your attitude towards him. In addition, unlike dogs, cats are much less dependent on people. After all, even in urban conditions they can get their own food.

A strong attachment between a cat and a person can also arise. If the latter was with her from an early age and looked after her well, showing his love and tenderness. It happens that the cat was in unfavorable conditions because of people. Then she will treat any person with caution in the future. And he will only become attached if he feels that she is safe.

Lifestyle – similar requirements.

Cats, like dogs, love predictability and a clear daily routine. But only if all their basic instincts are satisfied. Hence, the formation of habits in a cat depends on whether it was rewarded for it or not. Therefore, in the case of these animals you need to be careful. After all, already formed habits are much more difficult to change, so you should constantly monitor your pet’s behavior.

When a cat enjoys something, she is likely to repeat it over and over again. For example, you may like the way your pet behaves if he scratches not the sofa, but the scratching post next to him. Then it is best to pet him or give him something tasty. After all, this will become an incentive to again choose a scratching post between a sofa and a scratching post. Here, a dog and a cat together are not much different from each other.

But if you don’t like your pet’s behavior, then under no circumstances should you use assault. After all, simply taking the cat to the scratching post, showing her that the only place to sharpen her claws is here, and petting her is much easier than winning her trust again later. It's the same with dogs. Physical punishment must not be used. Because pets will remember the pain and will show negativity towards their owner.

Features of feeding.

Nutritional issues may cause some difficulty. The family in the house has grown larger, and the owner wants each of his pets to be healthy. A dog and a cat should not eat the same food together. Of course, there are universal foods that can be fed to both cats and dogs. But experts do not recommend this approach to their nutrition, since tailed animals have completely different needs for vitamins and nutrients.

When it comes to nutrition, a cat won't eat if it doesn't want to, even if its bowl is full. A dog, on the contrary, can eat everything that is put in front of it. In such a situation, the cat will immediately understand that it is better to eat everything. Since the dog, having eaten its food, will also grab the cat’s portion. Besides, dogs are terrible beggars. They love it when they are given tasty treats after eating.

The main law of pets living together is love and attention to both. Everyone should have their own area for relaxing and eating. It is important that the dog and cat learn to eat together, so that they are close. This way the animals will get used to each other and will not be afraid.

A cat and a dog together are the cause of disagreement.

The feud between cats and dogs has its basis. The fact is that next to the latter, the former do not feel safe. Big dogs are not always friendly. After all, most often the instinct of a predator manifests itself in them. Unless, of course, your dog has been accustomed to living with a cat since childhood. And she didn’t repeatedly go down on the cat that got into your room. Cats, when they see dogs, always try to climb higher. After all, even in a quarrel, it is rare that a dog, having received minor injuries, will retreat. A dog and a cat can be at odds together for several reasons:

1. Jealousy of the owner. To prevent this from happening, it is important to pay attention to each animal, that is, not to give a reason for this very jealousy.
2. The dog or cat is already an adult and will not accept a new pet. In fact, difficulties can only arise with kittens or puppies who are placed with already adult animals. Usually friendly dogs can get along with even the simplest cat. However, if the dog is aggressive, it is better not to introduce other animals to it at all, otherwise it can turn into a disaster.
3. A dog and a cat together cannot share territory between themselves. This usually happens in small apartments. Then it is better to free up a few upper shelves for the cat. Also, the cat should be able to calmly go to the toilet without attracting the attention of another animal.

Selection of neighbors.

Let's imagine that a dog and a cat will soon live together under one roof. This proximity must be taken into account in advance. It is best to adopt animals when they are still very young. Because, growing up side by side, the pets will begin to get used to each other and life will begin without conflicts. If you decide to find company for a bored, adult pet, it will be much more difficult for him to make friends with other four-legged animals. Their introduction must be done correctly, keeping the animals at a distance from each other. Because it is difficult to predict the behavior of a new neighbor. And the first conflict can usually remain in the pet’s memory for a long time.

If you get a kitten and already have an adult dog, you should remember that it is better to keep them separately at first. At the same time, little by little letting them get used to each other. You can let your dog sniff the new tenant's belongings. And it is better to divide the food place first. It is important to designate the pets' places, otherwise they will start sharing it themselves. And this will lead to a deterioration in relations between them.

If an adult cat and dog appear in the house at once, it is difficult to bring them together, but it is possible. You shouldn’t let your dog get close to your cat right away. Because he will think that she wants to attack and will defend herself. It is important to let them be together for a while while observing their behavior. Even if they aren't hostile, don't immediately leave them alone together. They can still quarrel and fight.

Friends, not enemies.

First meeting.

At the first stage, it is advisable to keep the cat and dog away from each other. They should be kept in different parts of the house so that they can get used to each other's smell. The introduction of a cat and a dog should take place under the strict control of the owner. It is advisable that both animals are in good spirits. To do this, it is better to feed them and, if necessary, take them for a walk.

However, it is still better to keep the dog on a leash, especially if it is already an adult. On the contrary, it is better to give the cat complete freedom of action. If the dog does not show visible aggression towards the cat, you can let it off the leash.

The first meeting should not last long - a few minutes will be enough. It is worth gradually increasing the duration. Please note that one of your pets may have a complex character. Then you must put the dog on a leash and put on a muzzle, and the cat must have its claws shortened.

If you introduce a small kitten and a puppy, you need to make sure that the dog does not try to play too actively with the kitten. But the kitten was not afraid of the puppy and did not try to scratch it. The main task of getting to know each other is to let the animals understand that they have nothing to fear from each other. That a dog and a cat can feel comfortable together.

The struggle for the main place in the house will also be active. Even if it is on the owner's lap. As long as the animals get along together, the owner will have no peace. If there is already a dog in the house, then it will be difficult for the cat. She needs to pay more attention, let her get comfortable in the apartment. And it is important that they understand that the boss in the house is their owner.

To ensure that a dog and a cat get along well together, there are a few rules.

• It is desirable that the dog be trained or at least listen and respect the owner.
• At first, it is better to separate the animals’ bowls or even feed them in different rooms.
• Dedicate sufficient time to each of them separately.
• To prevent unpleasant situations, it would be better to trim both animals' claws.
• It is better to buy each animal its own toys, and conduct the first joint games under strict control.
• For good behavior you need to treat the animals.
• Dogs are usually more active than cats. So it's worth giving your dog time and space to release energy. This is important so that she remains calmer at home. And I didn’t try to play with the cat on my own. To do this, you need to walk and play with dogs more often and longer.
• It is strictly forbidden to use force against animals. It is also impossible to allow one animal to hunt another. Under no circumstances should you encourage aggression or pit a cat and a dog against each other.

If you follow these simple recommendations, a dog and a cat together in the same house will become best friends. A tailed family is a responsibility, but at the same time it is an addition of joy and love to the home.

Cynologist instructor Yagovitina Yu.A.

What is the essence of the Animal Labeling Bill?

The bill introduces technical amendments to replace the term “identification” with the term “labeling”. It is also noted that in order to ensure veterinary safety in the country, all information about animals, including domestic ones, will be contained in a single database of the Federal State Information System in the Field of Veterinary Medicine (FSIS).

“Animals are subject to individual or group marking and registration in order to prevent the spread of contagious animal diseases, as well as to identify the sources and routes of spread of pathogens of contagious animal diseases,” the bill says.

As follows from the explanatory note, animal labeling is needed primarily for traceability of livestock products. And also for quickly identifying the source of an outbreak of diseases, which are often common in animals and people.

When do they want to start mandatory animal labeling? More details

Currently, the bill contains a list of 14 types of farm animals. According to statistics, this is more than 600 thousand individuals. Among them:

• cattle;
• pigs;
• sheep and goats;
• horses;
• donkeys;
• mules and hinnies;
• camels;
• reindeer;
• Domestic bird;
• rabbits;
• fur animals;
• bees;
• fish;
• other aquatic animals.

The fate of a foundling

The period during which animals are most easily socialized is between 2 and 7 weeks of age for kittens, and between 3 and 8 weeks for puppies. In 1969, Michael Fox, now a renowned veterinarian, ethologist and writer, and then a postdoc at Washington University in St. Louis, became interested in what would happen if puppies and kittens began to communicate at this age. He provided them with such communication that it could not have been better: he took four Chihuahua puppies from their mothers and placed them one at a time in litters of cats, each containing 4-6 kittens ( Behaviour

, 1969, V. 35 (3–4)). The scientist did not choose the Chihuahua breed by chance - it is the smallest dog in the world, an adult weighs no more than three kilograms, and in this experiment the animals must be proportionate. There were no problems at the new location. A few hours later, the foundling puppies were already suckling their foster mother, and then, together with the kittens, they gradually switched to solid cat food (Fig. 1). The Chihuahuas lived with the cats until they were 16 weeks of age, after which they were returned to a dog environment with their peers. The kittens they grew up with were 5–7 days younger.

Rice.
1. The dog "Mowgli" in the cat family. Chihuahua puppy, twenty-six days old, suckles from its foster mother

Life among cats had such an impact on the development of the puppies that they were not ready for dog life: they did not play with their peers, did not bark at their reflection in the mirror, and did not show vigorous research activity inherent in puppies of this age. Only after two weeks did they get used to it and feel like dogs. But they were always friendly towards cats; when they met, they wagged their tails and invited them to play. Chihuahuas, deprived of a beneficial cat society in childhood, do not welcome cats, they chase them, bite them roughly, and force them to play.

For kittens, early exposure to one puppy changed their attitude toward all dogs. Cats raised with Chihuahuas indifferently perceive their approach and do not try to involve them in play, but graciously agree to the invitation to play. Kittens that have no experience of friendly relations with dogs are often afraid of them, never try to communicate with them and do not respond to invitations to play.