Dogs and cats – how they live together

Communication plays the leading role. And that means everything: the animals' body language, the sounds they make, the entire way they express themselves. Dogs wag their tails when they are happy. Cats, on the other hand, interpret tail wagging as tension – and that leads to a "defensive posture." Purring is pure reassurance for cats, but dogs can perceive the sound as a soft growl. A dog seeks eye contact with its owner or other dogs, thus connecting with its counterpart. A cat does not like to be "stared at"; for it, this is a threatening gesture. So, "linguistically" speaking, it is not easy for dogs and cats. Nevertheless, the connection can work.

The easiest way to achieve this is to get both animals together as a puppy and a kitten. If one of the animals joins the family later than the other, a little skill is required. Here are a few tips for a hopefully harmonious introduction and a good life together:

• Let them sniff each other before they even see each other for the first time. To do this, place a piece of cloth in each animal's bed for a while so that it absorbs hair, secretions, and scent. After a while, swap the two cloths. This is a simple way to help them get used to each other.
• For the first actual meeting, be sure to choose a neutral location. This should not be where the first resident's food bowl or bed is located – or the litter box, if No. 1 is a house cat.
• Both animals need enough space between them. The cat must be able to escape if it is in familiar surroundings. Otherwise, it is advisable to keep the cat in the safety of a carrier. The dog should be kept on a leash during the encounter.
• Most importantly, stay calm. Otherwise, your tension will be transferred to the animals and cause more excitement. The calmer you are in the situation, the better things will go between the dog and the cat.
• Remain relaxed (or at least pretend to be) when the animals fight or chase each other in the house. It is important to provide enough space so that everyone can get out of the way.

If you are looking for a dog and cat to live together in your home, the following conditions are particularly conducive to success:

• Both animals already have experience with the other species.
• The animals' personalities are compatible. A dreamy cat is likely to be more cuddly with a lazy dog.
• Cats are always hunters, while dogs have a greater or lesser hunting instinct. To protect the cat, it makes sense to bring a calm dog with little hunting instinct into the team.
• Separate the animals' retreat areas from each other: Set up a feeding area for the dog and a feeding area for the cat, as well as separate sleeping areas. What the two animals do with these areas is up to them.
• Be clear in your training. Both animals need rules and boundaries so that they know how far their sphere of influence extends. A pack is a pack – and you should remain the leader.

The best gift will be when the dog and cat finally lie together on the couch—and you might even get a little spot too.