Hills Food, Shelter & Love® program helps to "bring some love home"!
Have you ever wondered if cats and dogs can really get along, or whether one or the other is simply biding its time...? Let me put your mind at ease right now: With a little planning, preparation and a bit of patience, most dogs and cats can live together in harmony, and even, well, enjoy one another.
I won't admit to loving our cat, Bella, but she does make a pretty good pillow.
Although Parental Unit didn't adopt Bella from an animal shelter, she did find her on the street (directly under the wheels of a massive truck), when she was only about two months old.
Little Ms. Bella, shortly after she took over the household.
When Parental Unit found Bella, she'd never had a cat and dog at the same time, and she was introducing Bella to her 13 year old Wire Fox terrier, who had been an "only pet" his entire life. She was not worried that they would fight, but that she would make her elderly pooch feel bad—like he was being replaced. Parental Unit followed our veterinarian's suggestion to keep her dog and new kitty separated until she was sure they got along, introducing them slowly and making sure to show affection to each. She also kept their food and water in separate rooms. It took no more than a few weeks for Bella to win him over. It turns out that old man Carson enjoyed her company!
Parental Unit found me at the animal shelter a few months after Carson passed away, and felt confident she could successfully introduce the right dog to the feline queen of the house. First, I was tested in the shelter with their "house cat", and shelter staff were certain I showed no signs of kitty aggression. She was also able to take me home for a half-day trial run. All I wanted to do was play, but Bella initially kept a respectful distance. Despite my cat-friendly nature, Parental Unit was still very careful, keeping us apart for the first several weeks unless supervised, and slowly allowing us to play. But don't just take our recommendations, check out these tips from Pet MD for introducing dogs and cats.
It's also important to carefully watch your pets' diet during any time of transition, including the introduction of a new pet to your household, because it can be a stressful time for all. Hills Science Diet has a special adult sensitive stomach and skin formula to help sooth an anxious pet's stomach.
Now Bella and I guard our house together. We both make sure our yard stays squirrel free!
We think the key to transitioning a new cat to your dog-friendly home and vice versa is to first consult with the shelter staff about how that particular pet reacts with other animals, discuss with your veterinarian how best to integrate your new family member, and of course, have lots of patience. Then, sit back and enjoy the beginning of a beautiful friendship...
This post is sponsored by Hill’s. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Hill’s® Science Diet® and Food, Shelter & Love® Program, but Bocci's Beefs only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.
Have you ever wondered if cats and dogs can really get along, or whether one or the other is simply biding its time...? Let me put your mind at ease right now: With a little planning, preparation and a bit of patience, most dogs and cats can live together in harmony, and even, well, enjoy one another.
I won't admit to loving our cat, Bella, but she does make a pretty good pillow.
Although Parental Unit didn't adopt Bella from an animal shelter, she did find her on the street (directly under the wheels of a massive truck), when she was only about two months old.
Little Ms. Bella, shortly after she took over the household.
When Parental Unit found Bella, she'd never had a cat and dog at the same time, and she was introducing Bella to her 13 year old Wire Fox terrier, who had been an "only pet" his entire life. She was not worried that they would fight, but that she would make her elderly pooch feel bad—like he was being replaced. Parental Unit followed our veterinarian's suggestion to keep her dog and new kitty separated until she was sure they got along, introducing them slowly and making sure to show affection to each. She also kept their food and water in separate rooms. It took no more than a few weeks for Bella to win him over. It turns out that old man Carson enjoyed her company!
Parental Unit found me at the animal shelter a few months after Carson passed away, and felt confident she could successfully introduce the right dog to the feline queen of the house. First, I was tested in the shelter with their "house cat", and shelter staff were certain I showed no signs of kitty aggression. She was also able to take me home for a half-day trial run. All I wanted to do was play, but Bella initially kept a respectful distance. Despite my cat-friendly nature, Parental Unit was still very careful, keeping us apart for the first several weeks unless supervised, and slowly allowing us to play. But don't just take our recommendations, check out these tips from Pet MD for introducing dogs and cats.
It's also important to carefully watch your pets' diet during any time of transition, including the introduction of a new pet to your household, because it can be a stressful time for all. Hills Science Diet has a special adult sensitive stomach and skin formula to help sooth an anxious pet's stomach.
Now Bella and I guard our house together. We both make sure our yard stays squirrel free!
We think the key to transitioning a new cat to your dog-friendly home and vice versa is to first consult with the shelter staff about how that particular pet reacts with other animals, discuss with your veterinarian how best to integrate your new family member, and of course, have lots of patience. Then, sit back and enjoy the beginning of a beautiful friendship...
