The answer is: it depends. There is never a guarantee that any two animals (or for that matter, any two people) are going to be able to cohabitate in peace. Dogs and cats are two very different species of animal, and sometimes they will not do well at sharing a home. Under the right circumstances, however, they may become the best of friends.
If a puppy and kitten are raised together, they probably have the best chance of getting along. We have all known cats and dogs that played and napped together and how incredibly cute it looked!
If the dog came into the household before the cat, the way the two pets are introduced is very important. The cat should be at the dog’s eye level, and you should have a firm grip on both. Allow both to sniff and inspect, but if either seems aggressive or afraid, remove the cat and try another introduction later. A few minutes several times each day should result in visible relaxation on the part of both animals. Never leave a cat and a dog alone together unless you are positive they are comfortable in each other’s company. An unsupervised interaction could traumatize one or both animals so badly that they remain afraid of all other animals indefinitely. If they do get along, you will not only need to stock up on pet dog supplies, but cat supplies as well! It is a good idea to make sure that each pet has there own space, the dog a dog house and the cat a cat condo.
Tags: cat furniture, Cat Trees