When you love both dogs and cats, a home with both may be your goal. Whether you’ve just decided to add a new dog or a new cat, or you need some pointers for an existing pair that isn't too excited about each other, there are things you can try to help them get along or at least tolerate each other. This may not always be possible, but, with the right steps, a peaceful coexistence is usually attainable. Read on to learn how to get there.

Choose the Right Cat and Dog Combination

Before you even get to the point of introducing a dog and cat, you should make sure you pick two that will be compatible. There are certain dog breeds that tend to get along well with cats, and there are breeds with strong prey drives that may not be safe for a cat. However, a personality match is likely more important.

If you can introduce a dog and a cat in the puppy and kitten stage, you’re more apt to have success because they’ll grow, play, and learn together. Pairing a puppy with an older cat can work well, too. However, choosing a new dog or cat of any age that has lived harmoniously with the other species can also turn out well. Apart from that, be mindful of how their ages, energy levels, aggression levels, and social tendencies may clash.

Start Them Off on the Right Paw

Once you think you’ve chosen a good playmate for your dog or cat, slow and low stress introductions are key. It may take weeks or months to get a cat and dog comfortable with each other, so don’t worry if it seems to be taking a while.

When you bring home the new pet, keep them in a room of their own with all the necessities - food, water, a bed, toys, and a litter box, if the cat is the new addition. While the cat and dog won’t see each other, the space under the door will allow them to sniff each other and begin to get used to each other’s presence.

You can allow more scent investigation by having the new pet venture into the rest of the house while the other is kept safely in another room, and you can switch bedding or rub cloths on each pet and leave them with the other. This can be made into a positive association, too, by giving your pets treats when they’re smelling each other.

After a few days of this, you can progress to feeding them on the opposite side of the same door. This will again allow for positive reinforcement since they’ll both be enjoying their food, and they’ll be distracted so they’ll get used to each other being in the background. As the days wear on, you can replace the door with a sturdy baby gate so they can see each other while eating.

Carefully Have Their First Proper Meeting

When you’re ready for a proper introduction, you’ll want to put them in the same room with some sort of barrier, keep your dog on leash, and allow your cat free movement. This is best done after you’ve taken your dog on a brisk walk so they’re properly exercised without pent-up energy. Ensure your dog also has a good handle on the stay, sit, and lay down commands so you can calm them if they get too excited. When they do remain calm and follow those directives, rather than getting hyper fixated on the cat, give them treats.

Continue to give both treats when they’re around each other and behaving calmly. You can also distract your dog with toys or appropriate games if they’re getting too homed in on the cat or display chasing behavior. Keep a handle on the leash as you look for confrontational body language, too. In dogs, that would include a tense stance and stare, a stiff tail, baring teeth, curled lips, or pinned or straight up ears. Cats, meanwhile, would have dilated pupils, a rapidly swishing tail, and pinned ears.

If things get a bit testy, you’ll need to take a break for a few days and start over again. If it goes well, though, keep it up for a while until you’re ready to try dropping the leash but still have one attached in case of a confrontation. Always be in the room with them during these encounters until you’re sure they will be fine alone together. That shouldn’t be rushed.

Help Maintain the Peace

Even if things seem to be okay with your dog and cat, allowing them their own space is important. Feed them separately in different rooms, allow them their own beds and toys, and keep the dog away from the litter box. It’s important that the cat, who would be more vulnerable and usually less social, has their own space only they can access, complete with food, water, their bed, other enrichment and comfort items, and their litter box. You can keep this space separate by using a cat door or a baby gate. Apart from that room, they should also have vertical spaces like cat shelves and trees for escape in the rest of the house.

It's always important to give your dog enough exercise and mental stimulation for their own health and wellbeing, but it’s also good for your cat’s wellbeing. The less pent-up energy your dog has, the less apt they’ll be to bother the cat.

Finally, make sure you give each of your pets enough individual attention and bonding time so there isn’t any competition.

Find Ways to Play with Both

While these steps should at least lead to tolerance, cats and dogs can often become something resembling pals. If they’re thick as thieves, you can strengthen that bond by playing with them together. Options include fetch, as either a simultaneous toss of two toys, or one, if you know there won’t be too much squabbling. You can also play hide and seek with them together, with both seeking you, or even blow soapy bubbles for them both to chase and pop.

If they’re not as interested in these activities, at least you can lounge around on a lazy day together.