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How to encourage harmony in a multi-pet household
12th December 2019
Many of us have more than one pet and have cats living alongside dogs in the same household. If you find that your cats and dogs aren’t getting on as well as you’d like, there are steps you can take to help them feel more comfortable.
Mealtimes
Feeding time in a multi-pet household can be a little tricky if you have cats on different diets or a dog who likes to eat the cat’s food. To avoid weight and health issues, your pets shouldn’t be allowed to eat from the same food bowl. Greedy pets could become obese and timid pets might not get a look in. Serve your pets’ food in different locations to avoid stress at mealtimes. Also, give your cat a SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder or a SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder Connect so that no other pets can eat from their bowl.
Hiding Places
Pets need to be given the chance to hide whenever they want to. For cats, hiding places in high places are a good idea, especially if they need time away from a dog in the home. If your pets struggle to find suitable hiding places you could consider giving certain pets exclusive access to different areas of the house. You can do this by installing a Microchip Pet Door in an internal wall and programming it to permit access to specific pets.
Outdoor Access
If your pets are outdoor explorers, install a pet door in an external door, window or wall so that they can leave the house whenever they choose. The outside world may be a place they like to escape to from the other pets in your home. If you don’t have a pet door, then they’ll have to rely on asking to be let out. It could be stressful for them to wait to be let out if they’re trying to get away from another pet quickly.
Exercise your dog regularly
All dogs need plenty of exercise to keep them physically and mentally healthy. The added benefit of giving your dog plenty of exercise is that they should feel less inclined to pester your cat if they’re worn out from a walk. Also, while you’re out walking the dog, your cat can enjoy a bit of peace back at home.
Introducing a new pet
If you’re adopting a cat or dog and you have existing pets at home, consider animals who have lived with other cats or dogs before. Introduce the new pet slowly. Keep dogs on leashes when you introduce them to cats. If you’re bringing a dog into a cat household, baby gates could be a good investment. They will allow your cats to continue to use the whole house whilst keeping the dog out of certain areas.
