Kittens and Puppies: Friends or Foes?
Although often portrayed as mortal enemies in cartoons and movies, cats and dogs live together quite happily in many households. If introduced to the opposite species when still young, there is a very good chance that kittens and puppies can become great friends, or at the very least learn to tolerate one another. I have known several cat and dog "siblings" who even share the same bed.
If you are planning on raising a kitten and a puppy together be prepared to have a lot of fun, alongside a healthy dose of trouble! Like all young animals, kittens and puppies are boisterous and playful, and even two of the same species can get into fights over food, toys or attention. You will need to be extra alert whenever your two new "kids" are together to ensure that neither one gets hurt.
Never let a puppy and kitten play unsupervised. Even if they seem like the best of friends, accidents can happen - especially when they are young and unaccustomed to each other. Your puppy will probably be bigger and stronger than your kitten, with a tendency to be clumsy and excitable. On the other hand, kittens tend to be faster and smarter, and will easily fend off an over eager puppy with a swipe of their sharp claws. As the smaller of the two animals, always make sure that your kitten has a safe place to retreat to if play gets too rough.
That said, I have seen plenty of cases where it was the puppy that needed rescued from a particularly adventurous and scrappy kitten. Low hanging tails are often extremely tempting playthings for a kitten, and some kittens take huge pleasure in planning surprise attacks on sleeping puppies, jumping on their backs, or swiping at them from hidden places. After a few weeks, most kittens and puppies will learn each other's boundaries and find the balance to living together peacefully.
Dogs tend to be much more territorial than cats, and you may encounter possessive behaviour from your puppy if he feels you are paying too much attention to the kitten, or if the kitten tries to play with his toys. Be consistent with your training methods for teaching your puppy what is bad behaviour and make sure the puppy knows that growling or snapping at other animals or humans is not acceptable. Never give in to your puppy's demands or you will lose your place as the "alpha", or pack leader, in your home.
Another area where even the calmest of puppies can be aggressive is during feeding time. Keep your pets' feeding dishes at a safe distance from each other, and discourage them from eating from one another's bowls. Not only can this result in fights, but puppy and kitten food is specially formulated to meet their specific nutritional needs, and they may not get the right balance of vitamins, minerals and proteins from their sibling's food.
Both kittens and puppies will benefit from the companionship of another animal in the house, and with a little patience and love there is no reason why they can't become BFFs (Best Furry Friends!)
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