[I love both!] Can you keep dogs and cats together? Here are some tips and tricks to keep in mind

Dogs and cats are very popular pets in Japan, and many people want to keep both.

Did you know that the anime "Everyday is Fun When You Have Both a Dog and a Cat" has been popular recently? Thanks to the popularity of this anime, it seems that more and more people want to keep dogs and cats together.

However, dogs and cats have quite different habits. This time, we'll explain how to keep dogs and cats together and some things to be careful about.

Differences in the Behaviors of Dogs and Cats

In addition to anime, I've recently found myself feeling warm and fuzzy watching videos of dogs and cats getting along on social media.
However, unfortunately, not all dogs and cats get along.
Dogs and cats have different habits, so it's important for owners to understand their differences before keeping them.

Dogs Live in Packs

Dogs live in packs, awake during the day and sleeping at night. In the wild, they hunt in packs and protect their predators.
As a result, they are very affectionate and value their family and companions.

When kept as pets, dogs recognize their owners as family members, so they tend to become very attached to them and want to spend time with them.

On the other hand, they are very lonely and get lonely if not given enough attention.
Also, due to their gregarious nature, they tend to regard their owner as the leader and obediently follow them.

Solo Cats

Cats generally live alone, not in groups with other cats, and are nocturnal animals that sleep during the day and move around at night.
They tend to live at their own pace and value their own space, so unlike dogs, they dislike other creatures invading their space.

They generally prefer to be alone, but sometimes they seem to crave affection.
If you've ever owned a cat, you've probably experienced this: they usually sleep high up on a dresser or somewhere high up, but then suddenly you notice them sleeping on your feet. This may be because cats are laid-back.

How to Keep Dogs and Cats Together and Things to Keep in Mind

It's clear that dogs and cats have completely opposite behaviors.
You might wonder if they can be kept together despite being so opposite. However, if owners understand their behaviors and create the right environment, it is possible to keep them together.

Which should I get first, a dog or a cat?

You're probably wondering whether to get a dog first and then a cat, or a cat first and then a dog.

■ Getting them at the same time

If you've already decided to get a dog and a cat, you can get them at the same time.
Raising a puppy and a kitten at the same time can be challenging, but dogs and cats generally begin to develop social skills around the age of 2-3 months.
If they're close to each other at this time, they'll recognize each other as family members and playmates, and they'll likely become friendly.

■ If you get a cat later

If you already have a dog, getting a cat later is relatively easy. Dogs, who live in groups, may view a new cat as inferior and take care of it.

■ If you get a dog later

On the other hand, if you get a cat first and then a dog later, you'll need to be careful for a while.
At first, you should keep the cat and dog in separate areas, and gradually introduce them to each other through cages, so they'll gradually get used to each other.
Forcing the two to get along can be counterproductive.

Feeding requires careful consideration

Omnivorous dogs and carnivorous cats have different nutritional needs, so the diet they should be fed will inevitably be different. Feeding them the wrong diet can lead to obesity and illness.

Dogs are basically omnivores, so there's no harm in eating a certain amount of food. However, cats are carnivores, and the foods they should avoid are different from those for dogs.

Feed your pets in separate areas or in their own cages to prevent them from eating the same food.
Separate meals not only prevents mixing of food, but also reduces the stress of having different pets around at the same time.

Separate litter boxes

It's common to provide pet mats for dogs and cat litter for cats.

Cats have a strong defensive instinct, so they dig in the sand to avoid other animals finding their strong-smelling urine or feces and attacking them.
You might think there's no need to hide them since they're kept indoors, but if they can't perform their instinctive defense, it can become stressful.
Make sure to provide a cat litter box where your cat can feel safe.

Things to Know About Dog and Cat Litter

I think most people let their dogs use the litter box on a pet sheet.
While using cat litter for your litter box doesn't seem like a bad idea, there are two things to be aware of.

The first is that dogs may scatter the litter.
In the wild, dogs would dig in the sand to secure a place to sleep. Because of this instinct, when there's sand, they'll dig to secure a place to sleep.
You've probably seen dogs digging in the ground, shouting, "Dig here, woof woof!" in old stories.
It seems that they often dig in the sand and end up scattering it outside the litter box.

The second is that dogs may eat the litter.
Dogs are animals that put everything in their mouths. Like human babies, they use their mouths to check whether something is edible, safe, how it feels, and so on.
Cat litter is not designed to be edible, so if your dog eats a large amount, it could become ill or require surgery to remove the litter from its stomach.

Summary

Dogs and cats are very popular pets.
However, as we've seen, they have completely opposite personalities.
If you're thinking of keeping them together, you need to properly understand their respective habits and raise them accordingly.

However, perhaps because cats have become more commonly kept as pets in recent years, cats seem to be becoming more like dogs. It seems that their instincts are becoming weaker and they are becoming more tame towards humans...
However, instincts don't disappear so easily, so we need to create a stress-free environment for both humans and pets.