A lot of people ask, if I get another pet will she get along
with my pet? There is no simple answer to this question, but
there are some facts to consider that might help forecast the
results of such interspecies interactions:
The species of the housemate you intend for your
cat (or proposed cat)
The temperament of the individuals to be mixed
The early and later experience of the individuals
to be mixed
Which species is the resident animal
Our own ability to monitor and manage the
situation
The environmental setup
Humanity
While there can be some very harmonious marriages of
species, in other cases the result of the mix can be damaging
to one or both animals, or even lethal.
Cats and Dogs: Former President Clinton
found out that bringing a dog (Buddy) into the White House
where there was already a cat (Socks) was not as easy as
balancing the U.S. budget. The two fought like, well, dog and
cat. But do all dogs and cats hate each other? The answer is
no. The relationship between these traditionally acrimonious
species can range from good friends, to indifferent, to
positively hostile.
There are genetic influences on the relationship. Dogs, by
nature, are predators. Predators tend to chase rapidly moving
and furry things smaller than they are … and that is the job
description of a cat. So there is a potential problem. But
dogs and cats, like humans, are not driven by nature alone.
There is also a learned component to what they do. For a dog
and cat, there is a sensitive time period when they learn who
their friends are. This time period spans the first 2 to 3
months of life
A puppy that is raised with cats during this time, and
experiences no adverse consequences of the interaction, will
likely grow up to regard cats as benevolent domestic fixtures.
The reverse is also true. It may be slightly easier to
introduce a new kitten to a resident dog than to introduce new
puppies to a resident cat because of the highly territorial
and antisocial nature of some cats.
But you can also have your work cut out introducing kittens to
a highly predatory species of dog. Both situations can be
managed by proper chaperoning and protection of the most
vulnerable species. Time spent together may even result in a
level of mutual tolerance, if not mutual admiration. If
puppies and kittens are raised together, neither party should
present a problem when integrating with the opposite species,
unless the incumbent is particularly mean.
Cats should not be introduced to a home with dogs that have
chased and tried to kill cats. These dogs will probably find
it difficult to see cats as anything other than prey, and even
if they do not actually manage to catch the cat, may make her
life pretty miserable. Likewise, a puppy may have to be
protected from a territorial bully of a cat that has, by
virtue of prior experiences, or lack thereof, a lifelong
hatred of dogs or wishes to walk alone. Sometimes a dog in
such a situation will learn to avoid a dangerous cat. In other
instances, the cat may spend her life in trepidation of the
dog. Neither of these situations is desirable or reasonable
and they should, if possible, be avoided by prevention or
rehoming of one or other of the feuding parties. That’s what
happened to Socks.
Cats and Pocket Pets: Mice, rats and other small
critters should only be kept in a home with cats if you can
guarantee to provide for their welfare. However interested and
benevolent your cat may appear to be toward the rodent or
rabbit, don’t believe it. Cats just can’t help themselves.
Nature has programmed cats to chase after and pounce on small
animals that run quickly. If you do want to have mice or rats
in the same house as a cat you have to make sure that:
The bars of the cage are close enough together to
prevent Houdini moves by the little ones.
The cage is not constructed of anything they may
chew through.
The cage cannot be knocked down or over by the
agile cat so that the door springs open, exposing the
inmates.
It is said that rats over 500 grams weight can
take care of themselves, but I wouldn’t trust my life,
or the rat’s life, to that saying.
Cats, Birds and Fish
The same applies to birds and fish. The birdcage and fish tank
should be firmly secured and be well out of harms way. Fish
and cats are not too bad a combination, as long as you can
literally keep a lid on things – but with cats and birds,
the situation is more problematic. While fish usually remain
untroubled by the periodic, riveted attention they receive
from cats, birds are not so immune to their predatory
onlookers’ stares and can become quite troubled. Also,
it’s a little easier for a cat to tip over a birdcage than
to heave over a fish tank. Larger birds, like macaws, may not
be easy to intimidate and may even give the cat cause for
concern, but small avians, like parakeets, are definitely at
risk of chronic intimidation, and are even at risk of injury
or death. And they usually know it. Not a very nice
predicament for the caged ones and one to be avoided at all
costs.
Cats and Snakes, Reptiles and Chelonians
There is no possibility of social harmony between cats and the
above species. Snakes, etc. should be housed alone and cats
should be protected from them. Larger constrictor snakes and
poisonous snakes can easily kill cats. Reptiles, like iguanas,
can be very aggressive and have sharp teeth. Beware the cat
that takes on a large iguana. Tortoises can look after
themselves in ways for which they are famous, but why allow
them to be hassled by a curious cat who gets perverted
pleasure in seeing the chelonian’s head go shooting back
under the shell. There have to be other ways a cat can
entertain herself.
If you are thinking of mixing species, find out what each
species does for a living in the wild. Ask if they are
predatory, aggressive, territorial, solitary, gregarious, and
so on. That will give you some idea what to expect. Then ask,
how the species was raised, with whom, by whom, where and
when. Next, you should probe for any information about prior
interspecies interactions of the species in question (if
that’s not already moot).
Finally, if you are still up for it, insist on a trial
marriage before you commit to the newcomer. Not every creature
gets along well with others, but then again, not every
creature enjoys the solitary life. Sometimes you just have to
try putting pets together to find out. But be safe. Pets’
lives are in your hands. With the correct early socialization,
seemingly miraculous unions can be engineered. Cats that allow
birds to perch on their heads, cats that allow mice to run all
over their bodies, even when they’re nursing (there’s
another generation of mouse friendly cats in the making), and
cats who allow themselves to be groomed by non-human primates.
It all smacks of “and the lion shall lie down with the
lamb” (also possible), as well it might, but please, never
trust your cat with a snake or a reptile.
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