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Successful Co-habitation of Pets
by Belinda Osgood
Raise any two animals together from babies and they will learn to live as siblings, whether they are traditionally prey and predator or not. I have heard of numerous examples where this is the case. My husband often relates a story of his cousin who kept an owl, rat, and cat as a cheerful trio. Like raising human children, our smaller family members learn behaviour, interpersonal relationships, and what is acceptable from the parents (humans). Thus the ability of different species of animals to co-habitat is learned. There are exceptions to this, of course. Just like children, pets have personalities which can create friction in a household. Jealousy, mean-spiritedness, fear, domination, and so on all can affect how well pets get on together, even when they are the same species.
The story can be entirely different when a younger animal is introduced into a home where an older pet resides. When my husband and I took on our two kittens at the tender age of six weeks, I wondered how they would relate with our eight-year-old black Labrador, Wag. We were pleasantly surprised to find a respectful awareness developed between canine and felines.
Wag is an outside dog, being far too exuberant and large to risk being in the company of our interior furnishings. For many weeks we kept Smooch and Simba, the two cats, inside. They were the cutest, most vulnerable little boys ever. When they finally did foray into the great ‘outside’ it was with a great deal of suspicion and short scouting trips, always rushing back to the safety of a watchful mum -- me! Within a week they had found their joy in the outdoors and keeping them inside was not far short of an impossibility.
To my delight the two cats soon lost their wariness around the big, black dog, and became quite at home sharing the back yard with him. Wag, in turn, was discouraged from chasing them, even if they ran. This type of communion between animals must develop through the leading of the authority figure. We had to discipline Wag if he showed the wrong reaction.
In the beginning I introduced them slowly. Cuddling a cat to me, I would gently advance to Wag. Feeling secure the cats choose to stay in the safety of my arms. In a gentle voice I introduced the animals to each other and they had a chance to get one another’s scent. The cats can now pass right by the dog and the most he will do is look or lower his head to sniff. Smooch and Simba are always careful, but quite comfortable in his presence. Wag barks at every cat, except our two. If they get in a fight with a neighbourhood cat, he will rush to their defense.
This all went very smoothly and we enjoyed a happy family. It was time to introduce a new family member in the form of a rabbit. Smooch had hunted and brought home a baby rabbit and Wag was used to chasing them when we went to the river. I was naturally a little more concerned about how these relationships would develop.
I should not have worried. It required the same procedure of introductions, always keeping the more vulnerable individual safe and comfortable. Opal, the rabbit, happens to have quite a dominant personality and was never at all afraid of the cats or the dog. The older three were very curious and spent many hours in and around the hutch, watching. It might be surprising to expect them to be affectionate with each other, but I feel they are. Just last week, Wag and Opal had their heads together in her food bowl as Wag helped himself to some stolen nibbles. Wag usually lies up against her hutch when he naps during the day.
Animals can be taught how to co-habitat safely. With patience and due care, it is possible to create a harmonious family, no matter the variety of pets one may choose to own.
About the Author
Belinda writes from her home, in the company of one dog, two cats, a rabbit, and tropical fish. This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.PetLovers.Com/ which is a site for Pets.
How To Go About Choosing A Cat Breed That Suits You
By Birgit Hulsing
Cats make great pets for most homes because they are very easy to care for and generally bond easily with humans. Most of the societies and cultures around the world have made it a practice to adopt cats into their family structures. However, domestic cats do vary quite a bit in their physical design and personalities from one breed to the next. Choosing a cat breed that suits you and your family is not a task that should be taken lightly. Nor should choosing a cat breed that suits you seem like a difficult task.
The first consideration when choosing a cat breed is the size of your living area. You may always think of cats as being leisurely lounge lizards, but many breeds spend as much time playing as lounging. Playful cat breeds need plenty of room to play. Also, the larger the play area and the more there is to do, such as another cat to interact with, the less likely the cat is to go mad if it doesn't see you much for a few days.
That leads to the second consideration when choosing a cat breed. You need to think about how much time your family is going to be able to spend with the cat. If your new little friend doesn't at least get a couple of gentle touches and a cuddle every other day, it will go mad. Although how much attention is necessary has a lot to do with the breed. The other part of the time consideration is that some cats require more grooming maintenance such as bathing and brushing. A busy family should get a cat with short fur.
The third consideration when choosing a cat breed is allergies to cats. These allergies are not uncommon, but there is much variance in the degree in which they manifest themselves. Someone with a very heavy cat allergy probably should not own a cat. Someone with a light allergy that results in a few sneezes or coughs a day can have a cat, but should be careful in choosing a cat breed that will minimize allergen exposure. For example, you will want to choose a cat breed that has short fur and rarely sheds its fur to reduce your exposure.
The fourth, and probably most often forgotten, consideration when choosing a cat breed is the cost of taking care of that breed. Some breeds are hardier than others. Many breeds have common ailments, such as deafness or fur balls, that may get costly in veterinarian visits. Also, a cat that weighs half as much and has a lazy temperament will eat less than half as much as the cat that weighs twice as much and is packed full of energy.
The fifth, and final, consideration when choosing a cat breed is how the personality of the kitty matches up with the other personalities of your family. Cats come in different temperaments. There are lap, child-friendly, indoors, independent hunter, and jealous, one-person cats.
Brigit Hulsing is a cat behaviour researcher and helps cat owners with practical tips and advice on cat toilet training and cat training
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Birgit_Hulsing
Los Angeles Times
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