--- title: Can dogs and cats live together? description: "\"Can dogs and cats can live together? Dr Maria Calore gives her tips for a peaceful coexistence.\"" image: https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Cane-e-gatto-1-4.jpg --- [![almonature-logo-4](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/almonature-logo-4.svg) ](https://www.almonature.com/en/?hsLang=en-gb) ![EN](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/country_flags/gb.svg) [![almonature-logo-4](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/almonature-logo-4.svg) ](https://www.almonature.com/en/?hsLang=en-gb) - Products - [Companion for Life](https://www.almonature.com/it/companion-for-life?hsLang=en-gb) - Call for Projects - About us - [Where to buy](https://www.almonature.com/it/trova-un-negozio?hsLang=en-gb) Products - Cat Food - Dog Food - Cat Litter Cat Food - [All Cat Food](https://www.almonature.com/it/prodotti-per-gatti?hsLang=en-gb) - [Functional](https://www.almonature.com/it/alimenti-funzionali?hsLang=en-gb) - [Kibble](https://www.almonature.com/it/gatto-crocchette?hsLang=en-gb) - [Wet food](https://www.almonature.com/it/gatto-umido?hsLang=en-gb) - [Snack](https://www.almonature.com/it/gatto-snack?hsLang=en-gb) [![bio-diversity-menu-icon](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/bio-diversity-menu-icon.png) Impact on biodiversity ](https://www.almonature.com/it/impatto-sulla-biodiversit%C3%A0?hsLang=en-gb) [![nutritional-advice-menu-icon](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/nutritional-advice-menu-icon.png) Cat nutrition advice ](https://www.almonature.com/it/consiglio-nutrizionale-gatto?hsLang=en-gb) Dog Food - [All Dog Food](https://www.almonature.com/it/prodotti-per-cani?hsLang=en-gb) - [Kibble](https://www.almonature.com/it/cane-crocchette?hsLang=en-gb) - [Wet food](https://www.almonature.com/it/cane-umido?hsLang=en-gb) - [Snack](https://www.almonature.com/it/cane-snack?hsLang=en-gb) [![bio-diversity-menu-icon](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/bio-diversity-menu-icon.png) Impact on biodiversity ](https://www.almonature.com/it/impatto-sulla-biodiversit%C3%A0?hsLang=en-gb) [![nutritional-advice-menu-icon](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/nutritional-advice-menu-icon.png) Dog nutrition advice ](https://www.almonature.com/it/consiglio-nutrizionale-cane?hsLang=en-gb) Cat Litter - [All Litter](https://www.almonature.com/it/lettiere?hsLang=en-gb) - [Soft Texture](https://www.almonature.com/it/catlitter-soft-texture?hsLang=en-gb) - [Grain Texture](https://www.almonature.com/it/catlitter-grain-texture?hsLang=en-gb) Call for Projects - [Home Page](https://www.almonature.com/it/re-community?hsLang=en-gb) - [Participating projects](https://www.almonature.com/it/companion-for-life/projects?hsLang=en-gb) - [International commission](https://www.almonature.com/it/companion-for-life/re-community-giuria?hsLang=en-gb) - [FAQs](https://www.almonature.com/it/companion-for-life/faqs-domande-frequenti?hsLang=en-gb) - [Download the call for projects](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/re-community-projects/UK-Companion-for-Life-Call-for-Project-Annex-1-and-2.pdf?hsLang=en-gb) About us - [Brand Profile](https://www.almonature.com/it/manifesto?hsLang=en-gb) - [Our history](https://www.almonature.com/it/la-storia?hsLang=en-gb) - [The company](https://www.almonature.com/it/rendicontazione?hsLang=en-gb) - [Reintegration Economy](https://www.almonature.com/it/reintegration-economy?hsLang=en-gb) ![Can dogs and cats live together?](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Cane-e-gatto-1-4.jpg) *It's quite common these days that a family home has both dogs and cats: two very different species that share interactions and the living space with human beings.* *In this article we'll talk about cohabitation between dogs and cats and how to protect them while respecting their ethological differences.*  ### **A cat is not a small dog!** First of all we should remember that dogs and cats are two very different species, even if they have [domestication](https://www.almonature.com/en/reads/from-wolves-to-dogs-the-latest-news-about-the-domestication-of-mans-best-friend/?hsLang=en-gb) (the process by which dogs and cats adapted to live in close proximity with human beings) in common.A cat, unlike a dog, is [not a social animal](https://www.almonature.com/en/reads/do-cats-choose-an-owner/?hsLang=en-gb) and for this reason, it needs to be able to isolate itself from both humans and other animals. A dog, on the other hand, prefers [to be part of a social group](https://www.almonature.com/en/reads/role-pack-leader-dog/?hsLang=en-gb) and needs, for its wellness, to share places and activities with the group.  ### **A different way of communication** The sociality of a cat is also expressed through communication that is sometimes less clear to man than that used by a dog. For example, [the movement of cat's tail](https://www.almonature.com/en/reads/the-tail-of-the-cat-and-its-movements-how-to-decipher-the-important-signals/?hsLang=en-gb) can signal excitement but also discomfort. This behaviour is therefore more difficult to interpret by man in comparison with [the movement of a dog's tail](https://www.almonature.com/en/reads/a-dogs-tail-the-meanings-behind-its-movements/?hsLang=en-gb) through which it generally expresses a positive state of mind.Also, because cats are less inclined to participate in group activities than dogs, they haven't refined two important abilities in the same way as dogs: namely, building the necessary skills to interact with man and understanding human communication methods.  ### **Differences in the way they see their spaces** For cats, having [their territory](https://www.almonature.com/en/reads/a-cat-and-its-territory-from-marking-out-the-area-to-its-space-management-methods/?hsLang=en-gb) divided into different activity areas is really important and any changes to these areas can provoke behavioural problems.For dogs, the social group and the activities performed together in that group are hugely important. If the joint activities decrease or the dog is isolated from the social group, its wellness will be affected.  ### **Some rules for a happy eight-legged cohabitation** So, we begin to understand that cats and dogs have different needs that we have to respect to guarantee their wellness. For a cat we should consider the fact that they may want to isolate themselves from any unwanted attention from the dog: shelves set up to form raised walkways and observation points, [scratching post](https://www.almonature.com/en/reads/cats-scratching-how-to-avoid-unpleasant-surprises/?hsLang=en-gb) and bowls placed up high will help them feel secure. The cat will then decide how and when to interact with the dog.If the cat is already present in the home when we adopt a young puppy, it's also important to protect the cat from the constant attempts by the pup to interact and play. At the same time, this will lessen the risk of the puppy being scratched.In some cases, if we have a particularly active dog for example, it may also be beneficial to keep the pets in separate areas for a few hours a day. Fencing off an area of the garden or occupying the dog with some fun activities thereby taking its attention away from the cat will make life more pleasant for the cat as it will be able to observe goings-on from a safe vantage point and enjoy the outdoor space in peace. Special attention should also be paid to kittens and older cats. For the former, we must be careful not to let their natural curiosity put them in dangerous situations, for example separating them from the dog when preparing the food. For older cats, we should respect their territory and leave them enough space and time for their daily activities.Finally, we should not forget that our cat needs to interact with us too, so we should be sure to devote some time exclusively to our kitty for cuddles and play.  **Article by** **Dr Maria Grazia Calore, veterinary surgeon and expert in pet behaviour** #### Related Articles [![A Companion Animal as a Form of Therapy](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/pexels-photo-38867-1-8.jpeg) ](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/a-companion-animal-as-a-therapy?hsLang=en-gb) Companion For Life, [Project stories](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/tag/project-stories) December 16,2015 ###### [A Companion Animal as a Form of Therapy](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/a-companion-animal-as-a-therapy?hsLang=en-gb) Animals are affectionate, playful and loving. 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[![Are cats affectionate? 6 signs they love you](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gattiafetto1140-5.jpg) ](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/are-cats-affectionate-6-signs-they-love-you-3?hsLang=en-gb) [Cats,](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/tag/cats) [Lifehacks,](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/tag/lifehacks) [Insights](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/tag/insights) December 16,2015 ###### [Are cats affectionate? 6 signs they love you](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/are-cats-affectionate-6-signs-they-love-you-3?hsLang=en-gb) Are cats affectionate? For many non-cat owners, the answer to this question is likely to be the classic stereotype ‘ [the domestic feline is an opportunist](https://www.almonature.com/en/reads/comportamento-del-gatto-e-opportunista/?hsLang=en-gb) that doesn't... [![When cats lick: what does it mean?](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/cat-licking1-4.jpg) ](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/cats-lick-mean?hsLang=en-gb) [Cats,](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/tag/cats) [Lifehacks,](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/tag/lifehacks) [Insights](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/tag/insights) December 16,2015 ###### [When cats lick: what does it mean?](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/cats-lick-mean?hsLang=en-gb) Images portraying [dogs licking their owners and fellow animals](https://www.almonature.com/en/learns/why-do-dogs-lick-their-owners/?hsLang=en-gb) illustrate a classic example of life living with dogs. **But what does it mean when cats lick?** The joyful... [![How do dogs show their affection?](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Cane-affetto-4.jpg) ](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/how-do-dogs-show-their-affection?hsLang=en-gb) [Dogs,](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/tag/dogs) [Lifehacks,](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/tag/lifehacks) [Insights](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/tag/insights) December 16,2015 ###### [How do dogs show their affection?](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/how-do-dogs-show-their-affection?hsLang=en-gb) The life of someone who spends time with a dog can be the polar opposite of one spent with a cat: the feline, often unfairly [accused of being an opportunist](https://www.almonature.com/en/learns/are-cats-opportunists/?hsLang=en-gb), is a... [![A cat and its territory: from marking out the area to its space management methods](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/territorio1140-5.jpg) ](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/a-cat-and-its-territory-from-marking-out-the-area-to-its-space-management-methods?hsLang=en-gb) [Cats,](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/tag/cats) [Lifehacks,](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/tag/lifehacks) [Insights](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/tag/insights) December 16,2015 ###### [A cat and its territory: from marking out the area to its space management methods](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/a-cat-and-its-territory-from-marking-out-the-area-to-its-space-management-methods?hsLang=en-gb) **Territory is of utmost importance to cats**. In fact, after separation from the mother, which takes place between the seventh and the ninth week of life, a cat will... [![Dog or cat? 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