The age-old adage that cats and dogs are destined to be enemies is becoming more and more of a saying rather than a real fact. Just look at this Great Pyrenees named Marty and his kitty BFF, Callie.

These two are obviously very fond of one another and play together like they’re brother and sister. It really does prove that dogs and cats can get along just fine, and in some cases, form a strong bond over time.

@funnyfarm45#martythegreatpyrenese #calliethecat

♬ original sound – Funny Farm

Cats and dogs are two very different species and dogs have a natural prey drive, today’s cats and dogs can become close to one another. If you’re working on helping your cat and dog coexist, here are some tips.

Related: ‘Bossy’ Cat Won’t Let Dog Down the Stairs and It’s Too Comical

How to get cats and dogs to live in peace

  • Obedience Training: Since dogs have a higher prey drive, dogs will instinctively chase after cats. Naturally, this causes cats to be afraid of dogs. You can change this behavior with training. You can teach your dog basic commands like “sit, stay, and down,” which can help you when your cat comes around.
  • Supervised Interactions: Allow interaction when you have time to supervise your cat and dog, especially in the beginning.
  • Create a Safe Space: Have a safe location where your cat can return to when they feel nervous or afraid. For instance, they can go back to higher places such as on top of the fridge, or a windowsill.
  • Exchange Scents: While we rely on our eye sight, cats and dogs use their keen sense of smell to get familiarized with their environments. Letting your cat and dog smell each other’s scents is an essential process that helps them get to know one another. To do this, you can exchange their bedding, or simply rub a towel on your cat and place it next to your dog.
  • Desensitize: Desensitization can reduce your dog’s reaction towards your cat with ongoing exposure. Most dogs get excited when they see a cat, causing them to overreact, and in doing so, it scares the cat. You can put up a baby gate to separate your dog and cat, but they can still see and smell one another. Doing this, dogs will lose their interest and cats can roam freely with one another.

Remember to give your pets tons of love and praise when you see them interact sweetly, and don’t forget that developing a lifelong friendship takes time!

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