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Do Pomeranians And Cats Get Along?

Do Pomeranians and cats get along?

If you are asking this question, no doubt one of two things is perhaps true.

Either you are a proud owner of a Pomeranian who is now considering adopting a cat or kitten; or you are a feline owner thinking of adding a Pomeranian to your pet family.

If either of these scenarios are true, the above question takes on a great deal of importance.

After all, what’s the point of owning these two creatures simultaneously if they will always be at odds with each other.

To help you gauge your expectations with regard to this important query, in this article we will answer, in great detail, the question, “do Pomeranians and cats get along,” and provide some helpful tips for introducing these two animals within your home.

Do Pomeranians and Cats Get Along:  A Closer Look

If we are to believe the cartoons we all grew up watching, we would almost certainly be convinced that dogs and cats are the bitterest of enemies.

However, in real life, this is not always true.

In fact, given the right circumstances, dogs and cats can usually live quite harmoniously with each other in the same home.

And because the Pomeranian is a member of the “toy” category of dogs—a breed of dog that is bred mostly for companionship—he or she is much more likelier than other breeds to tolerate, if not befriend, a member of the feline species.

Of course, just like all people don’t always get along, neither do all cats and Pomeranians.

The status of their relationship at any given time can depend on a number of important factors—factors that may include:

  • Age of introduction.  The age at which the Pomeranian and/or cat were introduced can have a lot to do with how they will get along with each other.  If both were very young at the time of introduction, the odds of a favorable relationship are much higher.  The association is also more tolerable when one or the other was a puppy or kitten when they came into the home.  In cases such as these, the adult cat or adult Pomeranian is much less likely to see the other as a threat.  However, when adult cats and mature Pomeranians are first introduced into the home, the relationship can be much more challenging, requiring you to be vigilant and proactive, at least initially.
  • Time and effort spent on introduction.  Although cats and dogs are not natural enemies, immediately throwing an adult cat and Pomeranian together can have very negative consequences.  Instead, you will need to employ some effort and steps—steps outlined in the next section—to ensure they can gradually become acquainted and perhaps even forge a bond.
  • Type of environment.  The steps you will need to enact when introducing a cat and Pomeranian will require the right type of environment.  For example, if you live in a studio apartment with no available space that allows for independence, the relationship between the two can become very frosty, very fast.  Having enough room in your home—room that allows both animals to interact undisturbed within their environment—is always a major plus.

Setting Up Your Home Prior to Introduction

As we mentioned briefly above, the first physical introduction between your new cat and/or your Pomeranian should not be an immediate one.

Nor should it be unsupervised.

Before even bringing the new animal into your home, you should think about carving out an independent space for that animal—one that does not compromise the usual territory of your existing pet.

Here are some steps you can take to set up your home prior to adding the new pet (for the purpose of this section, we will assume the Pomeranian is the new addition).

Purchase a Pet Pen

A pet pen is a large, humane enclosure that provides a lot of space in which your new Pomeranian can roam.

This is different than the much smaller cages or crates on the market—devices used for transporting and training dogs.

A pet pen is usually a spacious, square or rectangular area that protects your dog from outside influences, especially while you are away.

These pens have ample room for your dog to play and stretch his legs.

They can be transparent or opaque (your choice) and are available with or without roofs (tops).

However, if you have an adult cat in the home, we recommend purchasing one with a roof to prevent entry by your cat.

A pet pen will allow your cat and new Pomeranian a great opportunity to get to know each other, while also preventing any type of physical contact between the two animals.

Use a Baby Gate

To cordon off certain areas of your home from one animal or the other, a baby gate is a great solution.

Just as these gates work to restrict access—access to certain regions of your home—to curious infants, so too do they prevent unwanted physical contact between your new and existing pets.

For example, if your cat has a particular room in which he eats, sleeps or tends to play, a baby gate in front of these rooms will prevent your new Pomeranian from unknowingly wading into these areas, potentially setting up an angry showdown.

Introducing a Cat to a Pomeranian (and Vice Versa)

After your new Pomeranian and cat have had a chance at restricted contact, you can slowly begin the physical introduction.

These introductions should go very slowly and should be given a short time limit at first.

Choose a time of day when your cat is generally the calmest, as this may help to curtail any rough antics.

For the safety of your new Pomeranian, especially if he is a puppy, make sure that you leash him before the introduction is made.

This will allow you to pull back in the  event either pet has a negative response to the other.

Allow just a short time for any sniffing or playing, lest your cat gets annoyed and decides to strike out.

Start in the rooms where the two pets are most likely to encounter each other, such as the space where they will feed or sleep.

Make sure you are giving plenty of loving attention to both of the animals, especially your existing pet.

This will not only foster a better relationship between the two animals, it will help prevent your existing pet from feeling as if he or she is being replaced.

As each day passes, you can add time to these one-to-one meetings, before returning your Pomeranian to his cordoned-off area after the encounter.

Continue this strategy for as long it takes, and gradually the two animals should become friends, if not tolerant of each other.

However, if these measured introductions seem to be adding more discord than harmony, you may want to turn to a professional trainer, one who is skilled in both canine and feline behavior, to resolve the conflict.

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National Canine Research Association of America