Introducing Your Dog to a New Cat
Most dogs develop their attitudes towards cats as puppies.
A dog that has grown up with a cat in the home will likely respond more positively to the introduction of another cat than a dog that's never had the opportunity to live with a cat before.
Cats and dogs certainly have a reputation for being sworn enemies, but in most families, the discord is closer to sibling rivalry than a desire to cause harm to one another.
Introducing your dog to a new cat properly and gently will only help create a positive first impression, and help allay any anxiety, hostility, or fear.
Create Personal Space Before bringing a new cat into the home, be sure to spend some extra time with your dog, and even explain what is going to happen.
Make sure your dog is in a happy and obedient frame of mind before the new cat arrives, or the two are likely to get off on the wrong foot from the first moment they meet each other.
This can be accomplished by taking your dog for extra walks, giving him treats, and showing him extra affection in the days before the arrival of the new cat.
It also wouldn't hurt for you and your dog to brush up on his obedience skills, especially commands like "Sit," "Stay," and "Leave it.
" These commands will probably be very useful during the first few weeks of the cat and dog cohabitating.
Another command to consider is, "Touch," where your dog touches his nose to your hand on command -- you can use this command to distract him should he start to go down a path of aggression you don't want.
When you initially bring the cat into your home, it's important that you set up a personal space in the home just for her.
This will allow her to feel as if she's protected and has a safe haven.
It's ideal if this space is a room with a door; fill the room with food and water bowls, toys, scratching posts, and of course, a litter box.
Leave the door to the room open, but make sure the entrance is secured by a baby gate.
Particularly if you have a larger dog, it's important to make sure the dog isn't able to jump over the gate or very negative consequences may ensue.
It's helpful to walk the dog on a leash by the cat's room a few times each day.
When the two make no attempt to fight and the interaction is peaceful, give both of them a treat.
This way they both associate playing well together with enjoyable rewards.
Arrival & Introductions If you're bringing a new cat into the home while your dog is still a puppy, the two are actually more likely to grow accustomed to each other in less time.
A puppy isn't that much bigger than a cat, especially a young puppy, and while the cat may find the puppy's boisterous energy annoying, she will usually tolerate the puppy's presence.
If the puppy gets out of line, she's likely to correct in the same way she would another cat, so having your cat's nails trimmed before bringing her into the house with a puppy is a good idea.
(Be sure to also monitor your cat to ensure she's not the aggressor to a puppy which could potentially cause life-long trauma for a dog and its future relationships with cats.
) Grown dogs are more frightening to cats, due to their size and occasionally loud and what appears to a cat to be aggressive behavior.
Dogs that are full-grown may also be more likely to feel resentful of a new arrival in the household, especially one that's likely to take some of your time, attention, and affection away from him.
This is why it's necessary to make brief introductions, and let the two grow used to one another by gradually increasing the amount of time they spend together in a supervised environment.
When it's time to introduce the two without the protection of the gate, it's a good idea to keep your dog on a leash while allowing the cat to come out of her space.
Take them both into the living room and allow them to sniff or paw at each other, but at the first sign of fighting or hiding under furniture, separate them and try again the next day.
Fear and Hostility Introducing a new cat to your home isn't an immediate process, but it becomes even more complex if there's a dog in the home.
Cats are by nature slow to accept change or to establish bonds with others, even cats that seem a bit friendlier than average.
Allow your cat to set the pace at which she feels comfortable with you, your home, and interacting with the dog.
Depending on the cat, it can take anywhere from a few days to a few months before the adjustment is complete.
This is a perfectly normal way for a cat to become adjusted to new surroundings and learning to live with another animal.
As long as she is not subjected to harassment or trauma when interacting with the dog, it won't be long before the two learn to tolerate one another, and eventually become fast friends.
A dog that has grown up with a cat in the home will likely respond more positively to the introduction of another cat than a dog that's never had the opportunity to live with a cat before.
Cats and dogs certainly have a reputation for being sworn enemies, but in most families, the discord is closer to sibling rivalry than a desire to cause harm to one another.
Introducing your dog to a new cat properly and gently will only help create a positive first impression, and help allay any anxiety, hostility, or fear.
Create Personal Space Before bringing a new cat into the home, be sure to spend some extra time with your dog, and even explain what is going to happen.
Make sure your dog is in a happy and obedient frame of mind before the new cat arrives, or the two are likely to get off on the wrong foot from the first moment they meet each other.
This can be accomplished by taking your dog for extra walks, giving him treats, and showing him extra affection in the days before the arrival of the new cat.
It also wouldn't hurt for you and your dog to brush up on his obedience skills, especially commands like "Sit," "Stay," and "Leave it.
" These commands will probably be very useful during the first few weeks of the cat and dog cohabitating.
Another command to consider is, "Touch," where your dog touches his nose to your hand on command -- you can use this command to distract him should he start to go down a path of aggression you don't want.
When you initially bring the cat into your home, it's important that you set up a personal space in the home just for her.
This will allow her to feel as if she's protected and has a safe haven.
It's ideal if this space is a room with a door; fill the room with food and water bowls, toys, scratching posts, and of course, a litter box.
Leave the door to the room open, but make sure the entrance is secured by a baby gate.
Particularly if you have a larger dog, it's important to make sure the dog isn't able to jump over the gate or very negative consequences may ensue.
It's helpful to walk the dog on a leash by the cat's room a few times each day.
When the two make no attempt to fight and the interaction is peaceful, give both of them a treat.
This way they both associate playing well together with enjoyable rewards.
Arrival & Introductions If you're bringing a new cat into the home while your dog is still a puppy, the two are actually more likely to grow accustomed to each other in less time.
A puppy isn't that much bigger than a cat, especially a young puppy, and while the cat may find the puppy's boisterous energy annoying, she will usually tolerate the puppy's presence.
If the puppy gets out of line, she's likely to correct in the same way she would another cat, so having your cat's nails trimmed before bringing her into the house with a puppy is a good idea.
(Be sure to also monitor your cat to ensure she's not the aggressor to a puppy which could potentially cause life-long trauma for a dog and its future relationships with cats.
) Grown dogs are more frightening to cats, due to their size and occasionally loud and what appears to a cat to be aggressive behavior.
Dogs that are full-grown may also be more likely to feel resentful of a new arrival in the household, especially one that's likely to take some of your time, attention, and affection away from him.
This is why it's necessary to make brief introductions, and let the two grow used to one another by gradually increasing the amount of time they spend together in a supervised environment.
When it's time to introduce the two without the protection of the gate, it's a good idea to keep your dog on a leash while allowing the cat to come out of her space.
Take them both into the living room and allow them to sniff or paw at each other, but at the first sign of fighting or hiding under furniture, separate them and try again the next day.
Fear and Hostility Introducing a new cat to your home isn't an immediate process, but it becomes even more complex if there's a dog in the home.
Cats are by nature slow to accept change or to establish bonds with others, even cats that seem a bit friendlier than average.
Allow your cat to set the pace at which she feels comfortable with you, your home, and interacting with the dog.
Depending on the cat, it can take anywhere from a few days to a few months before the adjustment is complete.
This is a perfectly normal way for a cat to become adjusted to new surroundings and learning to live with another animal.
As long as she is not subjected to harassment or trauma when interacting with the dog, it won't be long before the two learn to tolerate one another, and eventually become fast friends.
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