Don't Let Fur Fly When Introducing Dog To Cat

By Jean Mansen

With the holidays come some extra time off and many people think about adding a new pet to their household. If you’ve already got a dog and are thinking about adopting a cat, or vice-versa, you’ll want to ensure that they get along, rather than fight like, well you know … cats and dogs!

Careful introductions are critical. Unfortunately, proper introductions require more than, Mr. Dog, meet Miss Kitty. And, unlike human introductions, the process for introducing a new dog or cat into a household with existing pets can take weeks to months.

If you have a dog and are thinking about adding a cat to your home, it is best to start with a kitten, if possible. An older cat, especially one who hasn’t been raised around dogs, may not like the idea of sharing a house with a dog. If you have a cat and are considering adding a dog to the family, shelters, rescue groups and private parties looking to place puppies and dogs often know whether an animal has successfully lived with a cat, or they will test to see how the dog behaves in the presence of a cat.

Don’t rush the introductions. Cats can take a long time to get used to things, commonly months. Taking things too quickly can set the process back badly, so allow the cat’s timing to drive the pace.

Regardless of who is the newcomer, you should control the dog’s environment from the start. Use a tie-down to acclimate the dog to a certain area. Put your dog’s bed there and provide water, chewies and treats. Teach your dog to settle and relax in this area.

It is critical that your dog knows basic obedience commands, especially “stay” and “leave it.” You will use these commands a lot when introducing the dog and cat, and your dog’s stay and leave it should be solid.

When your dog is outside, allow the cat to explore the dog’s area. The cat will be able to sniff around. Provide a safe place for the cat, ideally a perch that is near the dog’s area, but safely out of reach when the dog is on a tie-down. Make the perch inviting with treats and catnip toys.

Allow the dog and cat time to acclimate to their areas without the other one being around. Don’t worry — they’ll pick up each other’s scents right away. When you are ready to introduce them, have the dog on a tie-down and bring in the cat and place her on the perch. Don’t hold the cat because she may feel trapped and try to escape, injuring her and you, and exciting the dog, in the process.

Many cats and dogs get along well as long as the cat doesn’t run. When the cat runs, the dog tends to automatically chase her. If the cat is frightened of the dog, being chased will exacerbate her fear. It will also further stimulate the dog’s predatory instincts and make the situation more dangerous to both of them.

Don’t leave the dog and cat alone together when you are not around until you are confident that the dog will not chase or harm the cat, no matter what. Use baby gates to provide safe zones for the cat or keep the animals in separate rooms.

Your dog and cat may become good buddies, or they may just learn to tolerate one another, but you owe it to them to keep them safe and happy either way. Hopefully, these steps will help you along that process.

Jean Mansen is a dog behavior volunteer at the Marin Humane Society.