Many cats and dogs are great friends, but reaching that point can
take some patience.
If your dog isn’t used to cats, start with considering the dog’s
personality. Does your dog have a high prey drive? Will it try to herd
the cat? Is it gentle and friendly? It’s also a good idea to brush off some
doggy obedience skills. Practice sitting down, coming when called for,
and a “leave it” command.
The next thing to consider is whether the cat you want has experience
with dogs. Many shelters and rescues allow their cats to meet dogs and
can give a good estimation of which cat would work the best. (Kittens
adapt to almost any situation, but they of course have other needs and
whims.
When you bring your new cat home, give him or her a room of their own
and time to settle in. Let the process of dog and cat becoming friends
take its time – once you succeed they’ll be friends for the rest of their
lives and it doesn’t matter if they need a few weeks or even months to
get to that point.
Rub your cat with a towel and let the
dog smell it – and vice versa. This is a
great way for them to get used to each
other before the first meeting. Many
problems between cats and dogs start
with the dog’s need to smell everything
new.
Make slow introductions by the
doorway to the cat’s room. Make sure
you have some extra good treats
available. It’s a good idea to block the door with a gate, so the cat and
dog can see and smell each other, but not touch.
Walk your dog past the door several times every day, and give treats and
praise to both dog and cat when they are calm and ignore each other.
If the dog reacts strongly to the cat, distract with obedience commands
such as sit or lie down. And, when your dog manages to pay attention to
this with the distraction of a cat nearby, he or she deserves treats!
It’s a good idea to let the cat set the pace. If your new kitty seems
curious and approaches the gate, it’s a success as far as the cat is
concerned. If your kitty hides, stay at this stage until the dog is no
longer a big deal.
Avoid forcing the cat to meet the dog. First impressions are important to
cats and can stay with them for a long time.
If your cat seems unafraid and maybe even interested, you can let them
meet face to face. Keep your dog with you on a loose leash and make
sure the cat can retreat or hide.
Praise good manners.
To start with, keep the cat and
dog separate when unsupervised.
Other things to consider
A little preparation goes a long
way. Your dog barking at the cat
or chasing the cat can cause stress and lead to other problems. Redirect
the dog’s attention in a positive manner and help both animals feel the
interaction is positive.
Make sure your dog can’t reach the cat’s litter box – dogs have bad
bathroom manners and cats don’t like their butts sniffed when using the
box.
Keep the cat’s food out of reach of the dog.
Even if your cat is to be allowed outdoors, make sure to have the pet
door locked during the initial introduction. They may dart outside and
not know where they live.
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