- Getting started. Make sure the cat has access to a dog-free sanctuary at all times. …
- Keep the pets separate at first. …
- Feed them on opposite sides of a closed door. …
- Teach basic commands. …
- Begin face-to-face meetings. …
- Repeat sessions daily. …
- Allow pets loose together. …
- Proceed with caution.
First, decide whether it would be advisable and safe for your family to include both a dog and a cat. Although dogs and cats can coexist peacefully and even become friends, some specific dogs may not get along with cats.
It’s crucial that you carefully manage the introduction to your family and that your new cat, kitten, and dog are always under your supervision until you are certain that everyone is at ease and secure. It is a special and exciting time when a new feline member joins the family, but it can also be a little overwhelming for everyone involved. However, this can be controlled with preparation, ensuring that everyone is secure and under as little stress as possible.
Certain cats will fit in with a family’s other pets better than others. If you already have elderly animals, you might want to adopt a calm adult cat that gets along well with dogs because older cats tend to be less active than young kittens. Because the cat or kitten will have undergone temperament testing and the staff will be able to give you an idea of how the cat may react to other animals, think about adopting your cat or kitten from an RSPCA shelter. This will enable you to locate a cat or kitten that will get along better with your dog. Each year, the RSPCA shelters thousands of animals in need of loving homes.
Once you’ve chosen a cat, you’ll need to consider the best way to introduce it to your other pets so that everything goes smoothly. It’s crucial that you have patience and are ready for the introduction to take place over the course of at least a week, if not a few weeks, as this could be a stressful time for both animals.
Spend some time getting your house and current pets ready for your new cat or kitten before bringing them home. Make sure there are plenty of high resting places so your new cat or kitten can easily and safely retreat from your dog if they want to. This is particularly important. Additionally, you should ensure that your new cat has a dog-free, private space with everything it needs inside (food, water, a litter box, a bed, a hiding spot, elevated platforms, etc.). ). This lessens stress and helps prevent issues where your cat is afraid to eat, drink, or use the litter box.
Ideally your dog should be crate trained. There are numerous advantages to doing this, but in this instance it will make introductions simpler and safer.
When your dog and cat are together, if your cat has a tendency to flee, let it be. This indicates that your cat isn’t ready to interact with a new dog. Give your cat more time. Try not to push your cat and dog to interact because that could have a bad result.
Either the dog is too playful or the cat is too fearful, which is the problem with compatibility. Matching the personalities of the new pet cat or dog with the current pet is therefore the most crucial factor. If your dog is energetic and playful, you might want to think about getting a cat with similar traits.
Adult dog and kitten: Both are fearless and energetic. Thus, they can get along well with adult dogs. The issue is that kittens are more prone to danger than adult cats. Adult dogs may unintentionally hurt the kitten during the interaction. It is suggested that the adult dog already present be kept apart from the young kitten until the kitten is fully grown. If you want to allow them to interact, make sure you are watching everything they do.
Make sure your cat or dog is ready to meet the new family member who is not of its species when you introduce new fluffy members to your pets. The most important thing is that they feel comfortable around one another, regardless of which pet came first.
You can separate your dog and cat with a baby gate, but they can still see and smell each other through the gate. Use toys or practice cues to divert your dog’s attention if you notice it is becoming overly fixated on the cat. Your dog will eventually lose interest in the cat through desensitization and probably won’t react negatively when it sees the cat because it is accustomed to the cat’s presence.
Option 1: Slow and steady desensitization
Try desensitization, which aims to lessen your dog’s reaction to the cat by gradually increasing her exposure to him, if she is overly fixated on him. Put the cat in a room (e. g. , a bathroom, a spare room, or a bedroom) with a substantial baby gate across the door You should pick a room that the dog cannot enter and does not require access to. For instance, don’t place the cat in the bedroom if you and the dog share it at night. The plan is to keep them apart and only permit them to see each other at certain times.
Give the cat everything it needs in his room, including a litter box, toys, food, and water. Remember that cats are excellent climbers and jumpers as well as good at slipping through tight spaces. So, ensure that the gate you install cannot be crossed by your cat. The gate must be a barrier that allows the dog and cat to see each other but prevents them from approaching one another.
Give the dog a brief glimpse of the cat through the gate to start the desensitization process, and then get him to concentrate on something else, like playing with a toy or practicing cues. When trying to refocus the dog’s attention, it can be helpful to keep her on a leash so you can move her away from the cat. Give the dog praise and treats for shifting its attention elsewhere. Throughout the day, keep giving the dog brief glimpses of the cat.
Sometimes the dog gets too excited even when first seeing the cat. If so, shut the door and start feeding each animal on their respective sides of the door: The dog eats her food on the other side of the door, and the cat eats his food in the room next to the door. This enables each animal to link the scents of the other with pleasant things, like food. Additionally, you can exchange the bedding and blankets each animal has, giving it to the other. Without overstimulating either animal, the dog can become accustomed to the cat’s smell and the cat can become accustomed to the dog’s smell.
Hopefully, by gradually exposing the dog to the cat and allowing him to become accustomed to it, the dog will eventually desensitize and lose interest in the cat. The dog may lose interest in the cat within a few hours in some circumstances, but it may take days, weeks, or even months. Since every dog (and cat) is unique, they will all learn at their own pace.
That being said, it’s possible that your dog will never be able to live in a space with a cat safely. Keep your dog and cat apart if you don’t feel comfortable letting them be around each other. Many dogs can quickly hurt or kill a cat, and the cat could also hurt your dog. Your first priority should be ensuring that everyone stays safe.
Introducing your new cat or kitten and your dog
Ideally your dog or puppy should be crate trained. There are numerous advantages to this, but in this case it will make introductions simpler and safer.
When you’re prepared, introduce your new kitten or cat to your dog when they’re both at their most relaxed. Consider taking them on a long walk first. Use a room where your cat can easily escape to a safe place if they choose to do so for the first introduction (for instance, a room with a well-known and well-used high platform like a multi-tiered cat scratching post). Cats frequently prefer to be above the scene looking down and can feel safer that way.
Give your dog a distracting toy if it’s in a crate, and then bring your kitten or cat into the room. Never force interactions; instead, just show your kitten/cat lots of love and provide them with enjoyable activities like playing, grooming, and giving treats while they are in the same room as your dog. Just give the kitten or cat time to get used to the dog being there, and the opposite is true.
You can transition to having your dog on a leash outside of the crate once your kitten/cat and dog appear at ease in the same space. Start with this step if you can’t use a crate for the introductions. While the kitten or cat is in the room, keep your dog close by on a secure leash, and praise and treat-train them to encourage calm behavior. If at all possible, it is advantageous to have a companion with you during this process so that you can simultaneously praise and reward each animal. Remove your dog from the room if it starts to become overly excited at any point during the introduction. Do this several times per day, keeping the meetings brief to reduce stress.
The kitten or cat should be given the option of approaching the dog or not. If no interaction is forced, they may hiss or growl, but they are unlikely to advance, and if they do, you can stop any aggressive advance by protecting your dog. Just make sure you have a large cushion or other inanimate object to put between you and the dog and the kitten/cat in case the worst happens!
Be patient; it may take a few weeks of keeping your dog on a leash while the kitten or cat is present for everyone to feel secure enough to try the dog off-leash. These interactions should still be closely supervised. Hissing and tail swishing may occur in the beginning, but after a few days, this should stop. Keep an eye on both animals and never punish either one for acting aggressively as this will only serve to make the other animal’s presence unpleasant and counterproductive.
It is best to introduce each dog separately if you have more than one, as your kitten or cat might become overwhelmed if they have to meet both dogs at once.
During the time you are introducing the kitten/cat, make sure your dog gets a lot of one-on-one time with you. Until you are certain that your animals get along, the dog has been trained not to chase the kitten or cat, and they are all safe, never leave your animals alone together. If you are unsure, keep watching them closely while you are home or physically separate them when you are not. Even if you feel comfortable leaving the two unattended together, the kitten or cat should ALWAYS have a secure place they can retreat to (somewhere the dog cannot access, like high platforms).
Remember that you and your pets might never become best friends. But hopefully they will at least put up with each other and learn to coexist peacefully in the same home. Long-term animosity between cats and dogs may not prevent them from getting along, but they may still be able to coexist in harmony if they each seek out their own space and spend the majority of their time apart. Pets are frequently able to strike a balance and share their space. Making both animals feel secure and content can be greatly aided by giving them access to various rooms so they can select to be alone. Feeding your dog and cat separately is essential, and you should make sure your cat has a safe place to sleep and a private bathroom.
It may be wise to seek professional assistance from a trained behaviorist if your attempts at introduction are failing or both animals seem stressed or agitated.
https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/how-should-i-introduce-my-new-cat-or-kitten-to-the-family-dog/
FAQ
How long does it take for a cat to get used to a dog?
While some pairings are successful within a few days, it occasionally fails. According to Liz Palika, the “get acquainted” process typically takes two to three weeks. Dr. According to Landsberg, it’s not always obvious from watching how a dog and cat interact whether or not they get along.
How do you get a cat to like a dog?
Create a good relationship with the other animal before the meeting. Put toys or a blanket in the dog’s space that have cat-like scents. To help the dog associate the cat with positive things, drop them near the food dish or give treats when you present them.
How do you train a cat to get used to a dog?
Most cats can coexist peacefully with a dog if they have enough time to get to know one another. If a puppy and kitten are raised together, they will typically learn to tolerate one another right away, and some cats and dogs develop into true friends who play and cuddle together.