Kitty, Say Hello To Fido – How to safely introduce a cat and a dog.
Posted: Thursday, August 23, 2007
by Kate Tilmouth
Our Happy Cat
Unfortunately nature dictates that cats and dogs are not the best of friends in the wild. This can
First think about your existing cat, how will they react to a dog invading their territory and will they become unhappy over time. Some cats will eventually accept a dog and they will either become the best of friends or your cat will simply ignore their existence. However some cats may see the dog as a constant threat. This may cause them to react in an aggressive manner or simply to retreat into themselves. It is important that you put your cat’s happiness first before your desire to own a dog.
The next thing to think about is the type of dog you want to re-home. Some breeds of dog are natural hunters and so may be more prone to chase and attack cats. It is always a good idea to research the natural characteristics of your chosen breed to see if they are more likely to be accepting of other animals.
What ever the breed of dog, it is very important that before you try to introduce your cat to them that they accept you as their master and will have respect for your commands. A dog that will not come when you call or obey the leave command could pose a great danger to your cat. So a basic training period should be carried out first. During this time keep your cat and dog separate, provide special rooms for them and never leave them alone together. This may be difficult at first but it will help your pets learn to trust each other in the long run. After all an unexpected meeting could end in injury or at the very least two very scared animals that will always be afraid of each other.
Start the introduction very slowly at first. Take your time and make sure that you are calm and quiet. Animals sense if you are feeling anxious and this will only make them wary too. Always keep the dog on a short lead, so that you have full control over the situation. Get your dog to lie down so that they are in a non-threatening position and provide them with a bone of toy to play with to distract their attention. Then let your cat into the room and allow them to freely walk around.
The cat may react in several ways on first seeing the dog. They may sit and hiss, run for cover or be curious and want to come and sniff your dog. While any of this is happening praise your dog when they do not react to the cat and watch your dogs body language for signs of aggression. Be ready to remove your dog from the situation if you feel that tensions are rising. It is a good idea to provide your cat with a bowl of food or treats during these first encounters as this will help the cat associate the presence of the dog with a pleasurable thing.
Keep the first few introductions short, perhaps only 5 minutes or so. After awhile the two animals will react less and less to each other and you will be able to keep them together for longer periods. Once you are happy that they are not reacting to each other, you may remove the dog lead, but always remain vigilant. Make sure that you provide both animals with lots of attention during their encounters and try to make the whole process fun and something that your pets will enjoy.
If you never reach the stage where your pets are relaxed with each other, it is best to make sure that you always keep them apart or that you make sure that your cat can get out of any difficult situations easily. For instance you could place child safety gates on some of your doors to allow the cat to exit the room but not the dog.
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