Regardless if you already have a resident cat or dog, introducing a new pet is an important responsibility that should be taken seriously. The relationship that will blossom between the new and resident pet can significantly affect both of their lives. Also, your home won’t be at peace if your new dog cat doesn’t get along with your resident dog.
Before we talk about the necessary steps to introducing a new cat to a resident dog, we need to consider several things first: how to match cats and dogs and the cat and dog’s body language. Being equipped with this information will make the process easier.
Matching Cats And Dogs
Dogs and cats have unique personalities, which is why you should be very careful when introducing a new pet to your resident pet. Contrary to popular belief, introducing dogs and cats doesn’t mean setting up both in the same room; there are many aspects to consider, such as:
- If you’re planning to get a cat for your dog, consider the personalities of both animals. If possible, choose a pet that has already been exposed to other species in the past. In this way, the adjustment of the new pet will come off easier.
- If you see your resident dog chase, pin, pick up, or “manhandle” any cat, it’s best not to consider even getting one in the first place. But if you’re looking forward to having a cat’s presence in your home, proceed with caution.
- If your dog loves to chase things, then a shy cat might not be the best option, as this behavior will only trigger your dog to chase. Similarly, a cat who often runs around would fall into the same category. For an active dog, the best match would be a cat who possesses calm behavior and doesn’t run too much.
- If your dog likes to play rough, avoid getting senior cats or kittens, as they can easily get hurt. Instead, look for adult cats who love to play but are also very confident and independent in taking care of themselves. Conversely, a playful cat will be an excellent match to a dog who’s also playful but gentle.
- If you have a senior dog at home, a calm counterpart would be best. Avoid getting a new cat who’s rambunctious as this can annoy, bother, or frighten the other pet.
Body Language of Cats and Dogs
When you introduce your dog to a new cat, pay attention to the body language displayed by both animals. Cat’s ears pinned back or his tail swishing back and forth indicates that he’s unhappy or displeased. You should also be wary of any body language displayed by your dog, and some could be warning signs.
For example, if your dog has a strong prey drive (the natural inclination to chase and capture animals as prey), he might get confused when introducing cats. Your dog will likely bark or stare at the new cat or begin whining. If your dog exhibits any of these signs, don’t let him near the cat. Ideally, your dog should show calm, relaxed, or loose behavior when around the cat. It’s okay for your dog to pay attention to the cat’s presence, but make sure that he doesn’t fixate on the new pet.
It’s also important to keep in mind that your dog’s behavior around the car varies depending on the environment. This simply means that just because your resident pet is okay having a cat indoors doesn’t mean that he will also show the same behavior when they’re outdoors. In some cases, your dog might start to fixate on the cat when they’re outside together.
As a pet parent, remain constantly vigilant on the body language of both animals in different environments. This is to minimize stress between both animals and ensure that both will get along fine.
Methods For Introducing A Dog And Cat
You can try different methods to introduce a new cat to your dog. The number of options available is beneficial as you can move on to another method if the first one doesn’t work.
But regardless of which method you’re planning to use, always proceed with caution. Even if the dog and cat experienced living with other animals before, how they react when introduced to each other will definitely vary. As mentioned, cats and dogs have different personalities – and as a pet owner, you need to make sure that these personalities match each other.
Method 1: Desensitization
The first method is ideal if your dog is too fixated on the cat. Basically, the goal here is to reduce or minimize your dog’s reaction to the new cat by gradually increasing his exposure.
Put the cat in a room with a tall baby gate across the door. When choosing a room, make sure that your dog can’t and doesn’t need access to it. For example, if your dog sleeps with you in your bedroom at night, don’t use that room for the cat. This method aims to separate the pets and only allow them to meet during specific times of the day.
To ensure the cat’s comfort, provide everything he’ll need in the room. This should include a litter box that suits his size, high-quality cat food, clean water, and some toys. Remember that cats are naturally good at squeezing themselves in tight spaces and are great climbers and jumpers. Ensure that the baby gate you’ll use only allows both animals to see each other and not give the dog or cat access.
To begin the process of desensitization, allow your dog to briefly see the cat through the gate and then get your dog to focus on something else, like practicing cues or playing with toys. You can also put your dog on a leash, so you can easily move him away when you want to refocus his attention. Give treats to your dog whenever he can focus elsewhere after seeing the cat. Continue to give your dog brief viewings of the cat throughout the day.
There will be instances when dogs exhibit extreme excitement even when they see the new cat for a short period. If this happens, close the gate and feed each animal on their side of the door: the feline eats in his room, and the canine eats his meal on the other side of the door. This process allows the animals to have positive associations with each other in the form of food.
Aside from letting the two animals eat simultaneously on different sides, you can also swap out the bedding or blanket of each animal. This is one of the best ways to get both of the animals to get used to each other’s scent without overstimulating either of them.
Hopefully, the process of desensitization will help your dog get accustomed to the cat’s presence and lose interest in the cat. Each dog is different – some might lose interest in the cat after a few weeks or even months – so let yours learn at his own pace.
Method 2: Face To Face Introduction
If you’re looking for a faster way to introduce a new pet to your dog, this method might work better. To start, hold your dog on a loose leash while making sure that you observe his body language. Have another person watch the cat’s body language. If the cat isn’t hissing at the dog or raising his back, allow him to move around freely.
If your dog shows a calm behavior around the cat, give commands to the dog to stay, lie down, or sit, while the cat runs or moves around. Reward your dog with treats and praises if he remains still or ignores the cat.
On the other side of the coin, if your dog is too fixated on the cat (dog acts stiff, will not listen to your commands, or stares at the cat), or starts to lunge himself to try and chase the cat, try another strategy.
What Are The Most Common Mistakes To Avoid When Introducing Dogs And Cats?
Now that you know the dos of the introduction process, it’s time to discuss the don’ts. The latter is just as important to ensure that both pets can eventually get along. Knowing what to avoid will also save you time and effort and increase your chances of success.
When introducing a cat to your dog, make sure to avoid the following mistakes:
Allowing The Dog To Have Access To Cat Areas
Make the cat feel safe by giving them a space that the dog can’t reach. For example, you can put the cat’s bed on shelves a few feet from the ground and provide them with hiding places that are only large enough for the cat to access.
Making these spaces easier to reach for the cat will also go a long way in helping the car adjust to his new environment. You can pull out chairs from the dining table or put a sofa slightly off the wall, so the cat will have something to climb to. You can also use baby gates to keep your dog out of these areas.
Keeping A Cat In The Carrier For The First Meeting
In general, cats hate carriers, and putting him in one when meeting a dog for the first time won’t help. This will only stress out the cat as he’ll feel he doesn’t have an escape route.
The process of cats introducing dogs should never involve a carrier. Instead, use a pet gate when doing visual introductions, so both animals will feel safer and more comfortable.
Let The Dog Chase The Cat
Dogs often love to chase things because it’s their way of playing. However, when introducing your dog to a cat, you should never tolerate this behavior. Cats often run because of fear and stress, and this might be misinterpreted by the dog as an invitation to play. Over time, this can make the cat fear the dog and will make it very challenging for you to improve their future relations.
To control your dog’s instinct to chase, give instructions to your dog when the cat is present. You can tell them to sit or stay and then reward their behavior if they follow your commands. This will encourage calm behavior in your dog and lessen the cat’s stress.
Have Prolonged Introductions
The introduction process should be short and sweet and should be spread throughout the day for at least a week. You should also offer to both animals to help build positive associations with each other. This will also encourage both pets to look forward to meeting their new sibling.
Seek Professional Help
If you’re still having a hard time introducing a new pet to your dog, seek professional help as soon as possible. Animals often fight, and leaving this problem unresolved can lead to injuries and behavioral problems. The longer you put off this problem, the more challenging it’ll be to resolve.
Conflicts between pets in the same home can be prevented and mitigated with professional help. Never punish any of the pets just because they don’t behave appropriately or as you expect, as this can only make things worse.