Dogs & Cats

Even if your cat is dog-savvy, your new dog may not have experience around cats, or may have predatory tendencies that he can’t control. It’s important to keep both animals safe while you evaluate the situation. 

When introducing your new dog to the cat, a slow, systematic approach is best. While it’s tempting to just “let them sort it out”, it’s much easier and safer to set them up for success than it is to repair a damaged relationship later.

Keep them separate to start. Create a Cat Safe Zone where the cat has everything she needs - food, water, toys, litter box – and make sure the dog can’t enter the area. 

Scent is a bridge. Scent swapping is a powerful tool. Using two clean cloths, wipe one across the cat’s scent glands, and the other on the dog’s face, chest or under arms. Then allow each animal to sniff the other’s cloth. Observe their body language; do they sniff eagerly, or avoid the cloth? Repeat the process 3 times a day for 4-5 days.

If possible, place the dog in a safe area (crated, in a separate room) and allow the cat to wander the house once a day. 

Create a positive association. Feed the dog at the door of the cat zone. This helps him connect her scent with something he likes. Move the cat’s feeding station to the doorway as well, so she eats near his scent. 

Allow protected contact. Once both animals are relaxed while eating on either side of the door. place a baby gate between two rooms, with each animal on either side. If possible, use a plexiglass partition across the baby gate to prevent the cat from entering the dog’s area. Otherwise, leash the dog to prevent accidental interaction. Allow them to see and smell each other, and watch their body language. 

• Is the cat relaxed - ears forward, body soft, tail neutral?
• Is the dog relaxed - body loose, face and eyes soft?
  • Is he hyper focused? Staring, straining to approach? This is a sign that he may be over aroused by the cat, and it isn’t safe to fully introduce.
• Reward both with treats for calm interaction. 

Keep sessions short (5 minutes), and repeat several times each day until both animals have relaxed body language.

Progress to face to face contact. Put the dog on a leash, and remove the barrier. 

• Maintain the leash so the dog can’t reach the cat.
• Never restrain the cat, as you may be scratched or bitten in the process.
• Watch both animals for signs of stress, and end the session immediately if either becomes over aroused or anxious.
• Reward both animals for affiliative behavior.
• Always provide an easy escape route for the cat. 

Integration. Once you’re certain both cat and dog are relaxed in each other’s company, you can remove barriers, but make sure to supervise all interactions for the next few days. Watch both for signs of stress, especially the cat hiding/refusing to eat/house soiling. Maintain easy escape routes for the cat, and reinstate barriers at the first sign of trouble.

Prevent the dog from accessing the cat’s food and litter box. Cat food can be toxic to dogs, so make sure to keep the cat’s feeding station out of reach of the dog. Also, many dogs like to snack in the litter box; put that out of his reach, as well. 

A suggested integrated set-up: Cat food, water and litter box in the laundry room, with a baby gate across the doorway, and raised just enough for kitty to sneak underneath.