Dog cat introductions
Dog and cat introductions can be tricky especially if you are introducing a dog into a home where the cats have never been exposed to another dog. Here are some tips to make the transition smoother.
For the first introduction, have the dog on leash in case he becomes out of control and charges the cat. If it seems to be going well, proceed with caution and when you are comfortable take the leash off and supervise closely. If the dog is behaving in a friendly and/or cautious way, try to not intervene in the interaction, except to praise and reward the dog for his good manners.
Have a “safety room” or rooms as well as high places the cat can access but the dog cannot. Using baby-gates, cat doors and clearing high surfaces can accomplish this. It is important that areas are easily accessible so that your cat can retreat to regroup and relax away from the dog. This will give your cat the opportunity to venture forward into “dog territory” at her own pace. The cat should have access to food, water and litter in this area in order to avoid force interactions with the dog.
If your dog is crate trained, have times throughout the day where the dog is crated and the cat has access to this area. This will allow your cat to approach the dog at its leisure.
Never force the cat (or dog) into proximity by holding her, caging her or otherwise restricting her movements; it is a good way to get severely scratched and the stress your cat experiences does far more harm than good. Remember, stress is the number one factor for a cat to break its litter box training.
Interrupt any intense chasing and try to redirect the dog’s attention to another activity. This is where the dog’s obedience training is crucial since you will be able to distract the dog with, for example, a “sit” command– this is very difficult so you may be forced in future to manage the dog on-leash around the cat until you have worked out a routine or divided up the house.
In the first few weeks, observe the trend: are things getting better or worse? Monitor the interactions until there is a pattern or plateau in their relationship.
If the dog is the newcomer, be sure to give plenty of extra attention to the cat so she does not associate this change with reduced attention and affection. If the newcomer is a cat, it’s also a good idea to make sure the dog associates the new intruder with good things for him. Shoot for positive associations always.
Dogs should not have access to the cat litter box – it is too stressful for the cat and the dog may eat cat feces and litter. Most dogs find cat feces especially delicious due to the high protein content found in cat food.
Be patient and don’t rush the process. Dogs and cats can live in harmony (I have 6 of my own) and remember, a cat do much harm to a dog but a dog can seriously injure or kill a cat.