How to Raise Your Border Collie in a House Full of Cats

Introducing a dog into an established multi-cat household can certainly be challenging. Cats are generally set in their ways and have no use for dogs they already like, let alone dogs they have never met. Cats are aloof and snobbish when introducing new pets to the home in the best circumstances. However, with the arrival of a dog, their fur will stand on end, claws will turn to daggers and it could get ugly. Successfully raising a border collie and cats together is all in the introduction. With proper introduction and adjustment time, the household will be cohesive and happy for all.

Things You'll Need

  • Borrowed dog
  • Items from the dog taking up residence
  • Plastic or cardboard travel kennel
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Instructions

  1. Prior to Border Collie and Cats' Introduction

    • 1

      Ensure that all feline members of the household have met a dog before attempting to introduce one to them that will be in residence.

    • 2

      Allow a friend or family member with a cat friendly dog to bring it for a visit so the cats get the idea of what a dog is all about.

    • 3

      Borrow something that belongs to the border collie and can be placed in the cats' general quarters, allowing the cats to get accustomed to the dog's smell. It will create quite a stir with every cat pawing, rolling and possibly even urinating on it. This is how cats mark territory.

    The Introduction

    • 4

      Introduce the border collie, adult or puppy, to the cat council. Do this by putting the dog in a plastic transport kennel on the floor for awhile for the cats to check out the new family member. Sit on the floor with the dog and cats, reassuring the dog while it deals with its new roomies.

    • 5

      Allow the dog to come out of the crate after perhaps, half an hour. The dog needs supervision at all times with the cats until accepted by them, and will not hurt them. Cat acceptance is crystal-clear -- when a cat has accepted the dog, it will often rub up alongside the dog just as it would with another cat.

    • 6

      Reward appropriate behavior, both border collie and kitty. Any showing of goodwill between the dog and the cats should result in praise and treats. It is likely not every cat in the house will dig the new tenant, but even the one only tolerating should be praised and rewarded as well.

    Learning to Live Together

    • 7

      Ensure the border collie respects the established territories of the cats. For example, if a cat has a bed it sleeps in, the dog should not be able to sleep in it. Likewise, the cat should not sleep on the dog's bed, although it is likely eventually they will share beds together.

    • 8

      Give equal attention to the border collie and the cats, the same way it was before the dog came along, and equal attention paid to all feline family members. As long as these steps get followed, the chances are extremely high that the border collie and cats will remain friends and continue to grow and share together, enhancing the lives of their human owners.

    • 9

      Give treats to the cats when you take the dog on a walk, if they seem to be perturbed in the beginning about the dog getting to do something they do not get to do. As time goes on, the cats will likely not even notice the comings and goings of the border collie. It will just be part of the daily routine of household life.