Tips on Introducing a Dog to a Cat

Bringing home a new dog into your home is an exciting event, though it can cause stress for your existing pets. If you already own a cat, you need to take measures to reduce the anxiety and upset it will endure with the initial introduction to the new dog. Create a calm, loving environment and use positive reinforcement to encourage harmony in your home between your dog and cat.

  1. Training

    • Before introducing a dog to a cat, make sure that the dog has obedience training to understand the commands "leave it," "down" or "stay." These commands will help to ensure that you can control the dog and keep it from harming the cat during the first meeting with the cat. Dogs have a prey instinct and your dog may view the cat as prey, especially if it runs away during the first introduction, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. A properly trained dog will stop inappropriate behavior upon hearing your commands and allow the cat to escape to a location out of the dog's reach. Prior to the meeting, take the dog for a walk or run to tire it out and make it less apt to bother the cat and more willing to listen to your voice commands.

    Positive Reinforcement

    • Both the dog and the cat will pick up on your emotional state during the initial meeting, so you must remain calm and authoritative. Use treat rewards for both the dog and the cat prior to and during their introduction to each other. Choose foods each one enjoys eating and have small pieces ready in your hand. Reward positive, calm interactions to encourage further good behavior. Never punish aggressive behavior on the part of the dog or cat, simply distract the animal with a toy or loud sound. Punishment will only serve to scare the animals and increase the likelihood of aggression between the two.

    Supervision

    • During at least the first month of interaction between the dog and cat, supervise their behavior. In the initial meeting, keep the dog on a leash to control it in case it tries to attack the cat or if the cat behaves aggressively toward the dog. Place a baby gate at the opening to a room you have set up with food, water and a litter box for your cat. Confine the cat to the room and allow the cat to see and smell the dog through the gate. For large dogs, use two baby gates stacked on top of one another. Slowly progress to having the two in a room together, without the gate. Provide the cat with a cat tree or other type of perch it can jump on to get away from the dog.

    Considerations

    • When you consider adopting a new dog to add to your family, keep in mind the temperament of your cat. A cat who has lived with dogs in the past will adjust more readily to having a new dog in the home. The same goes for the dog, as you want a dog that may have encountered or is already used to cats. While the cat and dog may not become best friends, they will most likely learn to tolerate each other over time. To prevent the cat from harming the dog during initial interaction, trim its nails. If the dog shows extreme signs of aggression toward the cat in terms of staring, growling and lunging for it, even after training and a slow introduction, you may want to consider re-homing it. Never leave an aggressive dog unsupervised with a cat, as the dog could seriously injure or even kill the cat, according to the ASPCA.