Cats and Dogs – Introducing Your New Cat to Fido

You may think that you can’t have a cat because you already have a dog, or visa versa. However, cats and dogs can actually get along. In fact, in some households cats and dogs coexist in peace and harmony. This is so true, in fact, that at times you may forget that you don’t have two pets of the same breed, they have become so close.

Of course, this closeness won’t happen overnight. There’s a necessary adjustment period when you bring the cat or dog into a home with other pets. How well your pets get along with each other will depend on how you well you handle this adjustment period in your home.

Cat care is very important when you first bring the cat home. Introduce it to the house first. Put the dog outside or in a separate room that’s off-limits to the cat. Take the cat into each room and let her nose around. Show her where her food, water, and litter box are located.

Let each member of the household hold and pet the cat. She’ll likely realize fairly quickly that there’s a dog in the house. How your new cat reacts to this scent is a good indication of how much work you may have ahead of you.

Once the cat has been introduced to everyone and everything, it’s time to introduce the animal to the other four-legged members of the household. While someone is holding the cat and she seems calm, let the dog into the house. The dog will probably catch the cat’s scent immediately and run to her excitedly. If necessary, have another family member restrain the dog temporarily.

Allow the two animals to sniff each other out and make their evaluations. Don’t put the cat down until you’re certain that the dog is calm and won’t attempt to attack the cat. In most cases, the dog will remain calm and the cat will be afraid, so don’t be surprised if the cat runs away as soon as you let her go.

If the dog attempts to chase the cat, stop him immediately. Don’t let the dog meet the cat if he’s barking or trying to attack the cat repeatedly. If this happens, you’ll likely have to make the introductions at another time, in a more controlled environment. This may include putting the dog in his kennel or dog house, and holding the cat near the dog for short periods of time. Eventually, the dog will become accustomed to the fact that he won’t be allowed back into the house until he accepts this new member of the family.

After this initial introduction has occurred, you probably won’t see the cat for at least one or two hours. The cat will be staying away from what she perceives as a threat, as well as exploring her new surroundings. In time, she’ll come to trust the dog and they’ll either coexist peacefully, or become very close and protective of one another.