There are a number of steps to take when introducing your cats to the dog.
- Ideally, the dog should first be contained in a covered crate or indoor kennel in the room where the ‘controlled introduction’ will be made. The cats should not be in the room when the dog is first placed in the crate.
- Place a number of different treats on saucers or in small containers around the room. Introduce one or more new scratching posts, pre-sprayed with catnip.
- Allow the cat to enter and explore the room in their own time. If they use the scratching post(s) and take food, this is significant progress. You can give the dog some food treats as a reward for being in the crate.
- Following the initial period (15-30 minutes) of exposure, and assuming there have been positive signs rather than aggression (some cats will investigate the sides and top of the crate, and this may encourage the dog to react by smelling or trying to lick them), lead the dog from the crate, out of the room and into another part of the home. Again, reward the dog for displaying any composure.
- If all went well during the first period of exposure, return with the dog after 15 minutes and repeat the process.
- If there was much spitting and snarling, offer the cats an extended period (1-2 hours) in the introduction room in which to calm down. Do not offer the cats or the dog excessive attention or eye contact, in order to reduce owner triggers for problem behaviors. If the dog is showing no sign of accepting the cats during a number of controlled introductions, you will need the help of a professional behaviorist.
- If the initial exposure has been free of any disturbed behavior by either the cats or the dog, move on to the next stage. Click and treat the dog while ‘controlled’ contact is undertaken, with the dog outside the crate and the cats allowed to wander around the room. Never force the dog to approach the cats or vice versa, as this will create a negative association for both.
5 responses so far ↓
1 LitterKwitter // Jun 5, 2008 at 5:21 am
Nice post.Thanks for your post.By proper training you can have cat to have your partner accepted.I am using a cat toilet training system
2 matt // Aug 4, 2008 at 4:58 pm
i have two cats one boy one girl. they are 4 and 5 just bought a english bulldog she just wants to play. cats run away and stay away. my boy hissed at her and the other one my girl runs away they been coming down stairs to look at her but you can tell there upset are they going to accept eachother or did i just make a big mistake cause these cats are my life and my friends and family say dont worry. should i
3 katie // Oct 26, 2008 at 10:43 am
About 4 years ago I took in a 5 year old male black lab. I had a 10 year old dominant male cat that had been with me since he was a kitten. Introducing them was not going well. I tried everything all the professionals recommend. From a reward system to making loud noises any time they appeared to be about to fight. It had gotten to the point I was getting ready to find a new home for the dog. A co-worker/small farm owner friend of mine had been telling me for over a month to stop trying to introduce them and just let them work it out on there own, in a last ditch effort I did this. I took down all the gates that were used to keep them separate and went about my day at home. At first it was a bit hairy, and I kept wanting to get involved. But by that night the cat had let the dog know who was in charge and they have been fine ever since. For the first few weeks I continued to keep them separate while away from the house and at night. Once I was sure things would be ok I didn’t separate them at night or while away.This might have worked given the docile friendly nature of the dog.Had he been the aggressive/dominate type I don’t know if I would have been so successful. I have told others to try this and they have found it works also. They never grew to be best friends like I had hoped but they learned to consider. Like my friend said I was trying to use rational HUMAN solutions. There animals let there animal instincts and behaviors figure the problem out. He was right…It worked
4 Angel // Apr 2, 2009 at 2:08 pm
i love all your ideas about animals but ,i did to know about how cats react to different things they see?
5 Jodi // Jan 3, 2010 at 5:04 pm
I have a 3 y/o cat who is deathly afraid of my new 8 week old puppy. So much so, he has left the house and refuses to come back in. He is 2-3 x larger than the new puppy and has not been touched or even sniffed by the pup. Any suggestions for getting him back in the house and atleast coexisting with the pup.
Leave a Comment