Updated: March 7, 2023 by CanCat Eat
Whether you already have a dog and want a cat, it’s critical to think about how you’ll introduce each other.
Keep the dog in a crate at first, then on a leash, while the cat is free to move slowly through the introductions. The cat and dog may have to get used to each other for a few hours or even a few months, but when the process is finished, it will be worth it!
Generally, with cats, small-sized Teddy Bear dogs live happily.
In this post we will see How to Introduce Your Dog to a Cat?
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Contents
Keep the animals in separate rooms for the first few days
By isolating the dog and cat from one another, you can start the process slowly. If both animals are kept indoors, you might want to consider locking the cat in a bedroom for a few days while everyone adjusts.
Include a litter box, toys, food, and water for the cat if you keep it separate in a bedroom. When you first bring the cat into the house, it is best to keep the dog outside or locked up.
This will keep the dog from frightening the cat by jumping all over the pet carrier when you bring the dog into the house for the first time.
New cat to the resident dog
If you are considering adopting a cat, you should avoid bringing your dog to a shelter and exposing him to the cats there because doing so can be extremely stressful and traumatic for all of the cats. In addition, it may not accurately reflect the dog’s behavior at home.
Instead, talk to the adoption counselors at the shelter about whether they have any confident, dog-savvy cats that would be willing to meet your dog under controlled circumstances.
You May Also Read: A Guide To Choosing The Right Pet
If this is not possible, another option would be to introduce your dog to a cat who is familiar with dogs and lives with a friend or relative. You can bring your new cat home for an introduction as a last resort.
Introduce your dog to the cat slowly
When introducing dogs to the cat, remember that puppies may not be afraid of them; therefore, pay close attention to the dog. Due to their small size and eagerness to run and play, kittens may cause a lot of excitement in dogs with a strong prey drive.
It is essential to keep a close eye on your dog when he is with a kitten, even if she gets along well with your adult cats. Your dog may attempt to play with the kitten and injure or kill it if she is young and active.
Therefore, for your own safety, keep kittens and dogs apart when you are not watching them. It can sometimes be simple to introduce adult cats to puppies because a well-socialized adult cat might be fine with a puppy acting like a puppy.
However, if your boisterous puppy is chasing your timid cat, it is up to you to intervene. Until the puppy is old enough to have more self-control and has received some training, you will want to control their interactions.
It shouldn’t be taught to your puppy that it’s fun to chase the cat. Baby gates make it easy and safe to keep the animals apart.
You can also help keep an eye on your puppy by putting her on a leash. You can easily redirect her away from the cat if she begins to pursue it in this manner.
Avoid interactions between your pets that are fearful or aggressive
If these responses are allowed to become routine, changing them can be hard. In order to prevent either of your pets from becoming fearful or aggressive, it is best to gradually introduce them to one another.
Even if these behaviors are mild, you should not allow them to become more severe. If either animal acts out of fear or aggression, you should separate them and start the process of introducing them again in very small, gradual steps, as previously mentioned.
Leave the cat alone and confine the dog to its crate for the first few encounters
Place the dog in its kennel and lock the door while the cat is in the other room. After that, let the cat out and tell it to come in with the dog. At some point, the cat should show an interest in the dog and get close enough to smell it.
When your dog sees the cat, if it becomes agitated, try speaking in a calm voice to calm it down. When the dog behaves in a way that promotes calm and uses positive reinforcement, treats are given to it.
You May Also Read: Why Are Cats More Popular as Pets
If treats and reassuring assurances are not enough to calm the dog, return to the smell under the doorstep until it is better able to control its excitement.
After the cat has gotten used to the kennel step, you can let the dog out of its crate, but you should keep it tightly controlled on a leash.
In order for the cat to feel at ease and be able to retreat when necessary, it should be allowed to roam freely. Give the animals a chance to smell each other. It is not uncommon for the cat to react negatively by hissing or hiding.
Try to let the animals talk for a few minutes, but if the cat seems too anxious or upset, put it back in its own room. To limit how close the dog can get to the cat, always keep it on a leash or at least hold it by the collar.
Go back to the previous step and put your dog back in its crate if it jerks at the leash or lunges for the cat.
Precautions:
If your cat is growling, hissing, or swatting, give it some time to calm down and try again later. You may need to try a different dog as well. If a cat constantly hisses and growls at any kind of dog, it probably won’t want to live with them. Although your cat might be able to live with a dog, she probably won’t be happy, which is unfair for her.
She is dissatisfied if the cat stops eating, drinking, using the litter box, visiting with family, or staying hidden in another room constantly. You might want to think about talking to a reputable animal behaviorist or finding a better match.
This is probably a dangerous match if the dog stays too focused, doesn’t look at the door or the cat, completely ignores you, or lunges at the cat right away. Try a different dog if you want to get a dog for your cat. You should probably not get him a cat if this is your dog.
This match probably won’t work out if the dog ever lunges at, growls at, snaps at, or acts aggressively toward a still, calm cat. If a calm dog is attacked by a cat, the same holds true. At this point, you will probably require the assistance of a professional if you are determined to make the relationship work.
If you are looking for a cat for your dog and it exhibits questionable behavior when it is around a cat that is growling, hissing, and swatting, tries again with a cat that is calmer. He probably shouldn’t live with cats if he continues to behave questionably around multiple cats.
I hope this information will be helpful for you.
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