Say goodbye to cat and dog wars! Practical ways to make peace with your dog when your new cat arrives home

We often say that “the happiest thing in life is having both a cat and a dog.” But when you get a new cat, do you know how to properly introduce your cat to your dog? In this issue, we’ll give you detailed answers about how to behave with your dog when your new cat arrives home.

We break this down into five progressive behavioral approaches.

Keep them separate.

When you bring your new cat home, the first step is to create a safe space or sanctuary for them. This space will allow them to acclimatize to their new environment before meeting the dogs in the house. If possible, choose a room that your dog doesn’t frequent (such as a spare bathroom or guest room) and try to avoid disrupting your original pet’s routine.

At least three to four days of complete isolation and a health assessment should be performed on your new pet before formal introduction.

Rotate pets around the house

The best way to acclimatize is to allow one pet to roam freely while the other is confined to a specific area and subsequently rotated. For example, while the dog is in the backyard, allow the cat to explore the house; then put the cat in one room and let the dog roam free in the rest of the house. You can also let both pets sniff each other through the crack under the door or take turns using each other’s beds. The goal is to give them plenty of opportunity to get used to each other’s smells and sounds without seeing each other.

Let them meet.

Once both pets are relaxed and acclimated to each other’s smells and sounds, they can begin to meet. When meeting for the first time, a barrier can be used to ensure the safety of both pets. For pets that are easily excitable, they can be partially shielded from view during the first meeting (a towel or other covering is optional).

To create positive associations, meals, snacks, positive reinforcement training or interactive play can be combined during pet meetings. An easy way to do this is to have both pets eat slightly away from each other on either side of the divider pen, gradually reducing the distance between them as they become more calm and confident. However, be on the lookout for signs of resourcefulness in your dog or cat during this time. If you notice resource-protective behavior, immediately pause the introduction process. While the initial meeting time should be kept brief, the time spent together can be gradually extended as the two pets become more comfortable.

Guided introductions using a retractor belt

Once both pets are comfortable on both sides of the barrier, they are ready for their first real introduction. Introductions should take place in a common area of the home and the dog should wear a loose leash.

As a pet owner, you need to understand the body language of dogs and cats when interacting with them so that you can quickly recognize any warning signs.

The dog’s body and tail should remain relaxed and be able to easily turn toward you when you call him. A cat’s ears should be facing forward, tail in a neutral position, eyes soft and pupils slightly narrowed.

If you see the dog moving slowly, stiffening, or developing a fixation on the cat, it’s time to increase the distance or take a temporary break. Similarly, if a cat shows crouching, stiffness, tail wagging or ears pressed back, or pupils begin to dilate, these are signs that they are exhibiting stress and the interaction needs to be temporarily interrupted at this point.

If your dog barks or lunges at the cat, or if the cat hisses or growls, or even stands on end with its hair standing on end, it’s best to separate them. Allow them to relax and then return to the previously successful steps.

After several positive leash guide introductions, it is possible to allow the cat and the dog dragging the leash to coexist. This will provide the pets with more opportunities to interact freely, while also allowing for quick safety measures to be taken to ensure their safety.

Reduced oversight

When you are confident that both pets are getting along well, you can gradually reduce their supervision.

First, try leaving the room for short periods of time while you can still hear them. As they behave better, you can gradually extend the time away.

Providing cats with elevated surfaces where they can easily avoid dogs, such as cat climbing shelves, will help to minimize stress for cats and provide them with a safe escape route in the event of a problem. Additionally, even if cats and dogs get along well, it is advisable to keep them separated when you are not at home.

The introductory process usually takes a few weeks to a few months, depending on the individual cat and dog. Progress is not always linear and if at any point signs of stress begin to appear, it is appropriate to take a step back. The safety and well-being of your pet is always the top priority, so no strict timelines should be set for the process.