6 Steps to Safely Introduce Cats to Dogs

There are many ways to go about introducing cats to dogs, but you can use these six steps for a slow and safe introduction of a new cat to resident dogs who are known to be good with cats. You can use this technique for a new dog-to-resident-cat introduction too if you know the dog has lived safely with cats before. “Slow” can be as quick as one week, or it can take months, depending on the pets being introduced. 

The best way to do a cat-to-dog introduction is with the help of a professional pet behaviorist or trainer. Especially if you don’t know if the dog is cat-safe, be sure to seek the help of a trainer first. Nothing replaces their in-person observations and expertise. It is worth the cost.

This method of “introducing cats to dogs” uses a crate and lots of time. Taking extra time is really worth it, for everyone’s safety and stress levels – including yours.

 

 

1. Get ready

To get your dog (let’s call him “Rover”) ready, if he does not already know the commands “sit” and “stay”, he should learn them before being introduced to your cat (let’s call her “Kitty”) for the first time.

To get Kitty ready, set up her isolation room with her food, water, litter box, and bed. Give her a chance to become adjusted to her new home. Depending on her personality, this can be anywhere from 1 day to several weeks.  “Adjusted” is behaving in a relaxed manner, properly using her litter box, not hiding, and no big black dilated irises at noises from the other side of the door.

Of course, you spend time with her in the isolation room, but Rover should stay outside…no peeking! You may want to set up a wire dog playpen gate on both sides of the door so you can get in and out more safely, like a bank’s double door. Or, close Rover in another room away from the isolation room’s door, so if Kitty slips out, it’s not right into Rover!

2. Opposite sides of the door

Feed Rover and Kitty on opposite sides of a closed solid door (not glass, screen, or see-through) for 1 week.  They will begin to associate each others’ presence (smell, sounds) with a pleasurable experience – eating! If Rover starts whining/pawing/barking at the door, correct him with a stern but calm “No!” and move the food bowls farther away, keep him on a leash, and gradually move his bowl closer to the cat’s door each feeding time. Eventually when they are eating calmly next to the door, expose them to each others’ scent more strongly by rubbing them with a towel (or using their beds), and placing it down with the food bowl, for them to smell as they eat.

 

 

3. Get Kitty used to a crate.

 

You want Kitty to get used to spending short periods of time in a big wire crate (ideal) or molded plastic pet carrier. Bigger is better, but one you can carry into your biggest room for Step 4. Many cats already associate a regular plastic pet carrier with scary things (vet visits, being abandoned at a shelter) so it can be worth investing in or borrowing a big wire dog crate.

 

Lure Kitty into the crate with a cat treat trail. You may need to start feeding Kitty right outside the crate, then each meal slowly move the food dish farther back. Shut the crate door for 5 minutes, then let her out. If Kitty is nervous in the crate, practice this 2-3 times a day until she is relaxed.

 

If your cat won’t go in the crate, you can crate your dog instead. However, there are several disadvantages: 1) Chances are good your cat isn’t leashed trained which is needed for the next step; 2) In very rare cases, Kitty will attack Rover in the crate, and cat paws and claws go right through most crate openings and can seriously hurt Rover. 3) You have less control over Rover in the crate than when he’s leashed. 

 

 

4. Dog on leash & harness, cat in a crate

This step is to have them see each other with NO physical contact.  Tip: I find it easiest to do this step after Rover’s daily exercise, so 3 times a day, for 5 minutes.

• Put Rover away.
• Put Kitty in the crate, carry the crate into your biggest room, and put it as far away from the Rover-entering door as possible.
• Put a leash and harness on Rover and bring him into the crate room.
• Have him “sit” and “stay”  just inside the door, but where he can see Kitty.
• Have him practice his sit, down, shake, etc. for 5 minutes in that location.
• If he ignores your commands because he’s too interested in the cat, or barks, growls, or lunges, use your firm “no” and walk him out of the room. Get his attention outside again by practicing a few commands, then try entering the room again.
• Remember to breathe and think calm thoughts, and try to keep some slack on the leash. The “worst” that will happen is Rover or Kitty will lunge at each other, and you will have time to pull Rover back – everyone is safe! Pets respond to the tension they feel in you. It often helps to say things aloud in a pleasant tone, like, “Kitty, this is your big brother Rover.” Repeat this step for as many days as you need to until both Kitty and Rover can be in the same room without tension, fear, aggression, vocalizing, or any other undesired behavior. This can be the first time, or it can take weeks, or months – and rarely, never. There are some high prey-drive dogs or territorial cats that cannot live freely and safely together.
• If you’ve spent a week or more trying at least 3 sessions a day and they are still acting aggressively or tense towards each other with no improvement, please consult with a professional behaviorist/trainer. Staring is often a warning an animal is about to attack. Please be very careful if your dog or cat seems “calm” but is actually tense, stiff, and staring.
• With each 5-minute training session, allow them to get a little closer together, with Rover still on leash and Kitty still in the crate. Then leave with lots of praise for everyone being so good! If Kitty becomes frightened, or Rover starts ignoring you, increase the distance between the animals and progress more slowly. Eventually, the animals should be brought close enough together to allow them to investigate each other visually and calmly.  Then you can allow Rover to sniff at the kennel and Kitty, as long as he is calm, and listens to you if you say “sit” or “come.”
• Now increase the length of the sessions together.  If Rover or Kitty is agitated in any way, you may have to spend as many days as necessary with the cat in the crate, or the dog on a leash, until they are calm and relaxed. You may find distracting yourself (a book, a DVD) will relax you, and that will help them relax too!
• Once they’ve sniffed each other through the crate with no issues, and you can spend a half-hour in the room with everyone relaxed right next to each other, you are ready for Step 5.

 

5. Dog leashed, cat is loose

With Rover on leash in a down-stay at the far side of the room, have a helper open the door of the crate. Keep Rover focused on you with training commands and treats. If Kitty stays in the crate, tempt her out by tossing a treat just outside the crate door.  If she won’t come out, leave the room with Rover, wait for Kitty to walk out of the crate, and come back in with Rover.  Kitty may run and hide – just focus on keeping Rover in his down-stay. If he reacts to the cat walking or running, you’ll need to do the 3 daily sessions like in Step 4, until he’s once again ignoring the cat while she is loose. NEVER allow Rover to “play” by chasing Kitty, ever. This is a game that can turn deadly in an instant. I recommend keeping Rover on the leash (when not locked away separately) for the next 2 weeks, gradually increasing the amount of time they are spending together until….

 

 

6. Both loose together!

It’s been 2 weeks with Rover hanging out and seeing Kitty run, jump, and play and they’re now always acting relaxed, mostly ignoring each other. You can drop his leash – congratulations, you’ve successfully introduced your new cat to your dog!

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Even after step 6 when you are not home: keep them separated with a physical barrier (crate, door, etc) to be certain they will be safe, for at least an additional 1 month. With bigger or high prey-drive dog breeds, you may always want to keep them safely separated when you are not home. I hope these steps help lead you to a harmonious multi-pet household!

Additional tips: Although your dog must be taught that chasing or being rough with the cat is unacceptable behavior, your dog must also be taught how to behave appropriately, and be rewarded for doing so (e.g. sitting, coming when called, or lying down in return for a tidbit.) If your dog is always punished whenever the cat is around, and never has “good things” happen in the cat’s presence, your dog may redirect aggression toward the cat. 

Precautions: Dogs like to eat cat food – keep the cat food high enough to be out of the dog’s reach. And although there are no health hazards to a dog eating cat feces, it is usually distasteful to owners – and it’s so tempting to dogs that it’s hard to train them not to – could you leave your dog alone with a cheeseburger at the nose level? The best solution I know of is to place the litter box where the dog cannot access it, but the cat can- such as behind a baby gate, or in a closet or cabinet with a cat door cutout, or the door wedged open (from both sides) just wide enough for the cat. For more tips on keeping your dog away from your cat’s litter box, read this article.

What if they can’t get along?!

There are times when even the most experienced owners cannot get a dog and cat to coexist peacefully. You may have a dog with a very high prey drive or a cat that just does not like dogs no matter what. If the tips above do not work, it may be a good idea to seek professional help. The first step toward a cat-doggie truce is to consult a certified professional dog trainer, certified animal behavior consultant, certified applied animal behaviorist, or veterinary behaviorist. He/she can give you personalized tips to help your pets.

If seeking out a professional does not help, you may be left feeling helpless. Our experts at Rehome by Adopt a Pet have talked to hundreds of pet owners with very similar dilemmas and understand how difficult it can be to figure out the best course of action. In situations like this, it’s important to remember that pets are individuals, and not every cat or dog is meant to live with other pets. If you’re put in a situation where one pet is in danger or you feel having them live separately may be the best option for your family, Rehome can help. Rehome is a peer-to-peer adoption service that allows pet owners to post their pets on Adopt a Pet to be seen by millions of potential adopters. Rehome also provides pet owners with all of the tools they need to review applications and choose the right new family for their pet. While we hope proper socialization and behavior training for your pet will help you to stay together, Rehome is the safe, reliable, and free way to find another great person or family to adopt your pet if all else fails. Get started with Rehome here. We hope these 6 steps help you with introducing cats to dogs. Have any additional tips or questions? Leave us a comment below!