Post by Admin on Dec 20, 2020 19:40:29 GMT 5.5
Some dogs do fine living with cats; others simply cannot live safely with felines. Sometimes, a dog can live with certain cats (depending on their age, temperament and activity level), but not others. Even if your dog has successfully lived with cats in the past, it is important to remember that each dog and each cat is an individual and therefore each introduction is different. Here are a few steps to follow:
1 – Cat Smells Dog
Keep them separate for few days. Successful introductions take time. DO NOT try to introduce cat and dog immediately upon arrival. You may damage the new relationship irreparably and initiate fear, anger, aggression in the cat/dog. Successful introductions take time.
Let the cats sniff out the situation. Let “smell” be the first introduction as the cats sniff each other from under the “safe room” door. Within two to four days, begin exchanging the bedding between the dog and cat daily. This helps familiarize the pets with each other’s scents.
2 – Switch Spots
If you have brought home a cat and introducing to the resident dog, let the cat begin to explore the rest of your house for one to two hours each day until the cat is familiar and comfortable with the layout of your home, while you keep the dog confined in cat's room. If you have a resident cat and introducing dog to him/her, let her visit the dog's room when the dog is out to explore the house.
Phase 3 – Cat Meets Dog
Bring the dog in on a leash: Once the cat is comfortable about the idea of dog, let the cat roam loose in one room. Keep the dog on a leash and have dog treats ready in your pocket. If possible, have another person the cat is familiar with on the other side of the room to reassure and distract the cat from the dog.
Sit and meet: Keep the dog seated and focused on you as the leader. Try offering the dog a toy. If the dog focuses on or accepts the toy, reward the dog with a treat. If the dog tries to stand and move towards the cat(s), correct the dog slightly with the leash and reward him or her with a treat. If at any point the dog is not responding to your commands or the cat’s stress level appears elevated, remove the dog from the room. Keep repeating this process until the dog is responding to you and either ignoring or accepting the cat(s). This process helps teach the dog that cats are not prey, toys to be chased, or threats.
Watch: Never leave the dog and cat(s) unsupervised until you are absolutely sure they have built up a mutual, trusting and respectful relationship.
Make sure cat has some space for alone time: Even once the cat(s) and dog(s) are comfortable with each other, cats still like having the option to retreat to a space away from the dog. Place a baby gate across the doorway of a room in the house where the cat or cats like to hang out, or buy or build a tall cat tower so they can retreat when needed.
1 – Cat Smells Dog
Keep them separate for few days. Successful introductions take time. DO NOT try to introduce cat and dog immediately upon arrival. You may damage the new relationship irreparably and initiate fear, anger, aggression in the cat/dog. Successful introductions take time.
Let the cats sniff out the situation. Let “smell” be the first introduction as the cats sniff each other from under the “safe room” door. Within two to four days, begin exchanging the bedding between the dog and cat daily. This helps familiarize the pets with each other’s scents.
2 – Switch Spots
If you have brought home a cat and introducing to the resident dog, let the cat begin to explore the rest of your house for one to two hours each day until the cat is familiar and comfortable with the layout of your home, while you keep the dog confined in cat's room. If you have a resident cat and introducing dog to him/her, let her visit the dog's room when the dog is out to explore the house.
Phase 3 – Cat Meets Dog
Bring the dog in on a leash: Once the cat is comfortable about the idea of dog, let the cat roam loose in one room. Keep the dog on a leash and have dog treats ready in your pocket. If possible, have another person the cat is familiar with on the other side of the room to reassure and distract the cat from the dog.
Sit and meet: Keep the dog seated and focused on you as the leader. Try offering the dog a toy. If the dog focuses on or accepts the toy, reward the dog with a treat. If the dog tries to stand and move towards the cat(s), correct the dog slightly with the leash and reward him or her with a treat. If at any point the dog is not responding to your commands or the cat’s stress level appears elevated, remove the dog from the room. Keep repeating this process until the dog is responding to you and either ignoring or accepting the cat(s). This process helps teach the dog that cats are not prey, toys to be chased, or threats.
Watch: Never leave the dog and cat(s) unsupervised until you are absolutely sure they have built up a mutual, trusting and respectful relationship.
Make sure cat has some space for alone time: Even once the cat(s) and dog(s) are comfortable with each other, cats still like having the option to retreat to a space away from the dog. Place a baby gate across the doorway of a room in the house where the cat or cats like to hang out, or buy or build a tall cat tower so they can retreat when needed.