Introducing Your Dog to Your Other Animals
Cats and Dogs
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If you're bringing a cat into a household with a dog, let the cat acclimatize to the house first with your dog in his crate or shut in a room. In a home where a cat already rules the roost, be sure to give him lots of attention away from the new dog.
When you feel the animals are ready to meet, clip the cat's claws to protect your dog's delicate nose. With your dog leashed so that you can hold him back if necessary, let the dog and cat meet. There may be no great reaction on either part, but the more typical scenario is the cat hissing, arching his back with all his fur fluffed out, possibly slashing at the dog with his claws, and beating a hasty retreat to higher ground.
Continue this routine, increasing the length of each meeting until both animals seem comfortable. Before you unleash an adult dog, make sure he will obey your verbal command to stay away from the kitten or cat, if it looks like he might do harm. (A puppy rarely poses the same threat, except to a small kitten.) Do not leave the dog and cat alone together without supervision until you are confident that it is safe to do so.
Provide your cat with places where he can hide, away from the dog. Cats like to get up high to survey their domain, safely out of a dog's reach. Make sure the cat can eat, drink and use his litter box undisturbed by the dog. Place his necessities up higher than the dog can reach or set up a "cat room," wedging the door open just enough to let your cat in or cutting a cat-sized hole in the door.
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