INTRODUCTIONS
Before introducing a dog to a resident cat, exercise and feed him, as this will help to relax him.
Put the cat in a safe place and let the dog explore the house for half an hour or so. This will allow him to take in the feline smell. Then take the dog outside and let the cat investigate the canine smell.
Pet behaviourist Rosie Bescoby, who runs behavioural consultancy Pet Sense, explained: “A prime objective is to avoid causing the cat to hiss, bat the dog, or run away; this means the cat is already stressed and finds the dog scary. You want the cat to remain calm and relaxed and you should not proceed unless he is.
“If there is any tension, remove the dog immediately and make sure the next session is made much easier and set them up for success. It may be that the scent transfer stage itself takes days or weeks so I really want to emphasise how slow this whole process needs to be.”
Practise these introductions in the house so you have maximum control. The next stage is to put your dog on a short lead and be ready with lots of treats to reward good behaviour.
Let the cat and dog check each other out at a distance. Pet and talk to your dog soothingly. Give both of them some treats and praise.
Initially, keep the meetings short and allow the cat to have his own space in between. Repeat these short visits several times a day, gradually giving your dog more lead as appropriate.
Getting the cat used to the presence of your dog is important and using a crate for the dog for short periods only may help to make the cat feel he has the upper paw. Feeding the cat outside the crate (with the dog in it) may encourage him to get used to the dog.
“It is fine to use a crate as long as the dog remains relaxed watching the cat move past, and it is fine to feed the cat in the presence of the dog as long as both are relaxed. You want to avoid using any corrections at all — you want the dog to associate the cat with being calm and relaxed, not aroused and then corrected,” Rosie commented.
Once your dog and cat get along during on-lead visits, you are ready for the next step. Let go of the lead but be ready to grab it or step on it if your dog attempts to go after the cat.
Keep the lessons regular and if everything is going smoothly, take your dog off the lead and supervise the two closely.
If problems arise and they aren’t resolved with simple voice commands, go back to the previous stage for a few days. If introductions still don’t go smoothly, seek professional help.
Conflicts between pets in the same family can often be resolved, but make sure you use a pet behaviourist who specialises in dogs and cats.
Rosie said: “Even dogs who have previously lived happily with a different cat can react very differently to a new cat, and the same can be said for cats who have previously been best friends with a dog.
“Regardless of your cat’s/dog’s previous experience with the other and irrespective of their personality, ALWAYS err on the side of caution and introduce them slowly and carefully. A messy introduction is hard to rectify.”
Make sure that all your pets are healthy and that you are aware of any medical problems they may have, as this can exacerbate any issues.