First things first, your chances at having a Dodo video relationship between your cat and dog is slim. Whether you already have a dog and are considering a cat or vice versa, it is important to plan out their introduction. If you let a loose cat and a loose unleash dog in a room together for the first time, you are setting both animals up for a failure. Instead, take things slow so that you have a better chance at success!
Finding the Right Match
- If you are thinking about matching a cat to your dog, it is extremely important to consider your dog’s personality as well as that of the cat’s. Picking an animal who has previous exposure to the opposite species could be helpful.
- If your dog attempts to chase, pin or pick up the cat it may be wise to steer clear of getting one. If you choose to proceed, do so with caution.
- If you have a dog who is obsessively barking at the cat, having a cat free home may be a good idea and vice versa. If your cat is obsessively swatting or hissing at a dog, it may be smart to steer clear of adding a dog.
- If you have a dog that enjoys chasing things (squirrels, birds, chipmunks) having a cat that runs and hides frequently may not be a good idea. A better match would be a calmer cat with a bit of confidence that will not try to pounce on the dog but will instead just co-exist.
The Introduction
If you are looking for a new dog, leave the cat at home. You should not bring your resident dog to any facility that houses several different animals. This can be stressful for both the dog and cats involved. The introduction should ALWAYS be done in your own home.
Keep them separate
- The introduction will not occur right away
- Over the course of several days, you should be rotating between cat and dog. When one is loose, the other is crated or confined. The dog should be crated in different room when the cat is out.
- This will give both animals some time to be around and familiarize themselves with the others scent
- When you leave the house, the dog should be crated being a closed door. This will keep both animals safe and prevent any unsupervised interactions.
- If the dog is laser focused on, barking or digging at barriers between themselves and the cat for more than a day or two, this is not likely a successful match
- Once the dog has calmed down a bit ( or is at least no longer totally obsessed with the cat) you can proceed to the next step.
Leashed Introductions
- When you first introduce the cat and dog to one another, the dog should be on leash
- First, simply let them be in the same room. Reward and reinforce calm behavior around one another
- Continue interactions like this for several days until the dog is able to remain calm and for the most part, ignore the cat. You should also make sure that your cat is eating and using the litter box normally.
- If either animal displays ANY sort of fear or aggression towards the other, go back to the previous step
- Continue with things this way until both animals are happy and calm around one another
- DO NOT RUSH THIS STEP!
- When you are not home, they should still be in separate rooms
Further Interactions
- For the first few months, you should leave a leash hanging on your dog whenever they are around the cat
- Although you will progress past holding the leash during the interaction, you should never leave them totally unsupervised. They should ALWAYS be separated when no one is home.
Warning Signs: It may not work
- If your dog is laser focused on the cat moving around the room or the door that the cat is behind, completely ignores you when you try and disengage them from the cat or lunges at the cat or door, this is likely not a good match.
- If at any time at all your dog lunges at a still, calm or sleeping cat this will likely not work. If your cat lunges at a sleeping or calm dog, this will likely not work either.