Steps to Introduce a New Cat To Your Dog

If you have or are planning on adopting a new cat, congratulations! You may have a dog that is already part of your family and it’s important to make sure that your pets can peacefully coexist. There are many ways to go about introducing cats to dogs, but these are the six steps I’ve used successfully many times, for a slow and safe introduction of a new cat to resident dogs.

Get ready

To get Rover ready, if he does not already know the commands “sit” and “stay”, he should learn them before being introduced to Kitty for the first time.We’ve seen a lot of success using clicker training to help with learning new commands.

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.

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 use their beds), and placing it down with the food bowl, for them to smell as they eat.
.

 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.

Dog on leash & harness, cat in 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 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 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 in the leash.