Getting Your Dog and Cat Used to Each Other
Does your heart beat for dogs and cats? Under the right conditions, that shouldn't be a problem. Ideally, the two four-legged friends have grown up together and have known each other since puppy or kitten age. However, reality often looks different. Nevertheless, you can ensure that your two pets get along well and maybe even become true friends.
Preliminary Check: Is Your Dog Cat-Friendly?
Before bringing a cat into your home, you should carefully consider whether your four-legged friend is made for living with a cat. There are dogs that are not the best roommates for felines. That's not a big deal, but you also shouldn't try anything at all costs and expose the cat or dog to a lot of stress.
For example, if your dog shows strong hunting behavior or has high reactivity, living with a cat can be more challenging at least at the beginning than with a →naturally more relaxed four-legged friend.
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Entspannte Hunderassen sind geeigneter für das Zusammenleben mit Katzen.
3 Steps to Introduce Dog and Cat
Similar to →introducing two cats, you can also follow certain steps when getting your dog and cat to know each other:
Step 1: Set Up a Cat Room
A room specifically for the cat can be especially useful in the beginning. The separate room is by no means a punishment but serves as a safe retreat. Make sure that your dog does not enter the room, so your furry friend understands that she is truly undisturbed there. You should also place the litter box, bed, toys, and food and water bowls in the room.
If your animals get along well, you can later dissolve the room. But especially for the initial period, a cat room is a great idea.
Step 2: Get Used to Smells & Sounds
So that both your dog and the cat can already smell their new roommate, you can give each of them items belonging to the other. This can be a blanket or a toy with the scent of the other animal.
To make the start a bit easier for your cat, you can also record your dog's barking and play it for her a few times before she moves in.
Step 3: The First Meeting
Once your cat has moved in and has already spent a few days in her cat room, you can plan the first meeting. Here, safety comes first! To prevent any accidents, your dog should be leashed, and ideally, a second person should be present. Also, ensure that the animals are fed, happy, and exercised.
- Choose a neutral location. There should not be a litter box, food bowl, or sleeping place in the room.
- Stay relaxed. Even though it’s difficult, try to create as relaxed an atmosphere as possible, as nervousness can transfer to the animals.
- Use praise and treats to create a positive experience.
- Allow the animals to observe each other in peace. Both the cat and dog should be able to retreat if they wish.
- Growling or hissing from the cat can be normal at first. Ensure that your dog does not perceive it as an attack.
- Avoid any attacks between them. Make it clear to the four-legged friends that this is unwanted behavior. However, do not scold them if they are simply stressed and overwhelmed. In that case, it’s better to break it off.
- 10 minutes is sufficient for the first meeting.
- Praise the animals extensively after each meeting.
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Idealerweise kennen sich Hund und Katze schon von klein auf.
Practice, Practice, Practice, and Have Patience
Depending on how the first meeting went, you can gradually extend the time together. Pay attention to the body language of both and do not rush anything. Hissing, growling, and barking are signs of stress, excitement, or overwhelm and should not be ignored. In this case, it’s better to take a step back. A relaxed coexistence requires a good deal of patience and time, depending on the dog or cat - but it’s worth it!
Don’t forget to include praise, petting, play, and snacks! This creates a positive association with the meetings. Make sure to give both furry friends equal attention.
Tolle Belohnungen für fleißige Hunde - unsere Snacks
How to Introduce Two Dogs to Each Other?
If you want to introduce two dogs to each other, you will proceed a bit differently. Depending on how your own furry friend is doing, you can go step by step or more quickly. It’s also important whether the other dog is a family dog or a strange four-legged friend and how it behaves. Pay close attention to body language. To learn more, feel free to take a look at our →article on introducing two dogs.
