How to Introduce a Cat to a Dog Safely

"I have a dog, I am adopting a cat. Will they get along, and what do I do on day one?"

Short answer: yes, cats and dogs can live in harmony, but only when the process of introducing them is managed carefully and gradually. There are 3 key components of a successful introduction: the comfort of the cat, a leashed dog, and gradual meetings. In a word, the introduction of a cat and a dog is all about giving the cat some time to get used to the presence of another creature.

This article covers scientific insights on the topic, step-by-step instructions, information on apartments and houses, and gives you a practical checklist for today.

Dog and Cat Intro: Why First Meetings Fail

Dog and cat introductions fail when they first meet, because one of them (usually the dog) rushes towards the second one. The cat reacts to this move instinctively: she starts running, and the dog starts chasing. Now both animals remember this bad experience and repeat it during their next encounters. A successful dog and cat introduction process usually follows a predictable pattern. This is the sequence of actions, suggested by veterinarians and behavioral specialists.

Provide the cat with her own room with access to food, water, a bed, a litter box and hiding places. The dog is not allowed there for the first several days.
Start with scents. Swap the bedding of the animals for a few days before the first sight.
Train your dog. Dog and cat introduction training starts with commands "sit", "leave it" and "look at me". Be generous with rewards.
The first sight of the animals should happen behind a barrier: a baby gate or an open door.
Reward calm behaviors of both animals: give treats to the dog whenever it looks at the cat, give treats to the cat when it relaxes.
Each session should be short (5-10 minutes) and should happen several times per day. Stop when the cat gets uncomfortable.
Use a leash during the first shared room sessions and continue doing so until the dog ignores the cat most of the time.
Supervised encounters only until the moment you feel comfortable.

And this is the essence of dog and cat introduction training process. The best dog and cat introduction training happens in small doses (5-10 minutes, several times per day) instead of long and stressful evenings. Everything else depends on you and your specific pets and home.

How to Introduce a Cat to a Dog in an Apartment

Smaller space makes it difficult for the cat to escape - that's the main challenge of how to introduce a cat to a dog in an apartment. When figuring out how to introduce a cat to a dog in an apartment, the key elements are vertical and door barriers.

There is no spare room

Solution for an apartment: Use the bathroom or bedroom for the cat's room at the first days

There is no place to hide the cat

Solution for an apartment: Provide cat shelves, a cat tree and cleared bookshelves

Dog has access to the litter box

Solution for an apartment: Move the box behind the gate or install a top entry box

Dog has access to the cat food

Solution for an apartment: Move the food bowl to the counter or high shelves

There is only one hallway

Solution for an apartment: Install the gate in the hallway during the training

Noise and energy level

Solution for an apartment: Exercise the dog before each session

All you need to introduce a cat to a dog in an apartment is a careful planning in advance, so that you know exactly where the cat goes when it leaves its own room, and the dog cannot follow. The same rules work for how to introduce a cat to a dog in a small house. Vertical hiding places save the life of the cat in such situation, as a cat that can get away feels confident and calms down faster.

Cats and Dogs Living Together

What does science say about cats and dogs living together? One of the most famous studies in this area was conducted by Neta-li Feuerstein and Joseph Terkel from Tel Aviv University in 2008, based on approximately 170 families with both pets. In about two thirds of cases, the owners considered the relationship as friendly. Scientists noted that the best results were achieved in cases when the cat was adopted first, and when the pets were young (ideal age for the cat: below 6 months, ideal age for the dog: below 1 year). Scientists observed one more interesting fact: despite the opposite meaning of the body signals in cats and dogs (a wagging tail means "friendship" in dogs, but irritation in cats), the animals learned to understand each other's signals.

In a later study (University of Lincoln, 2018) researchers surveyed hundreds of families and concluded that the comfort of the cat was the key factor that determined the quality of relationship for cats and dogs living together. Cats are much more likely to show aggressive behavior towards the second pet than the dogs.

Tip from veterinarians: observe the cat, not the dog. The cat that eats, sleeps and grooms normally in the room with the dog adapts successfully, regardless of affectionate behavior.

How to Introduce a Cat to a Dog Household

As it was said, the introduction of a cat and a dog is the introduction of a cat to the household, not just to the dog. If you already have a dog, and adopt a cat, you introduce the cat to the whole household (smells, sounds, toys, routine). This checklist explains how to introduce a cat to a dog household:

☐ The dog understands "leave it" and "sit" well
☐ The cat has her own room for at least the first few days
☐ High hiding places in every room
☐ The litter box is out of the dog's reach
☐ Cat food is in a place where the dog cannot reach it
☐ Install the baby gates where necessary (some cats are able to jump over them, and dogs cannot)
☐ You have planned short training sessions, several times per day
☐ Everybody in the family knows the rules (no experiments allowed)

The above checklist is the basis of how to introduce a cat to a dog household. And if you are adopting a new dog in the house that has a cat, switch these roles: the new dog gets a separated room, the old cat keeps its territory.

Puppy and Cat Introduction

Puppies are a special case. They are not aggressive, but very clumsy, energetic and persistent - and this can scare cats terribly.

There is a typical scenario: an adult cat lives happily in the house for years. The family adopts a puppy. Soon the puppy notices that the cat is running when chased, which becomes a great entertainment. As a result, the cat spends time on top of the fridge, does not use the litter box and hisses at everyone. Owners think that the animals "just do not like each other".

The problem with puppy and cat introduction is in absence of the rules. Usually it is solved with the following steps: the puppy should be leashed during shared rooms visits, the puppy should get treats every time it looks calmly at the cat, the puppy should get enough exercise elsewhere, and the cat should have safe areas with barriers. After a few weeks the puppy gets bored of chasing the cat.

How to Introduce a Cat to a Dog When the Cat Is Scared

And what if you have a scared cat? How to introduce a cat to a dog when the cat is scared means smaller steps. Do it gradually:

Give the cat a choice of distance: never carry a cat to the dog or hold it while the dog approaches
Put a gate and a screen, so that the cat can see, but cannot be seen
Start feeding the cat with tasty food near the gate (in the place where the cat feels comfortable)
Keep the dog quiet and still during the session (on a mat or with a treat)
Observe the cat's body: flattened ears, crouching position, fluffed up tail and hissing mean that you should move back
Consider the use of pheromone diffusers (their effect on the introduction of a cat and a dog is not proven scientifically, but works for some people)

Special Situations

How to introduce a cat to a dog that hates cats. Some dogs are known to chase or harm cats and show intense staring, stiffening and lunging at them. In such cases the introduction of a cat and a dog is dangerous. If you try to figure out how to introduce a cat to a dog that hates cats, you should consider the dog's history first. How to introduce a cat to a dog with high prey drive means professional help, sometimes it is impossible at all. Aggressive dog and cat introduction process requires extra precautions: leashes, muzzle training (if needed) and barrier between the animals. An aggressive dog and cat introduction is also a situation that cannot be done without professional help.

How to introduce a cat to an aggressive dog and how to introduce a cat to an anxious dog. The second case is easier, as anxious dogs usually also want some distance. How to introduce a cat to an aggressive dog should be clear from the previous paragraph.

How to introduce a cat to an adult dog. Adult calm dogs are perfect companions for cats. Anyway, go through all the stages.

How to introduce a cat to a dog for the first time at home? Always start from the barrier, with the dog on the leash. And how to introduce a cat to a dog at home should take into account your home specifics: where can the cat escape?

Dog Cat Introduction Tips Vets Recommend

A short list of cat and dog introduction tips based on veterinary and shelter recommendations (ASPCA, VCA):

Exercise the dog before each session
Keep the first several weeks of dog and cat introduction supervised
Keep dog and cat introductions short and calm
Use rewards liberally - the calm behavior should always be rewarded
Never punish the animals for growling or hissing - this is warning behavior and it is useful
Look for signs of stress in the cat: hiding, not eating, avoiding the litter box
Schedule a vet visit in case the cat's appetite or toileting change during more than a day or two

Dog cat introduction tips vets suggest usually end with the same conclusion: some pairs adapt quickly, others need weeks to do so. Patience is cheaper than an injury. Successful dog and cat introductions are usually not exciting - they are boring, and this is the goal.

The Litter Box Problem Nobody Mentioned

It is well known that many dogs like to "visit" the cat's litter box. This is natural dog behavior (called coprophagia), but it can make the cat stressed, spread parasites and upset the dog's stomach (fragrances and additives in some litters can make things worse). Put the box behind the gate, use a room with cat door or top entry litter box. For more litter box placement ideas check our guide.

Paco & Pepper olive pit litter is made of food grade olive pits, some olive oil and plant guar gum. It does not contain any added fragrance or harsh chemicals. It cannot protect your dog from litter box content, but if she tastes it before you have protected the box, you at least do not deal with the fragrances and chemicals.

What to Do Today

☐ Make a cat's room
☐ Start the dog and cat intro: train "leave it" to your dog today with rewards
☐ Swap the blankets of the pets
☐ Move the litter box away from the dog
☐ Add at least one hiding place in the room where the pets will first meet
☐ Schedule the first barrier session, 5 minutes with leashed dog

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