How to Introduce a New Dog to Your Cat

Cats and dogs may seem like mortal enemies, but there are many examples that support the idea that they can coexist quite peacefully. Cats and dogs do not hate each other simply because they are cat and dog, and it more often than not comes down to how they were introduced and that crucial period where they had to get to know each other.

Both cats and dogs are very territorial and it will be useful to understand how some of this territorial instinct works. Wild cats, from which the common house cat was slowly bred, are generally quite solitary. They do not usually live in large family units unless they are raising a litter of kits. Their territory is important to them and they will defend it as well as mark the boundaries with urine. Because a cat's territory is its home, a cat will need to examine new comers very carefully. Changes in a cat's life including new additions to its territory can be very stressful, especially for a cat who leads a very static life.

The ancestors of the dog on the other hand tend to live in large family units and these packs have a territory in which they hunt and live. While a dog might perceive all the members of its owner's family as its pack, it will still be as curious as a cat and possibly defensive around new additions such as a cat. With a bit of time however, a dog will come to understand a cat as just another member of the pack, albeit one that might ignore him completely.

Because a cat and a dog will approach a new addition to the family in a different way, a pet owner must consider this when allowing them to meet each other. A dog will want to hop right in and test the cat, sniff it, see if it wants to play or if it will try to be dominant over him. A cat on the other hand needs time to observe from a distance. Cats rarely like to charge into an unknown possible threat.

Keep your dog out of the house until you can figure out where the cat is. Once you have discovered the cat's location, bring the dog in on a short leash. Enter the room with the cat and have your dog sit and stay or lie down. Your objective is to give the cat enough time to understand the dog a little bit and to get used to his presence. You will want to keep your dog as calm as possible, so before the introduction, consider taking the dog on a long walk. Once the dog is sitting, reward the dog and the cat.

The first introduction doesn't need to last very long, but you will want to keep the dog on the leash until the cat has a good idea of how the dog is when acting calm. Once the cat begins to act a little more relaxed, you will know that it is time to take the dog off the leash.

Cats love to keep themselves clean and spend nearly 30% of their life grooming themselves. You can learn more about this amazing pet, including topics such as cat health and training & cat supplies on PetCustomer.com.