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Step 1
Prepare a separate bedroom for the cat with a new litter box, feed bowls and cat bedding. This room is OFF LIMIT to the dogs at first.
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Step 2
To acclimate the cat to the scent of the dogs, place one of the shared dog beds in the bedroom and covered it with a cloth with the cat's scent (rub a cloth on the cat, particularly under the chin to get good scent).
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Step 3
Before bringing a new cat into your home for the first time, secure your dogs either outside or in an enclosure where they cannot be seen, or, hopefully heard. Bring the cat into the home in its cat carrier and directly up to the room you've prepared. Have some tasty treats to give when you open the pet carrier door. If the cat doesn't appear, just leave the treats a small distance from the carrier and leave the pet carrier door open.
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Step 4
As much as possible, keep the dogs quiet although let them explore the bedroom door where the cat currently resides. You want the animals to become used to each others scent.
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Step 5
Might not be the best photo ever but it proves that the acclimation is workingAfter a day or so, cautiously take your most docile dog into the cat room. Be aware of signs of anger or fear on either side - if ears lay back on either animal, they're stressed. A cat tail that flicks rapidly back and forth can serve as a warning or an imminent strike. Monitor the animals movements carefully and do offer encouragement or, if needed, verbal warnings to either the cat or the dog. They must learn to respect each other - and, push come to shove, most cats can chew a dog up and spit him out in small, itty bitty, pieces....Keep these sessions brief (5 minutes or so) but repeat at least 3 times a day with the same dog.
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Step 6
Once the cat and first dog are used to each other, introduce each dog separately and do not proceed with another dog until you're comfortable that the last dog and cat will commingle. Don't worry if they don't fall in love with each other - you're just looking for acceptance here.
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Step 7
It worked!The first time you let the cat out, put the dogs back in the yard or in a secured environment. The cat may be freaked out enough to be in a new environment and doesn't need the stress of having one or more dogs added into the mix.
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Step 8
Continue to monitor all of the animals and, if you have to go out, place the cat back into the room until you're 100% sure that they're comfortable on their own.
Comments
blingaling said
on 9/27/2009 I'm doing this right now, new cat to older cat. Many of the steps you outline are the same. Good article!
blingaling said
on 9/27/2009 I'm doing this right now, new cat to older cat. Many of the steps you outline are the same. Good article!
prism said
on 2/20/2009 Excellent article! I've done this several times and it does really work better than just trying to introduce them directly. You explain the process very well! Thanks!
prism said
on 2/20/2009 Excellent article! I've done this several times and it does really work better than just trying to introduce them directly. You explain the process very well! Thanks!
prism said
on 2/20/2009 Excellent article! I've done this several times and it does really work better than just trying to introduce them directly. You explain the process very well! Thanks!