How to Introduce a New Cat to Dogs
Despite phrases such as "fighting like cats and dogs," cats and dogs can live together in peace and, in many instances, friendship. The key to introducing a cat to your dogs is to make the initial contact as positive as possible and to give both the cat and the dogs time to adjust. In the beginning, your focus must be on keeping your pets safe until you're sure friendships---or, at least, tolerance---has developed. The goal is to make your dogs accept the cat as part of the pack.
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Instructions
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Create a safe room for the cat. This should be a small area---such as a bathroom. The room should include the cat's litter box, food, water and bed. The food and water bowls should be separated from the litter box as much as possible. The cat should be confined to this safe room until she is acclimated to the home.
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Take bedding from the cat's room---after the cat has been in the home for one day---and place it in the dogs' sleeping area. Remove a piece of the dogs' bedding and place it in the cat's room.
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Place the dogs in their crates---after the cat has been in the home for a couple of days---and allow the cat free roam of the house for about an hour. This will give the cat an opportunity to investigate the dogs without feeling threatened.
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Place the dogs on their leaches. Take the dogs for a long walk and tire them out as much as possible.
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Place the cat in one of the crates and allow the dogs to investigate. Praise the dogs and give them treats for remaining calm in the presence of the cat.
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Place the dogs on their leashes---following a long walk and after they have learned to remain calm when the cat is in the crate. Release the cat and allow the animals to interact while you have the dogs under leash control. Praise the dogs and give them treats for remaining calm in the presence of the cat.
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Give your dogs the "sit command." Release the cat and dogs under closely supervised interaction once the dogs have learned to remain calm in the cat's presence while on leash. Ensure the cat has a safe place to which he can retreat if the dogs intimidate him. Praise the dogs and give them treats for remaining calm in the presence of the cat.
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Tips & Warnings
Your dogs will likely bark and growl, and the cat will likely hiss and growl, during the first cat-to-dogs introduction. Reassure the dogs that the cat is not going to attack them and try to keep the dogs calm. You can control the dogs' behavior, but likely will not be able to control the cat's actions.
If your dogs are not trained for basic obedience---such as "sit" and "stay"---consider obedience training before introducing a cat into the home.
Some breeds of dogs can never live safely with cats because of their high prey drive. Research your dogs' breeds before adopting a cat. Keep in mind, however, that what may be true for a breed in general may not be true for your individual dog.
