Our two most popular pets are often portrayed as enemies - hence the well-known phrase “fighting like dog and cat”. While they might not always understand each other, it’s entirely possible for dogs and cats to coexist peacefully.
Introducing a new pet can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending on your pet's individual needs and circumstances. The key is to be patient and take things very slowly, keeping safety a priority for both animals throughout the process.
What To Watch For
When introducing your pets to each other, enlist help from a second person to monitor one of the pets, so you’re not attempting to keep an eye on both of them. Some signs of fear or aggression (such as an “aeroplane ears” in cats) are more “species-specific”; however these behaviours may be seen in both cats and dogs:
Body Language: Positive Signs
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Forward-facing ears
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Soft gaze
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Loose, relaxed body
Warning Signs: Fear & Aggression
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A tucked-under tail
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Flattened ears
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Crouching low to the ground
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Standing tall, leaning forward
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Dilated pupils
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Fur standing on end
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Stiff body posture
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Growling
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Exposed teeth
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Striking with paws
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Charging or lunging
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Excessive grooming
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Unusual toilet or feeding habits
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Hiding or avoidance
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Freezing still
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Panting
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Trembling
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Salivation
Breed And Prey-Drive
Cats are small and fast - traits that can trigger prey-drive in dogs, leading them to chase. This can be extremely dangerous: if caught, the size and strength of a dog can be fatal to cats. Some dog breeds - especially those with strong herding or hunting instincts - may be more inclined to chase cats, including high prey-drive breeds such as terriers, hounds and herding breeds.
Breeds that may be friendlier towards cats include retrievers/labrador breeds and “working group” dogs like spaniels or collies (as long as they are well-trained and socialised). However, just because a dog breed is considered “cat-friendly”, doesn’t necessarily mean they will not show aggression towards cats.
Individual Temperament And Socialisation
If either pet has previous (positive) experiences of living with a dog or cat, the introduction process may be easier - though animals also have individual traits that can affect their ability to acclimate.
Even if your dog previously lived with another cat, proceed with caution. If you notice your dog stiffening, starting to move slowly or staring at the cat intently, it’s time to cut short the interaction and take a break.
Managing Unwanted Behaviour
Training your dog in basic commands such as “sit”, “down” and “leave” helps keep them safe - but it also helps keep other pets safe, too. If your dog starts to fixate on the cat, good recall skills can then reorient them back to you before any prey triggers take over.
If your dog attempts to chase the cat, resist the instinct to shout: this will only cause stress and confusion: dogs may simply interpret this as you barking encouragement, while cats are likely to be spooked.
Shouting or punishing your dog will only make them fearful (or, if the unwanted behaviour is attention-seeking, more likely to act out). Instead, use positive reinforcement using a clicker and some high-quality treats to motivate them.
Keeping Calm
Throughout the process, try to keep to your “resident” pet’s regular schedule - and further disruption will only add to any stress they feel about meeting a new pet. Aim is to keep everything low-key: avoid special occasions or holidays when there’s likely to be lots of people around.
Minimise noise and busyness while focussing on creating a calm environment for your pets. Plug-in pheromone diffusers can help calm your pets (different ones are available for cats and dogs). If using these, remember to replace them regularly.
Separate Spaces
Whether you’re introducing a new dog to your cat (or vice-versa), the best way to do it is gradually by creating separate safe areas or “zones” for each pet. For cats, pick a room they can easily access (a spare room is ideal), with plenty of high areas they can retreat to if needed, such as wardrobes, cat trees or cat shelves.
Move all their essentials to that room including a bed, food, water and their litter tray (always keep these separate from the dog). Do not force your cat into a room: wait until they have found somewhere to rest (if it’s a resident cat, opt for a low-traffic area they feel comfortable in).
Separating your pets for a short period serves two purposes: the first is to enable you to gradually introduce your pets. The second is health-related: any new pet should be quarantined for at least 3-4 days, along with receiving a health-assessment by your vet before they are introduced to the current resident pet.
The Importance Of Scent Swapping
Stair gates can be useful when introducing pets, as they enable them to see and smell one another while remaining separate - although for highly excitable pets, it can help to partially obscure the view with a towel for a couple of days until they are calmer.
Scent is a vital part of communication for both cats and dogs, as it helps familiarise themselves with their surroundings and with other animals. You can do this by:
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Gently stroking your new pet’s head with a soft cloth and dabbing it around the home (much like a cat would brush against the furniture to mark their scent)
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Bringing pet-safe blankets or toys to the adoption centre or kennel so your new pet can familiarise themselves with the smell of their new home.
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Swapping your pets blankets and bedding so they can get used to each other’s scent (you can do this before they meet “in person”.
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Stroking one pet and letting the other smell your hand.
You can also try feeding your pets on opposite sides of a closed door. This allows them to get used to one another’s scent while associating it with something they both find positive (i.e. food).
Welcoming Your New Pet
Before leaving to collect your pet, ensure the other pet is safely in their room - if you have brought home a new cat, allow them to explore the home first while your dog is in their own room (new dogs may need a more gradual “room by room” introduction to their new home).
Eventually, you can take it in turns for each pet to roam the house while the other is confined. Depending on their circumstances, It can take several weeks and possibly even months for a new pet to settle into their new home, so don’t expect them to be ready after a few days.
Take things slowly and if either pet becomes stressed, take a step back in the process to allow for a short break before proceeding.
Look At That
After a few days, allow your cat through the gate (if they are hesitant, try tossing a toy to lure them out), while keeping your dog on a leash and encouraging them to focus on something else. The “Look at that” (LAT) training method is a good tool to use here, as it teaches dogs to divert their focus instead of fixating on the cat.
You can also train your dog’s attention by holding a tray under their nose, guiding their focus from the cat onto you. Reward them every time they do this and where possible, try to increase the distance between your dog and cat before repeating the same process.
Eventually you can repeat this process without the leash but maintaining the barrier between your dog and cat. At this point your dog should be able to look away from the cat towards you. if they do, offer lots of praise and a treat to affirm the behaviour. You can also use treats as positive reinforcement for cats - but be aware of any resource guarding behaviours when treating or feeding your pets.
Reduce Supervision
If things seem to be going well, you can allow them into a room together while keeping your dog on a loose leash you can step on in case they start to chase the cat.
Once you feel that your pets are more comfortable around each other, it is still advisable to keep them separate while you are not home - but you can slowly start to pull back your supervision by exiting the room for brief periods, ensuring you can still hear them. When doing this, make sure there are still elevated areas your cat can retreat to if needed.
Consistency And Support
Throughout this process, consistency is key. Repeat face-to-face sessions each day, gradually moving forward or back in the process as required. Work at a pace that is comfortable for both of them and do not leave them unattended until you are 100% satisfied they can socialise safely. Eventually they should be able to use the whole home together comfortably.
There may be additional challenges: older cats with no experience of cohabiting with other pets may be territorial and less likely to socialise - while some dogs, especially those with a strong prey drive and little training or socialisation, may never be safe enough to be left alone with a cat.
Understanding the background of both your pets (from past experiences to personality traits) can help to avoid any potential conflicts before they happen - and if at any point you feel stuck or overwhelmed by the process, a qualified animal trainer or behavioural specialist may be able to help.
Puppies And Kittens
Both species, when introduced to each other at a young age, stand a good chance of getting along well, since this provides an opportunity to socialise them together early on.
However, a young, energetic pup may inadvertently create stress in an adult cat - while great care should be taken with tiny kittens, as playtime with a much larger, over-excited dog could be fatal to them.
This is where crates can come in useful, as these provide a large enough space to keep your new pet in until it is safe for them to be around your dog. We have a wide selection of pens and dog crates to choose from, in addition to cat and dog beds to make sure your pet’s welcome is as comfortable as possible.