How to Introduce a Dog to My Cats That Have Never Been Around a Dog?

Your cats will quickly teach him what THEY expect in proper cat manners!

I agree about giving the cats some high places where they can observe the dog without feeling threatened, or a room or two closed off by baby gates where they can relax.

My dog occasionally chases one of the lower ranked cats (we have 6 cats in the house), but not the higher-ranked cats... THEY'VE shown him, by a swat or two, that they don't like that kind of behavior. On the other hand, I frequently see Bubba (the dog) being groomed by one of the lower ranked cats..... they all get along just fine now!

I would first introduce them by keeping the dog in its "own" room for a while with a screen door separating her from the cats at first. Have a towel down covering the screen door to start so that all the animals have to do at first is get used to each others odors. Then you can gradually lift the towel so that they can see each other. See how they handle socializing through the screen door, and then after a day or two or three let the cats into the room one at a time to "meet" the dog on their own terms. The next day, let the other cat meet the dog. The day after that, see how all three of them do. Keep the "playdates" brief but let the animals work each other out and get used to each other.

It'll probably take a week to two weeks for them to be able to tolerate each other. Even a dog who is "used to" cats will have to get used to new cat companions. Slow introductions are best.

well, you're going to have some fun for a while. And by that - i mean lots of hissing and spitting and very unhappy cats.

i would suggest limiting their time together for a while, using a baby gate to give the cats a couple rooms where they can go hide and feel safe when they're overwhelmed by the new addition to your family.

remember that eventually they will all get used to each other, but it will take time and patience. Lots of patience. Your cats will be stressed so make sure to give them alone time with just you, reassuring them that they are still important and your new dog will also need your consideration and kindness while she/he adjusts also!

It will work out if you want it to, i've got cats and dogs and every time we bring a new family member home or we babysit my grand!kitty there is a period of adjustment for the entire family. If you stay calm and keep control (be the alpha!pack member) your pets will take their cues from you.

Good luck and congratulations! Adopting a shelter animal is always the best feeling in the world for both you and your new pet!

:)

It is very possible. If you think your cats will be easy and quick to like their new friend, leash the dog and that allows the cats to leave, but the dog can't follow then the cats can come back on their own. It helps if the dog is a little tired and as long as everyone is good around food and no food aggression, treats are always a bonus. I have done cat in a carrier and dog loose, so they can sniff too, also different sides of a door or a baby gated area the cat can escape too if needed. Our cats always had the option of jumping up higher on something.

In general most cats and dogs are excepting of each other and will do just fine. You may want to start with one cat first. If you are worried, have them eat on opposites of a closed door and trade items from one pet to the other so they can get used to the scent.

The cats may give the dog a hiss or a swat a few times to teach the dog if it gets too close to quick, so don't be alarmed. Just watch for the eyes.

We have three cats and a dog and two of the cats have been know to cuddle with the dog and the dog used to flea bite one of the cats on the belly and he loved it and would roll over and purr for more and grab her snout when she stopped.

Good luck and hope you have a smooth and easy introduction. It helps a lot that the dog already knows how to act around cats.

LOL...when I introduced my mom's dog to my (then) 6 year old cat, I didn't lock either of them in separate rooms.

After a good, long, exhausting play session with Dog, you'll bring him into the house with the cats. Keep Dog on a leash. Calmly bring him in the house. Keep him on the leash. Give him water and then bring him into the living room with you and have him lie down to rest. Cat will come into the room to inspect. Probably hiss, spit, and maybe run off and observe from a higher place or around a corner. Let kitty observe Dog being Good Dog, sleeping and resting, not being a threat. They might come out to sniff him as he sleeps.

After that, just ignore their behavior towards one another. My cats both play tag with mom's dogs (dogs chase cat...stops...cats turn and chase dogs). Mostly, they ignore one another.

LOL....your dog will learn real quick what he can do. If your cats are declawed it will be easier for your dog. I would also make sure your cats have a high place to go to get away from the dog. Cats usually are not to happy when this happens.

If it were me, I just wouldn't do it. I'm not saying this to be discouraging, but just from my own experience...

We got our cat, Gus, from a friend. Poor Gus- the reason he came to live with us was because--although he'd lived in a house with four cats and two smaller dogs, the owner had moved in with her boyfriend who had two larger dogs. So, when they asked us to take Gus, he was living under the bed. In fear.

When we got him, we noticed that he wasn't eating much. We took him to the vet and the truth came to light-- he hadn't been eating for quite a while. Weeks, likely. In fact, because of his feline anorexia, he ended up having feline fatty liver disease,which we fortunately caught before his pancreas was damaged. He spent three nights at the vets and after we brought him home, we had to tube feed him for a month. The vet bill was around $2,800 (which we got financing for, thankfully).

Poor Gus had to learn to trust us the hard way. Fortunately, he's still with us and is now 16 years old and quite the older gentleman kitty.

My advice to you would be to wait until your cats have lived their lives, and then get a dog. Cats aren't like children, who can somewhat understand when a new sibling comes along. And if this dog is in the habit of chasing cats, it's likely really going to freak your cats out. They simply don't understand that this new animal is going to be a 'friend'. I think it works better when either the cats are kittens or the dog is a puppy.

I see others have given you advice which might very well work. Nonetheless, it would be worthwhile to keep in mind the idea of having a plan B., so that if the cats and dog don't grow to be fond of each other, you have other options. I just know from my experience with Gus (and we won't even get another cat until he is no longer with us), it can be dicey.